File photo.
Greek police arrested 104 individuals last week in a coordinated raid on two Athens-area call centers allegedly operating fraudulent investment schemes targeting victims in the Gulf region.
The suspects – mainly of Tunisian, Lebanese and Syrian origin – face charges of fraud, money laundering, and participating in a criminal organization. Authorities allege the suspects posed as representatives of investment firms, using VoIP technology to conceal their phone numbers, often appearing as UK-based.
One of the centers operated near Syntagma Square with staff recruited for Arabic-language roles. A whistleblower reported the scam to Greece’s Cybercrime Division in April, claiming he was instructed to deceive investors. One company was founded in 2023 by Ukrainian nationals, later restructured under an Argentinean national. The other lists an unnamed Greek co-owner. None of the managers was arrested.
At least one of the implicated platforms is under investigation in the UAE for embezzlement and operating without a license.
Source: Fake investment schemes target Gulf; 104 arrested | eKathimerini.com
