Μake us preferred on Google Nine key suspects in a cryptocurrency investment scam in northern Greece, including two military personnel accused of having leadership roles in the organization, are due to appear before an investigating magistrate Monday.
Greek police have so far arrested 17 people linked to the criminal organization, which prosecutors say operated as a pyramid scheme and persuaded investors to put money into cryptocurrencies through a platform controlled by the group.
According to police sources, the organization’s financial gains are estimated at approximately $8 million, while about 10,000 people are believed to have invested through the platform.
Six suspects released on bail
The first seven people arrested in the case, including military personnel, have appeared before the investigating magistrate in Katerini, in northern Greece.
Six of them were released under restrictive conditions, with bail set at between €15,000 and €20,000, according to information reported by Greece’s public broadcaster ERT.
A 44-year-old group leader of the Association of Artificial Intelligence Friends in Katerini was remanded in custody after the investigating magistrate and prosecutor were not persuaded by his claims.
Military personnel among key suspects
The nine main members of the organization are scheduled to give statements Monday. They include the leaders, one military serviceman from Pieria and another from Larissa.
According to the information, the serviceman from Larissa had met abroad with a person who possessed the know-how for this type of fraud during a trip they took together.
The case involves investments made through a platform controlled by the organization, with victims reportedly persuaded to invest money on the promise that their funds would be doubled.
In Katerini alone, investigators estimate that the organization had 1,842 members and that approximately €2 million had been invested.
Investigation began with anonymous complaints
The investigation began in July, when officers from the Katerini Sub-Directorate for Crime Investigation received two anonymous complaints through gov.gr, Greece’s government digital services portal.
According to the information, investors were encouraged to put in amounts starting at €800, while so-called VIP investors were asked to invest €5,000, with the promise that their money would be doubled.
Authorities subsequently began unraveling the structure of the organization, which investigators say operated as a pyramid scheme and used a cryptocurrency platform under its control to attract investors.
