A bedbug hoax is focusing on international guests in Athens. Now the Greek police have been known as in

ATHENS, Greece — Greece‘s well being ministry is searching for police assist towards hoaxers who tried to scare international vacationers out of some Athens short-term rental flats by inventing a bedbug disaster.

A ministry assertion Tuesday mentioned the posters caught up outdoors house blocks within the metropolis middle, festooned with pretend ministry and Athens municipality logos, have been “absolutely false.”

The posters, addressed to “dear visitors” in misspelled English, claimed well being authorities had ordered native “private guesthouses” evacuated “to protect the public health of permanent Greek tenants.”

Citing a non-existent bedbug infestation, they threatened guests with a 500-euro superb ($540) for failure to depart their flats, and politely wished them a pleasing keep in Greece.

In addition to a cost-of-living disaster, Athens and different components of Greece face housing issues largely brought on by the proliferation of short-term rental flats – primarily for international guests.

That has helped gas a surge in long-term rental prices for Greeks, lots of whom are priced out of residential areas in central Athens. Property values are additionally spiraling, partly on account of a “golden visa” program providing residence to international property traders.

Tourism is a key driver of Greece‘s economic system, accounting for a fifth of annual output, and 2023 is anticipated to be a document yr for arrivals.

The well being ministry mentioned Tuesday it has knowledgeable the police “to do what is necessary” in regards to the hoax. It mentioned that “nobody is allowed to terrorize and misinform the public” on public well being points.

Greece has not recorded any main hassle with the blood-sucking creepy-crawlies that lately precipitated consternation in France.