Police draws net around man suspected of scamming over 50,000 euros

Police in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Tuesday issued charges against a 42-year-old man who is suspected of cheating 86 homeowners out of more than 50,000 euros in 2011.

According to investigators, the suspect ran a technical firm that was responsible for legalizing additions to private properties that were in violation of their original building permits. He is said to have forged dozens of official documents from the Thessaloniki Zoning Authority and other state services, and pocketing money paid by clients to have their properties protected from demolition.

The 42-year-old, who has been investigated in the past for similar offenses, allegedly netted a total of 53,645 euros that clients had paid believing the money would go to the proper authorities to legalize their properties.