Thessaloniki: How an elderly woman escaped from a “monkey” traffic ring – Newsbomb – News
How an elderly woman in Thessaloniki managed to escape from the “nets” of fraudsters
The initial shock for the 85-year-old from Thessaloniki was great when she answered the phone. On the other end of the line was a man who introduced himself as an Athens Police officer. “Your daughter caused a car accident and killed a minor child from Albania. If you pay 180,000 euros, we will withdraw the lawsuit against her,” said the unknown person, while in the background a female voice could be heard, which was supposed to belong to her daughter, shouting “Mom, feel sorry for me…”. “I don’t have that much money,” answered the old woman. The negotiation had just begun, but this time the “combination” of shrewd people who fleece unsuspecting elderly people with the method of traffic “monkeys” – a fraud that in recent years has developed into a scourge – would not thrive.
85 – as she later testified – stated that she only has 7,000 euros with the “police” urging her to go to the bank to “pick it up” and hand it over with me jewelry and any valuables he may have. Another phone call would follow with instructions on how and where to deliver. Despite the surprise, the old woman managed to keep her composure. “Is it from the mafia asking for money?” he wondered. He had heard – after all – about the activity of criminal groups that deceive citizens with such practices.
After successive phone calls she made to people close to her, including her daughter, who assured her that are well, she realized her suspicion was confirmed. She immediately contacted the Police and an operation was set up that led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man of Bulgarian origin, who later and after continuous calls to the 85-year-old woman and the supposed policeman who appeared in a taxi under her house to collect the money and jewelry . .
As revealed by the police investigation, it was her “collector”. criminal group who for 50 euros for each “route” undertook the receipt of the “loot”. He confessed to his involvement in the above case, as well as in two more completed frauds, from which he obtained the total sum of 57,000 euros on behalf of the criminal group. The Three-member Court of Criminal Appeal of Thessaloniki – before which he was called to account today – sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison, with recognition of mitigating circumstances. After the Court’s verdict he remains in prison for his report on his sentence, as it was not suspended or commuted.
The 85-year-old testified in Court, where she described minute by minute the chronicle of the adventure she experienced last September. “The shock one gets is terrible […] I hope no mother hears this,” she added. In contrast to her case, another elderly woman fell into the net of fraudsters. “At that moment it works with emotion, not logic,” he testified about the moment of initial surprise.
As far as the leaders of these circles are concerned, from cases that reach the Courts of Thessaloniki, it appears that they are difficult to locate and rarely arrested. “They are usually abroad and calling from unknown mobile phones. They contact their “collectors” who are spent and give instructions on where to go,” said a police officer with knowledge of such cases.
With information from: RES-MPE
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