A scam targeting the mother of prominent Greek lawyer Evita Varela resulted in the theft of over €20,000 in cash and jewelry worth another €20,000. The incident occurred on July 3 around 11:30 a.m. in Athens, when the elderly woman—returning home on foot after grocery shopping—was approached by a well-dressed, seemingly polite couple who stopped beside her in a car.
Deception Through Familiarity
The pair addressed her by her first name, Olympia, asking, “How are you, Mrs. Olympia? Do you remember us?” They then mentioned her daughter by name—Evita—and asked whether she was at home. Their apparent familiarity with family details reassured the woman, who did not suspect foul play.
The scammers claimed Evita was entitled to a €16,000 tax refund—but needed an immediate €1,600 deposit to secure it. Pressuring her with time constraints, they insisted the bank would close soon. When she confirmed she had money at home, the woman agreed to retrieve it—but refused to get into their car due to her shopping cart. Instead, the female suspect offered to walk with her, while the male accomplice followed nearby.
Breach of Trust Inside the Home
Once inside the apartment, the suspect kept the elderly woman occupied for 10–15 minutes while pretending to process paperwork. She accepted the €1,600 as a supposed “deposit.” Meanwhile, the pair allegedly searched the home and stole €20,000 in cash and jewelry valued at approximately €20,000.
After the suspects left, the victim contacted her daughter. Evita Varela immediately recognized the scale of the loss—and reported the crime to authorities. Police investigations are underway.
‘They Were Watching Us’
In an interview with SKAI TV, Varela described the suspects as professionals: “They wore long-sleeved shirts in 40°C heat—clearly trying to hide something. We hadn’t yet connected our security cameras, and they must have been watching us. They knew we weren’t monitored.”
She urged caution for all elderly citizens: “My mother can’t understand how she fell for it. Be vigilant—this could happen to anyone.”
Varela emphasized her determination to hold the perpetrators accountable: “All necessary steps have been taken to locate them. I will find them—and we’ll all find them together. We will bring them before justice.” She also suggested the suspects may belong to the Roma community, noting that such scams are reportedly carried out by Roma individuals in about 95% of similar cases in Greece.