From the Cybercrime Division, a case of a large number of scams against entrepreneurs and shop owners from the Internet in the Greek territory
A regular procedure case was filed against two (2) Greek citizens for fraud by complicity, by profession and by continuation.
The perpetrators deceived entrepreneurs and owners of various shops and businesses to issue prepaid credit cards for online transactions and fraudulently stole their codes, obtaining large sums of money
A total of twelve (12) cases were investigated, while the total amount of fraud with the above method of action is being investigated, as there are hundreds of incidents per case
From the Cybercrime Division, a case involving a large number of scams against entrepreneurs and shop owners via the Internet was uncovered in various regions of the Greek territory.
A regular procedure file was filed for this case against two Greek citizens, aged 43 and 53, who are accused of fraud by complicity, by profession and by perpetration, as well as for violations of gaming legislation.
Specifically, a thorough police investigation by the Cybercrime Division found that the aforementioned actors, acting together over a long period (from April 2013 to August 2014), carried out a large number of scams against entrepreneurs and owners of various shops and businesses, as they tricked them into issuing prepaid online shopping cards and harvested their credentials, thereby obtaining illegal financial gains amounting to several tens of thousands of euros.
So far, at least twelve (12) cases of fraud have been uncovered in various regions of the country, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Chalkidiki and Preveza, while the total amount they obtained from their illegal activities is being investigated, as there are hundreds of incidents per case.
More specifically, regarding the methodology of action used by the perpetrators (modus operandi), it emerged that they were calling owners and entrepreneurs of various stores and businesses (convenience stores, mini markets, kiosks, etc.) in various regions of the country and falsely claiming to be technicians for a company that has installed machines for issuing prepaid cards for online transactions in their stores.
Subsequently, they asked them to issue specific prepaid cards, for an amount of one hundred (100) euros, and claiming that they were conducting an inspection to verify the proper operation of the machines, they asked them for their relevant code, while informing them that after the inspection, the cards would be canceled.
In subsequent communication with the actual management company, the store owners discovered that they had been defrauded, as the cards in question had never been canceled, but had instead been used immediately in various online transactions.
Through the methodical and systematic police and digital investigation by the Cybercrime Directorate, in collaboration with the responsible prepaid card management company and the internet and telecommunications service providers, the data and actions of the perpetrators were identified.
However, in relevant searches carried out to locate the perpetrators, it was not possible to locate their residential addresses as they have moved to unknown addresses, which they did continuously, to avoid being identified and arrested by the prosecution authorities.
The investigation's evolution revealed that the accused continuously employed the aforementioned operational methodology, and the funds they obtained from this fraudulent activity were used – cashed out, in illegal betting, on online gambling sites, or for purchases via the Internet.
Additionally, the participation of the perpetrators in other similar acts is being investigated in order to precisely determine the size of the fraud, while simultaneously their possible involvement in other related offenses is also being investigated.
In fact, in the past, a related criminal case has been filed against them by the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, for similar offenses.
The case file filed against them will be submitted to the competent Prosecution Authority.
It is reminded that citizens can communicate, anonymously or by name, with the Cybercrime Directorate in order to provide information or report illegal or questionable acts or activities that are carried out via the Internet, at the following contact details:
- By phone: 111 88
- By sending an email to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
- Via the application (application) for smart phones (smartphones) with operating system iOS – Android: CYBERKID
- Via Twitter « SOS Cyber Alert»: @cyberalertGR
