A former journalist, now self-described PR agent and travel consultant, is facing charges for two felonies after her arrest yesterday following complaints from dozens of citizens. She allegedly took money for luxury trips abroad that never took place. Her most recent victims were people who paid to travel to Abu Dhabi to attend the Euroleague Final Four.

She was brought before the court on Evelpidon Street, where the prosecutor charged her with felony fraud and money laundering. She requested and was granted a postponement to testify on Tuesday, May 27. She denies all allegations.

The PR agent claims that the whole situation is a major misunderstanding and insists she will ultimately be vindicated. Her lawyer, Dimitris Christopoulos, says they are waiting for the full case file, which is extensive and voluminous, to determine the next steps.

“She trusts the justice system and believes the truth will come to light,” said her lawyer, adding that she feels she was wronged by someone. “She believes it’s all one big misunderstanding.” Asked whether she intends to compensate the victims, her lawyer stated that she is willing to do whatever is legally required.

“She promised us cheap trips, and in the end, we got nothing”

A lawyer representing some of the victims — and a victim himself — described her method: “All the stories are nearly identical. She approached us the same way, promised cheap airline tickets and affordable travel packages, but in the end, we received nothing.”

A total of 25 individuals have filed a class-action lawsuit, seeking approximately €90,000 in damages. The highest amount claimed by a single plaintiff is €11,500.

Victims began demanding their money back in November 2024. “Since then, although there were some attempts to reach a settlement, they were unsuccessful,” said the lawyer, adding that the plaintiffs primarily want their money back and secondarily want the former journalist to face justice, as the case has escalated significantly.

“She said she’d return the money — she never did”

Victims appeared at the Evelpidon court complex to share their experiences. One woman said the PR agent took €6,000 from her and her family for a trip they wanted to gift their son after his university entrance exams — a trip that never happened. “The amount included flights, accommodation, supposed rental cars, transfers, and other services,” she explained. The payment was made in May 2024, with the trip scheduled for August. “At first, we exchanged some messages. She said she’d return the money, but that never happened,” the woman added.

Dimitris Koltsidas, who also claims to be a victim, described a similar pattern. At first, she arranged a trip to Malta and later organized three short trips at very low cost, all in luxury hotel rooms. “That was the bait — so we’d introduce her to more people,” he now says.

Those early trips went smoothly. The trouble started in August, when he and his friends planned a ten-day trip to Iceland. They were also traveling with a friend who has special needs. “She promised an electric wheelchair, everything — that it would be a very special trip,” he said. But everything went wrong. “She got us there with last-minute tickets, paid for just two nights in a hotel, and then left us on our own,” he reported. “She kept telling us, ‘be patient, I’m having issues with the bank,’” he added.