Greek authorities have uncovered a daring financial fraud involving the theft of €95,000 from the bank account of a woman who died nine years ago. Three individuals have been arrested and are accused of forming a criminal group in November 2024 to target the dormant account, which held €248,856 in total savings.
In a bold move, the suspects recruited an elderly woman and presented her to the bank as the rightful account holder. Armed with forged documents, she successfully made several withdrawals and transfers across different bank branches—without initially raising suspicion.
Bank Staff Alerted Authorities After Spotting Irregularities
Over time, unusual account activity caught the attention of bank employees, who froze the account and reported the matter to the police. A joint investigation by the Department for the Protection of Private Property and the Financial Crimes Division led to the arrest of the three alleged perpetrators.
Digital records, witness statements, and forensic analysis played a crucial role in solving the case. The suspects now face serious charges, including fraud, forgery, and money laundering.
Authorities are investigating whether the group is connected to other similar scams and have issued a warning: dormant accounts of deceased individuals are increasingly becoming prime targets for financial criminals.
The arrested individuals are expected to appear before the public prosecutor.
