From the press release of the Greek Police:
Greek police headquarters
Athens, 18 January 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Thirty-eight (38) cases of fraud by internet users were investigated by the Financial Police & Cybercrime Prosecution Service
A criminal case was filed against him two (2) national for professional computer fraud
The offenders, advertising "holiday packages" via the Internet at tempting prices, earned a sum of money reaching approximately (50.000) euro
To achieve their goal, they had created virtual tournament profiles on a social networking site, and to make it difficult to locate, they often renamed profiles and activated them at certain times of the day
Thirty-eight (38) cases of defrauding internet users, related to theorganization και πραγματοποίηση υποτιθέμενων ταξιδιωτικών «πακέτων», τα οποία διαφημίζονταν στο Internet.
For this case, a criminal case was filed against two (2) citizens, aged 31 and 59, for professional computer fraud.
In particular, the case was investigated following complaints submitted to the Internet Criminal Intelligence Subsidiary by internet users who had been deceived by unknown people who, using the social networking site "Facebook", advertised travel packages at tempting prices. Through their telephone conversation, they were urging citizens to pay money for travel, but they did not.
Of all the complaints submitted to the Electronic Crime Investigation Sub-Division, a total of seven (7) websites on Facebook, eight (8) bank accounts and ten (10) phone numbers were used to commit fraud.
In the context of the many months of police and digital research, both 31 and 59 were identified as the managers of the controversial profiles and organizers of the alleged travel packages.
Using a specific modus operandi, the two nationals managed, in the period from 23.07.2013 to 12.12.2013, to seize at least thirty-eight (38) citizens a total amount of money (49.795) for the deceptive travel deals they advertised on the internet.
More specifically, the two actors to create a virtual travel agency profile on "Facebook", through which they advertised travel to various destinations abroad (Paris, London, Dubai, etc.) with cheap holiday packages .
They then received money from the public as a down payment for the trip, and then all communication with them was stopped and the trips were never made.
The 15.01.2014, a surprise survey at the 31hronos home in Thessaloniki, where a (1) internal hard drive, 1 mobile phone and one (1) SIM card were found and seized (XNUMX) were sent for laboratory examination to the Criminal Investigation Division of Northern Greece.
In addition, a feature of their action is that they used a number of ways to make it difficult to locate them, such as disabling profiles and enabling them at certain times of the day, and frequent renaming of profiles.
The case file will be submitted to the Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office in Thessaloniki, while their involvement in other similar acts is also investigated to determine the extent of the fraud and their involvement.
On this occasion, the Electronic Crime Investigation Subcommittee of the Financial Police and Electronic Crime Investigation Service reminds recommending and urging Internet users:
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Be particularly careful about online transactions and perform online transactions on trusted sites that follow robust security protocols.
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In cases of online transactions and in order to avoid their possible deception, when purchasing goods or services, any kind of online booking for trips and excursions should check whether the website they use is valid and opt for their transactions and purchases , only from known and secure websites.
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It is recommended that they use prepaid cards (prepaid cards) in their online purchases, so that only the amount that is to be used immediately is available, while at the same time it is possible to add money only when there is a need, in order to be processed safely the online transactions.
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Do not trust the information and promises of strange and dubious websites.
(More information can be obtained from the official website of the Greek Police www.hellenicpolice.gr / Citizen's Guide).
It is reminded that for similar incidents, citizens can contact the Financial Police & Cybercrime Prosecution Service at the following contact details:
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By phone to 11012 and 210-6476464
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Sending emails to ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr , 11012@hellenicpolice.gr
