Security warning: “Electrical wiring” phone scam targeting households in Greece

Fidentia has always valued its longstanding relationships within the Greek community. We felt it was important to share this information to raise awareness and help protect those who may be vulnerable to this crime.

We have recently become aware of a sophisticated and increasingly common phone scam affecting households in Greece. In these incidents, fraudsters impersonate employees of an electricity company and use pressure and technical misinformation to persuade victims to hand over valuables.

Based on the available information, the scam typically operates as follows.

1. The victim receives a phone call from someone claiming to be an electricity company worker or technician.


2. The caller claims there has been an unusually high voltage surge at the property, or that there is a dangerous wiring fault that could potentially cause a fire or electrocution.


3. The caller then suggests that items such as gold, jewellery and cash (including coins and banknotes with metallic security threads) can conduct electricity and may become dangerously charged due to the high voltage.


4. To supposedly protect both the resident and their valuables, the caller instructs them to place cash, gold coins (such as sovereigns) and jewellery into a bag and leave it outside the property – often on the street, a veranda, or near the front door – while the issue is allegedly resolved remotely.


5. While the resident remains on the phone following further instructions (such as checking lights or switching off the main power supply) an accomplice who is already nearby collects the bag and quickly leaves the area.

Advice to help avoid this type of scam

There are several warning signs that indicate the call is fraudulent.

• Legitimate electricity company employees would not ask you to move cash or jewellery, and they would certainly not instruct you to leave valuables outside your home.


• If a caller asks you to gather valuables or follow unusual safety instructions, end the call and verify the caller.


• Do not use any telephone number provided by the caller. Instead, contact your electricity company using its official helpline number. Report the call to them and if they confirm it’s not genuine, report the incident to the Greek Police.


• To ensure the original call has ended, you may wish to use a different phone when contacting the electricity supplier, as scammers may attempt to keep the line open.


• Fraudsters often try to keep victims on the phone to prevent them from seeking help. If you feel pressured, it is best to end the call and seek advice.

If you believe you have been targeted

If you become a victim of this type of scam, you should contact the Greek Police as soon as possible to report the incident.

For insurance purposes, a formal police report is usually required to document the theft. Many insurance policies also require incidents to be reported within specific timeframes, and failure to do so could affect the validity of a claim.

Policy wordings may also include conditions for valuables left unattended outside the property. For this reason, it may be worth checking the terms of your policy so that you understand how cover may apply in these circumstances.

 

Support and guidance

If this information raises any concerns for you or for family members in Greece, you are welcome to contact the Fidentia team for further guidance. Given our longstanding relationships within the Greek community, we are always happy to assist where we can.