Greek authorities have dismantled a criminal organisation that used artificial intelligence to clone the voices of relatives, making telephone fraud schemes far more convincing. The operation, led by the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, culminated in the arrest of two men, aged 23 and 25, in Nea Ionia, a suburb of Athens.
The suspects are believed to have acted as the group's “collectors,” responsible for retrieving cash and valuables from victims. They were apprehended shortly after removing items worth approximately €30,000 from a home in the Attica region. According to police estimates, the gang's total illegal proceeds exceed €1 million.
How the AI scam worked
The organisation operated with a clear division of roles: “managers,” “callers,” and “collectors.” The scheme is thought to have been active since at least early July 2026. Callers would contact potential victims under various pretexts, often posing as employees of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO), mobile phone companies, or fibre-optic service providers.
When a victim expressed doubt, the scammers would urge them to verify the claim by contacting a relative or trusted person. They would then obtain that person's phone number, call them, and record a sample of their voice during a brief conversation. Using AI tools, they created a cloned version of that voice and used it to call the victim again, making it sound as though the relative was confirming the original request.
This technique was designed to exploit the trust people place in familiar voices, a tactic that police say is becoming increasingly common across Europe. The investigation has linked the gang to at least five other incidents using the same modus operandi. In a related development, police also solved a vehicle theft reported on 14 September 2026, which the gang had been using as an “operational vehicle.”
The two detainees have been brought before a prosecutor and referred to an examining magistrate. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full scope of the criminal activity.
Police warnings and public advice
In response to this case, the Hellenic Police have renewed their warnings about telephone scams, emphasising that recognising a familiar voice is no longer a reliable way to confirm a caller's identity. They urge citizens to hang up on suspicious calls, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and never disclose details about household members or absences from home.
Authorities recommend that people call their relatives back on a known number to verify any request, use a pre-agreed safety word where possible, and never open the door to strangers based on a phone call alone. They also stress that no legitimate technical inspection would ever require handing over cash, jewellery, or other valuables, or revealing where such items are kept.
Special caution is advised for elderly family members, who are often targeted in these schemes. The police ask anyone who receives a suspicious call to contact them immediately on 100 or at their local station, keeping the caller's number and any other relevant details.
This case highlights a growing challenge for law enforcement across the continent, as AI tools become more accessible. Similar fraud rings have been reported in other European countries, prompting calls for greater cross-border cooperation. For more on how European police are adapting to new threats, see our coverage of French police protests over resources and German police bodycam footage.
