Athens, November 10 , 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Update from the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, to avoid fraud by store owners and businesses that issue prepaid cards and airtime renewal cards
The Cybercrime Division informs citizens, and especially owners of shops and businesses that have terminals for issuing prepaid cards and airtime top-up cards, about avoiding fraud by unknown perpetrators who aim to obtain illegal financial gain.
Specifically, according to their methodology, unknown individuals make phone calls to store owners and, stating that they are technicians for the company that installed the machines, convince them to issue cards, under the pretext that they are carrying out an inspection to verify the proper operation of the machines, while assuring them that the cards will then be canceled.
After issuing the cards, the owners reveal the secret code number (pin) to the unknown perpetrators, who then use them for personal financial gain. After contacting the real management company by phone, they discover the fraud against them, as the above cards are never canceled.
Due to this specific type of fraud, the Cybercrime Directorate informs the owners of such stores to be particularly careful when issuing prepaid cards and airtime renewal cards.
More specifically, it is recommended:
- Cross-check the details of any potential employee or technician of the management company.
- Do not trust anyone who asks you to reveal your PIN number over the phone.
