Pizza orders that were paid in full but recorded as “complimentary gifts” lie at the heart of the tax fraud scheme currently under investigation in the Pizza Fan case. Behind the chain’s everyday phone orders, authorities allege that an organized system for concealing revenue had been put in place — one that, according to police investigation findings, resulted in at least €25 million in VAT going unpaid to the state since 2022.
Read more: Pizza Fan: The “complimentary” button that wiped receipts, the secret ledgers, and the hidden room behind a wardrobe in Ekali containing €1.1 million
The large-scale operation carried out by the Financial Crimes Prosecution Sub-Directorate — Greece’s equivalent of the FBI’s financial crimes unit — has resulted in 22 arrests, including the chain’s owner, Konstantinos Antaras. Investigations also uncovered a hidden room at his luxury residence in Ekali, where cash and jewelry were discovered. The total amount of cash seized from the villa exceeded one million euros.
Pizza Fan: The “complimentary order” receipt trick explained
The scheme is alleged to have been built around specially configured software capable of concealing transactions that had already been legitimately completed. The company’s call center played a pivotal role, remaining under centralized control even though a large portion of the network operated through franchise agreements.
When a customer called to place an order, they were asked a seemingly routine question: “Will you be paying by card or cash?” That answer, however, allegedly determined how the order would be logged in the system.
If the customer chose to pay in cash, the transaction could be recorded as a “complimentary order,” even though full payment was collected. Instead of the legally required fiscal receipt, a delivery note was issued — meaning the sale was never recorded as actual revenue for the store.
Through this method, the business allegedly reported a lower turnover than its actual figures, correspondingly reducing the VAT it was obligated to remit to the state. Investigators are now working to determine exactly how many transactions were concealed and what the total financial damage amounts to.
The 22 arrests and the role of the software developer
The coordinated police operation took place on Thursday, October 22nd, following months of investigation by the Financial Crimes Prosecution Sub-Directorate, with the assistance of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) and the Forensic Investigations Directorate.
Nine individuals allegedly forming the core of the operation were initially arrested, with the total number of arrests subsequently rising to 22. Among those detained are store managers, as well as the software developer who allegedly installed the fraudulent system.
Spot checks are simultaneously being conducted at franchise locations across the chain to determine whether the software in question was installed and actively used to conceal transactions. Particular attention is being paid to electronic files and order data, which will be cross-referenced against tax records.
The secret room with one million euros
One of the operation’s most striking discoveries was made at Konstantinos Antaras’s luxury residence in the affluent Athenian suburb of Ekali.
During the search, police discovered an entire hidden space concealed behind a wardrobe — completely invisible from the rest of the home’s rooms. Inside, large sums of cash and jewelry were found stored.
In total, the cash recovered from the property exceeded one million euros, while searches conducted on the remaining suspects uncovered additional amounts totaling up to €100,000. Authorities also seized vehicles and digital evidence, all of which are expected to play a significant role as the preliminary investigation progresses.
Plans for 36 new store openings
The scandal comes at a time when Pizza Fan had been planning further expansion across the Greek market. The chain’s owner had announced the opening of 36 new locations throughout 2026, with the network already comprising approximately 100 stores nationwide.
The police investigation is ongoing, with the aim of mapping the full extent of the alleged tax evasion and establishing each suspect’s specific role. At the center of the inquiry remains the software that allegedly converted legitimate sales into “complimentary orders,” keeping millions of euros off the books.
