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Police have arrested six people in an alleged NGO charity fraud that raised millions for seriously ill children, while most of the money never reached their families.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Northern Greece economic crime unit of the Hellenic Police<\/a> carried out the operation on 30 October. Investigators allege that the people behind the NGO charity fraud also ran a second branch that fixed amateur football matches.<\/p>\n According to the investigation, parents of 34 children received about \u20ac1.11 million in total. However, donations credited for those children came to \u20ac3.94 million, a gap of about \u20ac2.83 million.<\/p>\n The probe began in September 2025, after a named complaint about a well-known association and NGO based in Thessaloniki<\/a>. Police believe the group had been active since at least 2018.<\/p>\n Read more: Internet Caf\u00e9 Players Never Stood a Chance, Police Say<\/p>\n Its members posted appeals on social media about children with serious illnesses, mainly cancer. Posts described the cost of hospital stays, medical procedures, travel and temporary housing.<\/p>\n Investigators linked 92 fundraising campaigns for 74 beneficiaries to the NGO charity fraud, 55 of whom they have identified. In some cases, the group allegedly used different photos of the same child to hide earlier campaigns.<\/p>\n Well-known artists, athletes and business figures were among the donors, Kathimerini reported. A shipowner gave $30,000, a singer at least \u20ac13,000 and a footballer \u20ac12,450.<\/p>\n Police examined 29 bank and payment accounts and more than 246,000 transactions. Between 2018 and 2026, over \u20ac5.8 million reached the association\u2019s accounts and the personal accounts of a 37-year-old man.<\/p>\n Police allege the 37-year-old moved more than \u20ac2.6 million into betting accounts and withdrew over \u20ac2 million. Investigators also traced spending on designer goods, luxury hotels and a caf\u00e9 in Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n A second subgroup allegedly formed in September 2026 to fix matches. It aimed to help an amateur team win promotion to the Gamma Ethniki<\/a>, while profiting from bets.<\/p>\n In addition, the 37-year-old allegedly put more than \u20ac250,000 into two football clubs in cash. Members allegedly agreed to pay \u20ac300 to \u20ac500 per match for favourable refereeing.<\/p>\n The six suspects in the NGO charity fraud face charges including membership of a criminal organisation, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and match-fixing offences. The case follows other criminal organisation charges in a major fraud probe in Greece.<\/p>\n They appeared before a Thessaloniki prosecutor and remain in custody until they testify before an investigating judge.<\/p>\n Source: KATHIMERINI<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\nHow the NGO charity fraud worked<\/h3>\n
Betting and match-fixing claims<\/h3>\n