Bedbug crisis warning in Athens ‘absolutely false’: hoax targeting foreign visitors to Greece using short-term rental flats under investigation by police

Posters have been stuck up outside apartment buildings around Athens claiming health authorities have ordered local ‘private guest houses’ evacuated

Police have been told ‘to do what is necessary’ about the hoax, intended to deter foreign tourists’ from short-term flat rentals – blamed for a housing shortage

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A bedbug. Greece’s health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of several Athens short-term rental flats by putting up posters saying they had to move out because of a bedbug infestation. Photo: AP

Published: 11:10am, 6 Dec 2023Updated: 11:10am, 6 Dec 2023

Greece’s health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of some Athens short-term rental flats by inventing a bedbug crisis.

A ministry statement on December 5 said posters stuck up outside flat buildings in the city centre, festooned with fake ministry and Athens municipality logos, were “absolutely false”.

The posters, addressed to “dear visitors” in misspelled English, claimed health authorities had ordered local “private guest houses” evacuated “to protect the public health of permanent Greek tenants”.

Citing a nonexistent bedbug infestation, they threatened visitors with a €500 fine (US$540) for failure to leave their accommodation, and politely wished them a pleasant stay in Greece.

A bed bug on the glove of a person treating a flat against bedbugs in France. Photo: Reuters

In addition to a cost-of-living crisis, Athens and other parts of Greece face housing problems largely caused by the proliferation of short-term rental flats – mainly for foreign visitors.

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