The PR woman arrested following the Final Four scam in Abu Dhabi was reportedly preparing to escape abroad. She had also “ripped off” a person with disabilities.

The woman, a former journalist who styled herself as a PR and travel agent, was arrested yesterday, Thursday, by the Organized Crime Unit after defrauding dozens of people by collecting payments for trips abroad that never took place.

She was apprehended at a hotel in central Athens, where she had been hiding with the intention—according to sources—of fleeing the country. The fraud is estimated to exceed €120,000, and the case against her involves felony charges.

According to the Hellenic Police (ELAS) statement, the number of defrauded individuals exceeds 50, with the PR agent allegedly earning over €160,000 since May 2024, when her scheme is believed to have started.

ELAS Statement on the PR Woman’s Arrest

The Financial Crimes Subdivision of the Organized Crime Directorate arrested a Greek national today, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Athens, under a warrant, charged with repeated fraud resulting in damages exceeding €120,000, and with money laundering from criminal activity.

The investigation revealed that, since at least May 2024, the accused misled her victims by presenting false information as true. She claimed she could organize leisure trips at reduced prices, collecting amounts supposedly covering travel expenses such as airline tickets and hotel stays—which were never arranged.

Notably, using the upcoming basketball Final Four matches in a foreign country as a pretext, she approached individuals, claiming she could secure tickets and organize full travel packages.

Using this modus operandi, she managed to defraud at least 50 individuals, earning a total of more than €160,000.

New Fraud Report Involving a Person with Disabilities

Her arrest adds to a growing number of complaints, the most recent involving the scam of a person with disabilities who had trusted the woman to purchase a wheelchair and organize trips. The victim reported that she approached the accused to buy an electric wheelchair for Easter 2024. Although she paid the full amount, the product was delayed for almost a year.

“I have mobility issues and had bought an electric wheelchair through her, which I never received. Despite my repeated inquiries, she always responded that it was delayed due to customs. Finally, she called me at 3 a.m. a year later and delivered it to my home herself,” the victim told protothema.gr.

But the issue didn’t stop at the wheelchair. The victim explained that they had also arranged a group trip to Iceland, with five people paying in advance based on assurances that special arrangements for persons with disabilities would be provided. However, the group found themselves without hotel bookings, return tickets, or a rental vehicle—despite having paid for everything upfront.

“She embezzled money from me and my group for a trip to Iceland, promising disability support. Not only was there none, but we suffered greatly—we had no hotel, no return tickets, and no transportation, even though all expenses were prepaid.”

The same complaint includes two additional trips—one to Lemnos and another to the Maldives—that also never occurred despite being fully paid for.

“We’re Already Participating in the Group Lawsuit—My Friends and I, Along with Many Others”

As previously reported by protothema.gr, the woman allegedly used a consistent strategy aimed at gaining the trust of potential clients. Initially, she would offer a “bait,” as the victim described it: successful trips with minimal issues, creating the illusion of reliability and professionalism. As a result, subsequent transactions—often involving more expensive packages—were made with little suspicion.

The complainant recalled that she and her friends went on two trips with the accused, always with some caution, as the tickets were typically sent at the last possible moment—two to five hours before departure. This naturally raised concerns, but the initial experiences temporarily reassured them.

The woman, during every interaction, promised the victim—as someone with mobility issues—all the necessary amenities and accommodations. These promises, however, were not fulfilled in subsequent trips, leaving the victim in extremely difficult situations.

The acquaintance with the accused came through a mutual contact who had already traveled with her two or three times, adding a layer of perceived credibility. The packages offered featured surprisingly low prices compared to market rates. According to the victim, “they were extremely tempting,” as the PR claimed to have access to exclusive booking platforms through which she secured airline tickets and five-star hotels at special rates.

One illustrative example mentioned was an 11-day trip to Iceland, which included flights, car rental, and accommodation, priced at €1,600 per person—while similar trips through mainstream agencies would cost over €3,500. This financial incentive, combined with assurances of professional planning and personal care, convinced dozens of people to trust the woman—until the reality of broken promises began to unfold.