An elderly woman in Greece has fallen victim to a carefully planned scam, with fraudsters making off with €20,000 in cash and valuable jewelry after deceiving her into allowing them into her home.
According to local media reports, the victim is the mother of lawyer Evita Varela.
Fraudsters posed as tax officials
The incident unfolded as the woman was returning home from a supermarket when she was approached by a man and a woman.
The pair claimed that her daughter was entitled to a tax refund but first needed to pay a €1,600 administrative fee. Using this story, they gained the woman’s trust and accompanied her back to her residence.
Once inside, the female suspect kept the victim engaged in conversation while her accomplice searched the property. He stole €20,000 in cash along with jewelry of significant value before the pair fled.
Victim may have been under surveillance
Preliminary information suggests the suspects may have monitored the elderly woman for more than a week before carrying out the theft.
Investigators believe the scam was carefully planned, with the perpetrators studying the victim’s routine before approaching her with the fabricated tax refund story.
