The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate arrested a 30-year-old foreigner, of Nigerian origin, for cases of computer fraud and forgery after use, via the Internet.
The perpetrator was arrested during a traffic stop, when he went to the Hellenic Post Office to receive, using a fake Alien Asylum Seeker card, products that he had fraudulently ordered via the Internet
He had purchased seven (7) different items and products, of great value, from a well-known Internet auction and buying and selling website, presenting forged proof of money transfer transactions.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate investigated seven (7) cases of computer fraud and forgery after use, via the Internet, and the 30-year-old perpetrator, of Nigerian origin, was arrested.
Specifically, a criminal case was filed against him for fraud committed through the Internet, use of a false document, forgery of certificates, computer fraud and forgery after use.
The perpetrator was arrested as part of a police operation after intensive investigations and searches carried out by the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, for his immediate identification.
The investigation of the case began after appropriate utilization of information by the Officers of the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, according to which the aforementioned perpetrator had purchased seven (7) different items and products, of great value, from a well-known online auction and buying and selling website.
As it was found, he had made the purchase by presenting altered-forged proofs of money transfer transactions, which falsely indicated that electronic payments had been made, through a specific online money transfer portal, from the perpetrator's accounts to the accounts of online store merchants.
The customs authorities were immediately informed, who located the packages in question and delivered them to the competent branch of the Hellenic Post Office.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate conducted a thorough digital investigation and analysis of the case data, and an order was issued by the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office to conduct a preliminary examination.
In this context, a digital police investigation followed and correspondence was carried out with the relevant internet and telecommunications service providers and the Hellenic Post Office, resulting in the identification of the 30-year-old's involvement in the fraudulent purchases in question
Yesterday (24-8-2015) a police team from the Electronic Crime Directorate conducted a police operation at the Hellenic Post Office, where the perpetrator was about to receive the products he had fraudulently ordered. The 30-year-old was arrested by the police while receiving the products, showing a fake Alien Asylum Seeker card.
During the searches of the home and the physical search of the perpetrator, the following were found and seized:
- seven (7) parcels with various products - items that he had ordered in the above fraudulent manner,
- two (2) mobile phones,
- fake Alien Asylum Seeker Certificate,
- evidentiary documents related to the criminal acts committed.
The seized phones will be sent to the Criminal Investigations Directorate for the necessary laboratory tests, while the remaining seized evidence will be sent to the appropriate authorities. The arrestee's participation in other similar acts is being investigated.
It is noted that the arrested person is marked, as by a Resolution of the Athens Misdemeanor Courts Council, his arrest and imprisonment in the Nafplio prisons had been ordered for violations of intellectual property legislation.
Furthermore, it is reported that the above-described method of action constitutes a global type of fraud, which is known as "Nigerian Internet fraud".
The arrested person, with the criminal case against him, will be taken to the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office.
It is recalled that citizens can communicate, anonymously or by name, with the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, in order to provide information or report illegal or reprehensible acts or activities carried out via the Internet, at the following contact details:
- By phone: 111 88
- By sending an email to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
- Through the application for smart phones with ios-android operating system: CYBERKID.
