File photo.
Police have dismantled three related criminal groups accused of defrauding elderly people in Athens, Thessaloniki and Agrinio by posing as employees of the country’s electricity distribution operator.
Four suspects were arrested during an operation in the Athens area, while 18 other alleged members were identified. Police said the groups had been active since September 2025, using phone calls to target elderly victims and falsely warning them of a possible explosion caused by an alleged electrical fault.
Investigators said the suspects impersonated employees of Greece’s electricity distribution operator, DEDDIE, and used video calls displaying the company’s logo to make their claims appear legitimate.
Victims were pressured into handing over cash and valuables, which police said amounted to more than €410,000.
