A criminal network linked to Bulgaria has been accused of defrauding dozens of elderly people in northern Greece through an elaborate telephone scam that resulted in losses exceeding 600,000 euros, according to Kathimerini.

Investigators say the operation was active between September 2021 and August 2023 and was allegedly coordinated by a 48-year-old foreign national, working with unidentified accomplices. The group is believed to have targeted vulnerable residents across Halkidiki and Thessaloniki.

The scheme relied on impersonation tactics, with callers posing as police officers or doctors. Victims were told that a close relative had been injured in an accident and that urgent payment was required either for medical treatment or to avoid arrest through alleged bribery.

Once the victims were convinced, individuals were dispatched to collect cash and valuables directly from their homes, often with the consent of the elderly targets. In total, authorities estimate that the group accumulated around 611,345 euros through these methods.

Officials note that such fraud operations remain widespread and increasingly sophisticated, with elderly and isolated individuals continuing to be the most frequent targets despite ongoing public warnings.