The Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Sub-Directorate has uncovered the activities of an organized criminal group that specialized in fraud and illegal access to information systems using sophisticated electronic equipment. Specifically, authorities arrested two foreign nationals, aged 29 and 31, who face charges for forgery, fraud, and illegal system access, committed professionally and repeatedly. The two scammers were caught with special equipment in their car trunks, having set up an entire operation to steal banking data and gain access to victims’ account information through phishing methods. Their arrest took place in Spata, where the accused presented fake identification documents, while their vehicle contained a specially modified space with a portable computer system connected to a “shark fin” type antenna. The vehicle, equipment, and five mobile phones were seized.
Spata: How the criminal organization stole banking data
The preliminary investigation revealed that the perpetrators had installed a system in their vehicle for creating fake mobile phone base stations, implementing the “SMS Blaster Attacks” method. This way they deceived citizens’ mobile devices, downgraded connections from 4G to 2G, exploited security gaps in the older network, and gained access to subscriber identification data, such as phone numbers.
They then sent mass deceptive messages with “phishing” links, appearing as banks or courier companies, aimed at stealing victims’ bank card details and personal data, which they used for illegal purchases.
So far, three fraud cases have been solved in Maroussi, Spata, and Athens, while the investigation continues to identify other incidents.
Detailed police announcement
The Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Sub-Directorate confirmed the activities of a criminal group whose members were involved in committing fraud and illegal access to information systems using specialized electronic equipment.
For this case, two foreign nationals aged 29 and 31 were arrested and charged with certificate forgery, fraud, and illegal access to information systems in conspiracy and repeatedly, crimes committed by two or more people who organized themselves to commit professional fraud.
Specifically, during midday hours on April 9, 2025, officers from the Spata-Artemida Crime Investigation and Detection Department spotted the accused in the Spata area and called them for inspection, during which they presented fake identification cards to hinder their identification.
A search conducted in the vehicle they were using, specifically in the luggage area which they had specially modified, revealed a mobile computer system with internet access connected to a transmitter placed on the roof in a shark fin shape.
The vehicle, the aforementioned equipment, as well as five mobile phones found in the possession of the accused were seized, while the Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Sub-Directorate undertook further preliminary investigation.
The thorough preliminary investigation revealed that the perpetrators had established a criminal group with ongoing activities aimed at committing fraud and consequently illegal income generation.
Regarding their method of operation, the accused used the special electronic equipment installed in the aforementioned vehicle to initially create cloned mobile phone antennas with fake mobile phone base stations, implementing the “SMS BLASTER ATTACKS” method, through which they deceived citizens’ mobile phone devices.
Subsequently, they downgraded the network connection on devices from 4G to 2G, exploiting security gaps presented by the 2G network, and then gained access to them and obtained knowledge of their identification data such as the subscriber’s phone number.
Afterwards, they sent deceptive “SMS” messages containing “phishing” links, in which they appeared as senders mainly banking institutions or courier companies, where victims were asked to enter bank card details and other personal data.
In this way, they gained access to victims’ banking data and proceeded to make illegal product purchases.
From the preliminary investigation by the Northeast Attica Crime Investigation and Detection Sub-Directorate so far, three fraud cases have been solved in Maroussi, Spata, and Athens.
The investigation is in full progress to determine the full extent of their criminal activity.
The accused were brought before the competent prosecutor.
