The police are searching for a 59-year-old Tunisian man who opened an illegal job center in Athens and Thessaloniki, through which he cheated over 100 unemployed people out of 62,000 euros. The suspect is also wanted by Interpol.
According to the police, the 59-year-old man established a legitimate job center in Athens and Thessaloniki using a fake Greek ID and would then post ads online to avoid suspicion and attracting authorities. The victims would be asked to sign a contract and then had to pay a sum (typically over 600 euros), in order to secure a job abroad.
During the investigations in the illegal job center offices in Athens, Thessaloniki and the 59-year-old’s home in Kalamaria, the police recovered a number of submitted application forms, signed contracts as well as two forged ID cards and driving license. The 59-year-old man had even set up offices in Slovenia and Cyprus using the same fake ID.
In response to the scam, the police issued a statement reminding those seeking employment that they are not forced to pay any fees to job centers, as they are typically paid directly by employers. Additionally, the police urges to jobseekers to use officially recognized bodies and services.
