An Egyptian informant, who had been unpaid, reported the group. A police operation was conducted yesterday in central Athens and Agios Dimitrios, where the scammers had swindled over 800,000 euros from their victims. See the photos.
Call centers disguised themselves as offering investment opportunities in the Gulf – 104 Arabs arrested across two companies in Athens.
In a significant police operation, the Cyber Crime Division exposed a ring orchestrating telephone scams masquerading as investment opportunities in the Persian Gulf. This took place yesterday with coordinated searches, led by judicial authorities, at two firms in downtown Athens and Agios Dimitrios.
Triggered by a complaint from a former employee, the operation involved two OPKE teams and units specializing in Digital Evidence. A total of 104 individuals were arrested (87 from one company and 17 from the other), posing as employees of fake investment firms targeting foreign nationals, primarily from Gulf countries.
All those arrested are Arab nationals, including the ringleader, who has prior arrests related to drugs and pimping and is involved in the shipping industry.
Reports indicate the ring had defrauded victims of over 800,000 euros. The complaint originated from an Egyptian member of the group who claimed he was not paid by the leaders.
The fake employees contacted potential victims via phone, promising high investment returns and convincing them to wire money to the companies’ accounts.
During the investigation, a substantial amount of digital evidence, documents, and handwritten notes linked to the ongoing criminal activities were seized. This evidence will be forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for analysis.
A case file has been compiled against the detainees for crimes related to directing, organizing, and participating in a criminal organization engaged in repeated and aggravated fraud.
The arrested individuals will be taken today, along with the case file, to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office.
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