Businesses in Greece face the same risks as businesses anywhere: fraud, leaks, unreliable partners, counterfeits and competitors who know more than they should. What is different is the local context. Company information can be scattered across registries, business culture relies heavily on personal relationships, and for foreign companies the language barrier makes independent verification difficult.
The office of Petros Drolias, licensed private investigator in Athens since the early 1990s, has carried out more than 1,500 investigations in 14 countries. We work with Greek companies of all sizes, with foreign businesses entering or already operating in Greece and with the lawyers and auditors who advise them.
How we help businesses
Before you sign. Due diligence on distributors, agents, suppliers, joint-venture partners and acquisition targets. We check what can be lawfully verified and visit what needs to be seen. For a foreign company, a few days of local enquiries before signing can prevent years of problems.
When something goes wrong inside. Internal fraud, embezzlement, procurement abuse, theft of stock or cash and conflicts of interest. We establish the facts discreetly and lawfully, in coordination with your legal team, and deliver a report your board can act on.
When information leaks. Lost tenders, copied designs and client lists that walk out the door with departing staff. We trace how information left the business and check premises and devices for surveillance equipment.
When your brand is copied. Counterfeit products in shops, warehouses, markets or online. We document where and how they are sold, carry out test purchases and prepare evidence for your lawyers.
When you are targeted online. Fake profiles, impersonation scams using your name, leaked credentials on the dark web and coordinated reputational attacks.
When devices need rules. Lawful monitoring of company-owned devices under a written usage policy, fleet GPS tracking and forensic recovery of data from company equipment.
Working with foreign businesses
International companies often tell us the same thing: they have plenty of information on paper, but no way to know whether it reflects reality. We bridge that gap. We take instructions in English, understand what a foreign board or compliance team needs to see, and report in a clear, structured format that can be shared with head office, auditors or external counsel.
We are also used to the practical side of cross-border work: coordinating with your Greek lawyer, respecting your internal reporting lines and working to your deadlines across time zones.
Lawful investigations protect the company
A corporate investigation that breaks the law becomes a liability for the company that commissioned it. In Greece, Article 19 of the Constitution protects the privacy of communications and makes illegally obtained evidence inadmissible. Article 370A of the Penal Code criminalises illegal interception and recording. The GDPR and Law 4624/2019 set strict rules on processing employees' and third parties' personal data.
We therefore never intercept communications, access employees' personal accounts or devices, or obtain bank, tax or telecom data. Monitoring of company devices is only appropriate under a clear, written policy known to staff. Every finding we deliver has been obtained in a way your lawyers can defend.
Confidentiality by design
Corporate cases are sensitive for everyone involved. We agree a need-to-know circle at the outset, sign NDAs where required and keep communication with a single point of contact if you prefer. Field work is planned so that it does not draw attention to the company or alert the people under investigation.
Start with a confidential conversation
The first meeting is free and without obligation, at our Athens office, by phone or by video call. We will help you define the questions, the legal framework and a realistic scope, and you will receive a written cost estimate before any work begins. Call us 24/7 or contact us to arrange it. Shipping companies may also want to read our page for the shipping sector.