Greek Police (ELAS) have issued a warning about a surge in fraudulent SMS messages circulating across Greece, including Crete. Scammers are sending texts that falsely claim recipients have unpaid fines or traffic penalties, directing them to fake websites to collect personal and payment details. Official government services and notifications in Greece are only delivered through verified government platforms. Tourists should be aware that legitimate Greek authorities will never request payments or personal information via unsolicited SMS. If you receive a suspicious text about fines, do not click any links and do not enter card or ID details. You can verify any genuine government communication by visiting official Greek government websites directly or contacting local police. Report suspicious messages to the nearest police station or call the Greek Police helpline at 100.
