Despina
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 251 cases handled · 2 in this service
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek
- Law, Athens University of Law
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4.95(12 reviews)
Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Greece
This page is for a person accused in Greece of fraud, theft, embezzlement or forgery, from shoplifting on holiday to a forged signature on a contract or a dispute over money entrusted to a partner. It explains how the three offences differ, how the value of the case changes the procedure and what an English-speaking lawyer does.
About Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Greece
Fraud charges in Greece are brought under the offence of απάτη (apati), deceiving someone about facts in order to gain at their expense, and they travel with a family of related offences: theft, κλοπή (klopi); embezzlement, υπεξαίρεση (ypexairesi), keeping money or property entrusted to you; and forgery, πλαστογραφία (plastografia), making or altering a document or a signature, which is treated more severely when the document is an official one. Shoplifting, a forged signature or document, credit card fraud and online or computer fraud (απάτη με υπολογιστή) all fall under these headings. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Fraud, Theft, Forgery etc”. For all of them Greek law draws a line by the value involved: below it the offence is a misdemeanour, above it a felony with a different court and far heavier sentences. A person who has been defrauded or robbed finds a separate page on legal representation for crime victims. This page is information, not legal advice.
Who needs this
A visitor stopped at a shop exit; a resident accused by a former business partner of keeping company money; a buyer or seller of property accused of a false statement or a forged power of attorney; a person whose card details were used by someone else and who is now asked to explain payments; and anyone who received a summons for an old transaction.
How a case runs in Greece
- The complaint. Many property offences start with the injured person's complaint (μήνυση or, where the law requires it, έγκληση, which has a short deadline); the prosecutor can also act on a police report.
- Caught in the act. A shoplifter or a person caught with forged documents is dealt with under the fast-track procedure (αυτόφωρο) and may be tried at once or after an adjournment.
- Investigation. Larger cases go to the investigating judge (ανακριτής); the person is summoned to give a statement with a lawyer and an interpreter, and conditions such as surrender of the passport may be imposed.
- Trial and appeal. Misdemeanours are heard by the misdemeanour court, felonies by a higher court; both have an appeal.
What to pay attention to
- For some property offences Greek law gives real weight to full restitution before a certain stage, which can end the case or reduce the sentence; a lawyer explains whether this applies.
- Civil disputes over unpaid invoices or a failed deal are sometimes turned into fraud complaints as leverage; a broken promise is not deception.
- Documents in Greek signed without understanding them are a frequent source of forgery and fraud accusations against foreigners.
- Tax offences are a separate field and are not covered on this page.
What an English-speaking lawyer does
The lawyer attends the statement, obtains the file, checks whether the complaint was filed in time and by the right person, tests whether the elements of deception or appropriation are really present, arranges and documents restitution where that is the client's choice, and represents the client at trial and on appeal. Where a disputed signature or identity is at the heart of the case, the formalities of document witnessing and identity verification are relevant; a client who is held is helped as described under legal help for prisoners; a criminal record certificate is often needed afterwards. More on criminal law in Greece.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between fraud, theft and embezzlement?
Theft is taking something that is not yours; embezzlement is keeping something that was entrusted to you; fraud is obtaining it by deceiving someone. The same facts are often charged under more than one heading.
I was caught shoplifting on holiday. What happens?
Usually a fast-track case before the misdemeanour court; paying for the goods and apologising does not erase the offence but weighs heavily, and a lawyer can often obtain a mild outcome and a quick return home.
Can the case end if I repay the money?
For some offences and up to a certain stage, yes; for others repayment only reduces the sentence. Which rule applies depends on the offence and its value.
2 lawyers who provide Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Greece
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Konstantinos
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 28 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- Degree in Law, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
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5.00(1 review)
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2 registered lawyers provide this service in Greece. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
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Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
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What our clients say about our service in Greece
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The lawyer answered my queries the moment I sent them. She knows the Greek legal system extremely well and was a great help; on my own I could never have reached a conclusion I am completely satisfied with. Her command of English was excellent, close to bilingual though not quite. At all times she was friendly, approachable and professional, and she explained clearly what I had to do. I came to trust her completely.
— Alan19 Oct 2025 -
I recommend this lawyer, who helped me through a tough situation after I was wrongly accused of fraud. The advice, support and professionalism he offered were outstanding.
— Elin28 Feb 2020 -
A very helpful and empathetic lawyer and consultant, with excellent assistance. I will totally work with the lawyer again.
— Alina30 Nov 2022 -
She replied extremely fast to my first inquiry, quickly arranged a meeting to go over the details, and answered all my questions. Reaching her by phone or text was easy, she was punctual, and she was fun and personable to talk to as well, with perfect English. After I had struggled for months to get this done on my own, she sorted everything out for me in record time. Anyone trying to navigate Greek bureaucracy should hire her, and I would recommend her.
— Ine06 Aug 2026 -
I am really happy with her. Every time I wrote she answered fast, so I never had to chase her for news of how things were going. She understood what I needed straight away and, with her perfect English, explained the parts I had not followed without making me feel stupid. She was also nice to deal with. The price was fair, and in short she got it done, so I am glad I chose her.
— Antoine03 Jul 2026 -
I cannot thank the lawyer enough for her expertise and dedication in handling my case. She was thorough and persistent and kept up good communication, in perfect English, at all times. She made a very difficult and stressful situation much easier to manage from afar. Extremely professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.
— Angelica09 May 2026 -
She is knowledgeable, approachable and very professional, with perfect English. She went over and above to find what I needed.
— Tracey21 Oct 2025 -
I recently worked with a lawyer who managed to get my divorce certificate within the promised timeline, even though the information I first gave was limited. From our very first contact she showed great professionalism and expertise. She was patient and understanding and took me through the process step by step, and her English was perfect, so I never had trouble following. I was truly impressed by her attention to detail and her commitment to my case. I am grateful for her dedication and support at what could have been a stressful time, and I was completely satisfied with the result. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs legal assistance. Thank you for the outstanding service!
— Yvonne08 Aug 2025 -
The lawyer was welcoming and very knowledgeable in the area where I needed help, and went above and beyond with information and solutions to keep the process as smooth and simple as possible. Her English was flawless, everything was completed promptly, and I could not be happier with my experience.
— Dean02 Jul 2025 -
She guided and educated me on the AFM VAT/TIN number process so that I could do a real estate transaction in Greece. I am very satisfied: it was simple and easy to get through.
— George12 May 2025 -
The lawyer was amazing. Communication was excellent, her English flawless, and she was professional and informative.
— William25 Feb 2025 -
The lawyer took real care to explain the process and how best to meet our requests, and she was very good at telling us the timelines and what to expect. She moved quickly to get our process completed, and the assistance could not have been better.
— Flavia28 Mar 2024Criminal Record Check, Greece