A Monaco resident, identified as André, has fallen victim to a sophisticated investment scam, losing a total of 305,000 euros after being lured by promises of high returns, Monaco-Matin reports.
Attracted by an advertisement on a 24-hour news channel, André conducted an online simulation that led to contact with a supposed financial advisor named Jérôme Souville, who claimed to represent the “Börse Frankfurt Bank.”
André was persuaded to invest his money, including 10,000 euros initially, followed by larger sums after seeing initial returns. Three months into the investment, everything seemed to be going well, but by November 2023, André could no longer reach Souville. His funds, and those of his children, who he had convinced to invest 131,000 euros collectively, were trapped. The fraud escalated when André was asked to pay an additional 97,000 euros in taxes, despite earlier assurances that deductions would be made at the source.
After realizing the extent of the scam, André filed a complaint with the Cap-d’Ail gendarmerie in December 2023. However, the case was initially closed due to an “unknown perpetrator.” Following further appeals, the Nice prosecutor’s office reopened the investigation, acknowledging the complexity of identifying fraudsters, often based abroad.
The scam, managed through multiple fraudulent websites and telephone numbers, has already claimed several victims, according to financial scam watchdogs. The French Consumer Protection Association noted that most of the fraudulent transactions were routed through Spanish bank accounts. Authorities are warning the public to remain vigilant against such scams.
