21/6/2021 OLAF investigation uncovers research funding fraud in Greece | European Anti-Fraud Office
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OLAF investigation uncovers research funding
fraud in Greece
05/05/2020
PRESS RELEASE No 13/2020
PDF version (/anti-fraud/file/5138/download_en?token=RTTK0MYE) (355.06 KB)
The protection of EU budget foreseen for research has always been particularly
important for the European Anti-Fraud Office. A complex fraud involving a
Greek scientist and her network of international researchers has been
uncovered by investigators from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
The case involves a grant of around €1.1 million from the European Research Council
Executive Agency (ERCEA) to a Greek university. The money was intended to finance
a research project run by a promising young scientist, whose father was employed at
the university in question. The project was said to involve a network of more than 40
researchers from around the world under the leadership of the Greek scientist.
OLAF first became suspicious when it discovered how the international researchers
were allegedly being paid. Cheques were issued in the name of individual researchers
but were then deposited into bank accounts with multiple beneficiaries. Suspicions
increased when it emerged that the cheques were personally deposited into the bank
accounts by the lead scientist.
OLAF’s investigative team decided to conduct an on-the-spot check at the university
in question. Despite attempts from the lead researcher to obstruct the investigation,
and with the help from the Greek national law enforcement authorities which provided
access to bank accounts and OLAF’s own digital forensic investigations, OLAF was
able to piece together the true story behind the fraud.
Hard evidence was found, which demonstrated that the lead scientist had set up the
bank accounts used to ‘pay’ the international researchers and made herself a co-
beneficiary of the accounts in order to gain access to the money. OLAF followed the
financial trails and was able to prove that large sums were either withdrawn in cash by
the scientist or were transferred into her private account. A number of the researchers
who were said to be involved in the research project were contacted by OLAF. None
of them were aware that their name was linked to the project or had any knowledge of
the bank accounts opened in their names or of any payments made into them.
OLAF Director General Ville Itälä said:
“This investigation demonstrates yet again the importance of being able to access
banking records in order to fight fraud successfully. The sheer size and scope of the
network of researchers allegedly involved in this project posed a real challenge to
OLAF’s investigators. Their ability to access and verify accounts set up to allegedly
pay researchers from across the world was a vital element in getting to the bottom of
this attempt to defraud the EU budget — and that could have had significant
detrimental effects on the reputation of the bona fide researchers whose names were
being exploited as part of the fraud attempt.”
The investigation was concluded in November last year with recommendations to
ERCEA to recover approximately €190,000 (the share of the €1.1m grant allegedly
paid to the international researchers) as well as to the national authorities to initiate
judicial proceedings against the persons involved.
OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.
OLAF fulfils its mission by:
• carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all
EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
https://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud/media-corner/news/05-05-2020/olaf-investigation-uncovers-research-funding-fraud-greece_en 1/3
21/6/2021 OLAF investigation uncovers research funding fraud in Greece | European Anti-Fraud Office
• contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU
staff and members of the EU Institutions;
• developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.
In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other
offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
• all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural
development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
• some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
• suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.
For further details:
Jana CAPPELLO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-85549
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud (http://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud)
Twitter: @OLAFPress (http://twitter.com/olafpress)
Chris JONES
Deputy Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-91606
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud (http://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud)
Twitter: @OLAFPress (http://twitter.com/olafpress)
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You will find here all relevant information and forms to report fraud to OLAF.
You can contact us anonymously. You can communicate with OLAF in any of the 24
official EU languages.
Report fraud (https://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud/olaf-and-you/report-fraud_en)
Twitter (/anti-fraud/media-corner/news/05-05-2020/olaf-investigation-uncovers-research-funding-fraud-greece_en
Events (/anti-fraud/media-corner/news/05-05-2020/olaf-investigation-uncovers-research-funding-fraud-greece_en?qt
RT @FAVV_Consument (https://twitter.com/FAVV_Consument): Grote actie
in de strijd tegen illegale pesticiden! #FAVV (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FAVV) nam
voor de 6de keer deel aan de Europese actie #…
3 days (https://twitter.com/null/status/1405558002460074003)
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21/6/2021 OLAF investigation uncovers research funding fraud in Greece | European Anti-Fraud Office
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3 days (https://twitter.com/null/status/1405520927287222284) (ht (ht (ht
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More tweets (https://twitter.com/EUAntiFraud)
Last update: 05/05/2020
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