Μake us preferred on Google Greek authorities have dismantled a criminal organization that used artificial intelligence to clone the voices of victims’ relatives as part of phone scams and aggravated thefts, police said.
The organization posed as employees of HEDNO, Greece’s electricity distribution network operator, as well as mobile phone and fiber-optic companies. Its total illegal proceeds are estimated to have exceeded €1 million.
Two “collectors,” aged 23 and 25, were arrested during a police operation. Four other people are included in the case file, three of whom have been identified.
According to the Hellenic Police, the organization had a distinct internal structure, with members in managerial roles as well as “callers” and “collectors” assigned specific tasks.
How the AI voice scam worked
The organization’s “callers” identified potential victims by telephone and attempted to persuade them to follow instructions, mainly concerning the installation of fiber-optic internet.
If a victim expressed doubts, the callers instructed them to contact a relative or another person they trusted to confirm that the procedure was necessary.
The scammers then obtained the relative’s phone number and contacted them, pretending to represent a mobile telecommunications provider.
During the conversation, they obtained a sample of the relative’s voice and used artificial intelligence to clone its characteristics.
The scammers then contacted the original victim again, this time using the cloned voice to create the impression that the relative was confirming the instructions given earlier.
According to police, the technique was designed to make the calls appear genuine, reduce victims’ suspicions and increase the likelihood that they would follow the scammers’ instructions.
Two collectors arrested
The organization’s activities were brought to an end following an operation by the Economic Crimes Division in Nea Ionia, Attica.
The two suspects were arrested moments after taking €30,000 worth of valuables from a victim’s home. Police said the two men served as “collectors” for the organization.
The case file concerns membership in a criminal organization, fraud, aggravated thefts and attempted offenses committed jointly and repeatedly, with a documented financial benefit exceeding €120,000.
The investigation began after authorities analyzed information indicating that the organization had been operating since at least early July 2026.
Police have so far linked the group to five additional cases involving a similar method. Investigators also solved the theft of a vehicle on September 14, 2026, which was used as an operational vehicle by the organization.
During searches, authorities seized one public-use vehicle and two mobile phones.
Police estimate that the organization’s total illegal financial benefit exceeds €1 million.
The two arrested suspects were brought before a prosecutor and referred to an investigating magistrate. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to clarify the case fully and identify all those involved.
