Greece is one of the countries that has been hit hard by the new coronavirus . However, in addition to the virus, it also has to deal with fraud from sophisticated individuals.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate informs citizens about fraud attempts and cases of spreading false news, via the internet, on the occasion of the coronavirus (COVID–19).
Recently, the Cybercrime Directorate has been receiving complaints from citizens and updates from Interpol and Europol about many cases of online fraud, by perpetrators who, taking advantage of citizens' concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19), attempt to obtain illegal financial gain.
Specifically, the perpetrators attempt to deceive victims with the following methodologies - modes of action:
The perpetrators are taking advantage of the increased demand for masks, gloves, antiseptics , etc. materials and creating fraudulent websites, platforms , social media accounts and/or email addresses, pretending to sell the specific items, while in some cases they are also using the names of well-known companies operating in this field, in order to be convincing.
They then ask interested buyers to prepay for orders by transferring money to bank accounts, usually abroad, but the alleged orders are never delivered and the perpetrators cut off all communication, while the fraudulent websites or platforms are deactivated.
The perpetrators send fraudulent emails, purporting to come from national or global health authorities and containing either links or attached files, with supposedly useful information on protection against the coronavirus.
In this way, they try to either steal users ' login credentials (email accounts, social networking applications, online banking, etc.) or install malicious software on the recipients' computer systems and extract sensitive information.
The perpetrators call unsuspecting citizens, usually the elderly, and pretending to be relatives, stating that they are hospitalized in hospitals or clinics because they have been infected with the coronavirus. To make it more convincing, the perpetrators also make additional calls, pretending to be doctors or directors of the hospitals or clinics, to confirm the treatment.
In this way, perpetrators try to convince their victims to pay the cost of healthcare through wire transfer or by delivering cash to people who pretend to be representatives of the alleged clinic and appear at their home.
In addition, the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate received complaints regarding false news (fakenews), published and reproduced on the internet, which concern either current events on the subject of coronavirus, or proposed treatments, products and preparations for its treatment, which do not correspond to reality, and relevant cases are being filed on a case-by-case basis.
In this context, the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate informs citizens:
- Do not open suspicious links or suspicious attachments that you receive via email.
- Upgrade and update technical security software.
- Only make purchases from trusted online sellers and check customer .
- Do not respond to suspicious messages or calls.
- Be especially careful when you find online that appear to be out of stock.
- If the offer seems too good to be true, be wary because it probably isn't.
- Get information from valid and official sources and do not share news and publications that do not come from reliable sources.
- Do not make donations to charities without checking their authenticity and credibility.
- Contact the competent police authorities when you realize that you have fallen victim to fraud.
Citizens are requested to contact the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate for all the above cases or to provide information or report illegal or reprehensible acts or activities carried out via the internet, at the following contact details:
By sending an e-mail to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr.
Through the Hellenic Police portal (https://portal.astynomia.gr)
Through the application for smart phones: CYBERKΙD
Via twitter: @CyberAlertGR
By phone: 11188.
