The scammer's call
A short in Greek text at level A2. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. A stranger called me and said that I had a debt with the tax office. He asked for my card details, so that I wouldn't…
Text
- Ένας άγνωστος μου τηλεφώνησε και είπε ότι είχα χρέος στην εφορία. Ζήτησε τα στοιχεία της κάρτας μου για να μην πάω στη φυλακή. Κατάλαβα ότι ήταν απατεώνας, γιατί σύμφωνα με τον νόμο κανείς δεν τα ζητάει στο τηλέφωνο. Έκλεισα το τηλέφωνο και προειδοποίησα τους γείτονες, γιατί λένε ότι παίρνει πολλούς.énas ágnostos mu tilefónise ke ípe óti íkha khréos stin eforía. zítise ta stikhía tis kártas mu ya na min páo sti filakí. katálava óti ítan apateónas, yatí símfona me ton nómo kanís den ta zitái sto tiléfono. éklisa to tiléfono ke proidopíisa tus yítones, yatí léne óti pérni polúsA stranger called me and said that I had a debt with the tax office. He asked for my card details, so that I wouldn't go to prison. I understood it was a scammer, because by law nobody asks for those over the phone. I hung up and warned the neighbors, because they say he is calling many people.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What did the stranger say over the phone?
- Why did the narrator understand it was a scammer?
- What did he do then?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Greek?
A2. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.