It was dismantled by the Athens Security Sub-Directorate of the Directorate of Prosecution and Investigation of Crimes of Attica, a criminal organization made up of -37- members. Already, a case file has been filed against them, among other things – as the case may be – for directing and forming a criminal organization, by profession and by extension frauds and frauds by calculation.
Among the members of the organization are both leaders who defined the identity of the organization and determined the methodology, having full control over the action of the rest of the members.
The organization, infrastructure, preparation, coordination, planning, methodicality of their actions, the general behavior of the members and their strictly defined and distinct roles, are representative of the professionalism of the criminal organization in question, since they used techniques and methods applied by very well organized criminal groups.
Their modus operandi
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The organization’s methodology was based on different ways of acting each time and by presenting false facts as true, but also by making use of false identity information, they succeeded in deceiving citizens. Specifically, they mainly used the following tricks:
Methodology 1st
It involved the posting on online platforms of virtual advertisements, relating to the sale of cars and agricultural machinery, at a very low and tempting price, in order to attract the interest of a large number of prospective buyers, asking for an advance payment from interested buyers in order to come to an agreement.
Methodology 2nd
It concerned telephone calls by the members of the organization, pretending to be employees of public bodies to citizens under the pretext that they are beneficiaries of either a government subsidy or a refund. Under the pretext of receiving the amount of money immediately, the prospective victims were guided by the members of the organization in actions to extort their amounts of money.
Methodology 3rd
It involved telephone calls by the members of the organization, pretending to be employees of the cooperating accounting office of the prospective victims, who were owners or employees of kiosks and mini-markets and under the pretext of having to upgrade the cash register system, persuaded the latter to issue prepaid cards and to announce to the members of the organization their code.
When an amount of money is deposited by sufferers, it is absorbed from the original account of a member of the organization immediately, either by transferring to another bank account via e-banking and the immediate withdrawal of the amount, or similarly to another bank account via e-banking and then the proceeds from their criminal activity are transferred directly to other bank accounts. They also several times made direct purchases through online bank accounts, “cashing out” the money for products of value for possible resale.
Finding and then recruiting bank account beneficiaries was done by both senior and junior members of the organization, who were looking for people in financial need (drug users, gambling addicts, beggars, etc.), who provided their bank details (money mules), since they rely on money bank transfers through these accounts, which are recorded and traceable after lifting bank secrecy. These individuals, receiving from -300- to -500- euros from the organization, handed over bank data, cards and the telephone connection identified in their bank – mobile phone device on which they received the one-time codes (OTPs) to the members of the organization.
They were then instructed to falsely report that they had been stolen, after the fraud was completed and the money was withdrawn.
The areas where the organization operated
The organization acted like a well-organized business with huge profits, part of which was legitimized with all kinds of purchases, such as high-horsepower vehicles, housing construction, multiple purchases, etc. and with a constant pursuit of the acquisition of illegal material benefit, while at the same time the autonomy of the organization was not affected by the physical status of its members.
Although the above course of action was designed to leave no traces, the ongoing action of the organization was focused on absorbing the money immediately, in order not to lose it in case the original account was blocked by the bank.
From the entirety of the preliminary investigation, the continuous action of the organization from the beginning of October of the year 2022 without territorial limitation throughout the Greek territory was ascertained. The organization had as its “centers” the area of settlements of Zevgolatio and Hexamilia Corinthia and also Argos Argolidos, where they had set up their headquarters – telephone centers.
A key role in the operation of the organization was represented by the operational centers consisting of the enlisted members who were in charge of withdrawing cash from the automatic transaction machines (ATMs), taking protective measures (masks, hoods).
Salamina was the operational center of Zeugolatios and the Six Miles of Corinth, due to its geographical specificity and the large recruitment of members achieved by the organization.
Accordingly, Amaliada and Gastouni Ilias formed the operational center of Argos for the same reasons.
How they were erasing their tracks
Part of the money received from the ATMs was used to pay the recruits, while the bulk of the money ended up, either by hand delivery or through money transfer companies, to the directors of the organization.
In order to serve and achieve their criminal aims, they were provided with a multitude of “ghost phones” telephone connections and telephone devices, which often corresponded to telephone connections with consecutive dialing numbers and were mostly named after third parties, specifically foreigners.
In addition, some of its members trafficked in narcotics, an activity beneficial to the wider operation of the organization, as they had contacts with users from whom in many cases they recruited their bank details.
In the context of the large-scale operation that took place in the morning hours of 26-11-2024, and led to the arrest of -25- members, a number of bank cards, bank books, electronic devices and telephone connections, weapons, flare gun, tazer, number of vehicles, amount of money and quantities of drugs.
The arrested members were taken to the Athens District Attorney.
The business of ELAS
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## Interview: Cracking Down on Refined International Fraud ring
**World Today News Exclusive interview with Chief Inspector Dimitri Papadopoulos, Athens Security Sub-Directorate**
**World Today News:** Chief Inspector Papadopoulos, thank you for joining us today. Let’s talk about the recent dismantling of a important international fraud ring operating here in Athens. Can you tell us about the scale and sophistication of this criminal institution?
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** This was no small-time operation. We’re talking about a highly organized group of 37 individuals,each with a defined role,acting with the professionalism of seasoned criminals. Their modus operandi showed meticulous planning, coordination, and a deep understanding of exploiting vulnerabilities. They weren’t simply opportunists; these were individuals dedicated to building a criminal enterprise.
**World Today News:** Yoru press release mentions three distinct methodologies employed by the group. Can you elaborate on these tactics?
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** Absolutely.First, they used online platforms to peddle nonexistent cars and machinery at ridiculously low prices, enticing unsuspecting buyers into making upfront payments. Second, they impersonated government officials, promising subsidies or refunds to coerce victims into transferring money. they targeted kiosk and mini-market owners, posing as accounting firm representatives to convince them to issue prepaid cards and reveal their codes, ultimately draining those accounts.
**World Today News:** This level of deception requires a sophisticated network. How were they able to move and launder the stolen money?
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** That’s right. This organization wasn’t just about defrauding individuals; they had a system in place to quickly siphon funds and make them harder to trace. They recruited vulnerable individuals – those struggling financially, often facing addiction or homelessness – offering them a small pittance for their bank accounts. These individuals served as “money mules,” funneling the stolen funds through their accounts before the money was distributed or converted into assets.
**world Today News:** it sounds like they were trying to build a legitimate facade with their ill-gotten gains.
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** Precisely. They invested in luxury cars, real estate, and other high-value items, attempting to disguise the source of their wealth.
**World Today News:** This operation must have taken considerable time and resources to dismantle. What was the key to cracking this case?
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** A combination of factors.The dedication and expertise of our investigators, close collaboration with financial institutions to track suspicious transactions, and ultimately, the valuable information provided by concerned citizens played crucial roles.
**World Today News:** What message would you like to send to the public in light of this case?
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** Vigilance is key. Be wary of unsolicited contacts promising financial gains or government benefits.Verify information independently before making any financial transactions. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
**World Today News:** Chief Inspector Papadopoulos, thank you for your time and insights.
**Chief Inspector Papadopoulos:** My pleasure.
