Thessaloniki: End of the action of a criminal organization that committed 33 frauds
The ringleaders were found to be posting virtual advertisements for the sale of virtual agricultural vehicles on the internet, through which they were extorting sums of money, allegedly as advances, from interested victims.
An end to the action of a criminal organization which, as it was found, committed a total of 33 frauds in its various regions Greecewith their prey surpassing them 100,000 euros, they gave police officers of the Pella Security Department, after a months-long investigation. As stated in today’s relevant announcement by the police, for the case the details of the three national men, leading members of the criminal organization and even 37 their accomplices. A case was filed against them for criminal organization, fraud, forgery and money laundering. In particular, as emerged from the months-long investigation, the above-mentioned perpetrators formed a structured and continuous criminal organization, with the aim of obtaining an illegal financial benefit, deceiving citizens and businesses.
In terms of their methodology, the ringleaders were found to have posted fake ads selling mainly agricultural vehicles on the internet, through which they extracted sums of money allegedly as advances, from victims who expressed interest. Also, pretending to be accounting procedures during the purchase and sale, they sent their victims plastic money transfer receipts and asked them to return the corresponding amounts to accounts indicated to them. In addition, as stated in the police statement, the leading members of the criminal organization were found to be calling businesses under the guise of ordering products and sending plastic receipts for the transfer of larger sums of money than what was agreed upon for the purchase of the products. They then asked for the difference to be refunded, claiming that they deposited more money by mistake. During their action, according to the police, the perpetrators used a number of bank accounts, which had been granted to them by their accomplices (money mules), in exchange for monetary exchange and to which the money extorted from victims of the criminal organization was transferred.
33 scams by August 2020 up to February 2021
As it was established, in the period from August 2020 to February 2021, the participants in the criminal organization committed a total of 33 frauds against citizens in various regions of the Greek territory, specifically eight in areas of Pella, six in Thessaloniki. , from three to Attica, Western Greece, Cyclades and Ionian Islandsfrom two to Dodecanese, North Aegean, Crete and one in Chalcidice. The case filed against them was duly submitted.