An octogenarian from Carcassonne was the victim of a gang of crooks. They stole €7,500 from him. The modus operandi: a simulated accident to force the person to withdraw money in order to reimburse the damage.
Targeting vulnerable people is a common practice among scammers. This is what happened to an octogenarian from Carcassonne, victim in recent weeks of a gang raging in Carcassonne. Three times and a few days apart. He was driving towards the fire station when, while overtaking a car, he heard a loud noise. He continues his route to his home but as he gets out of his vehicle, he is stopped by two men. The latter had followed him. They tell him, a little angrily, that he broke their rearview mirror and show him the damage. The scenario is well established since one of the two men then hastens to make the octogenarian believe that he is in telephone contact with his insurance. He gives him the phone and the fake advisor assures him that at his age, if he makes a declaration, his license will be withdrawn and that it is better to go through an amicable arrangement.
Morally affected
After hanging up, he was told by the two false victims that the damage to the rear-view mirror amounted to €1,200. A little lost, embarrassed and pressed by the crooks, the real victim will then go to his bank and withdraw, inside the four-way branch, accompanied by one of the two men, the sum of €1,200. This amount will not be enough for the scammers. They will ask him to return and withdraw €800. A few days later again. With only one man in charge, but in the same place and with the same operating procedure. This time, the octogenarian will be reduced by €2,500. A third time, it’s €3,000, plus the bank card and its code that the latter gives to two new malicious men. It was then that the octogenarian shared his misadventures with his family. The opposition to the bank card is initiated. And a complaint for acts of fraud against a vulnerable person was immediately filed.
But the old man is today very morally affected after having his current account emptied, being fooled three times. A police investigation is underway to get hold of this tape. The family also questions the role of the bank, which could have intervened quickly, since the octogenarian went to request an increase in the withdrawal limit during this sequence. A customer for 30 years, who is not used to spending a lot.
