Bottles of wine sold for 10 times their real price

As the end-of-year holidays approach, many French consumers are looking for beautiful bottles of wine to complement their family meals. But be careful of the scams that proliferate during this period. In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, two men were recently convicted for reselling low-end wines for between 5 and 10 times more than their original price. The defendants passed off these mediocre bottles as exceptional wines, reports South West.

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Victims aged 78 to 98 years old

Their target? Vulnerable seniors. According to our colleagues, one victim notably paid up to 14,000 euros, being convinced of having acquired a prestigious wine. Another person suffering from Alzheimer’s was also deceived. It was his neighbors who finally alerted the family after noticing suspicious actions, explains Capital. During the recent trial held in Bayonne, the victim’s son expressed his indignation: “The idea that an individual could have put pressure on my mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, is still unbearable to me”, he hammered at the bar.

In total, this scam would have caused at least 25 victims aged between 78 and 98 years old. To approach their prey, the two defendants relied on a call center based in Morocco and used nine companies. The goal? Circulate money while diluting responsibilities, specifies Capital. During the hearing, the lawyer for one of the defendants tried to exonerate his client by claiming that he was just a simple deliveryman, trying to place the blame on the call center.

Two years in prison

A defense which did not convince the court. On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the two men were found guilty of abuse of power and sentenced to two years in prison, one year of which was suspended. They will also have to compensate the victims for the amounts defrauded.

This case highlights the importance of vigilance with regard to dubious telephone canvassing, especially among vulnerable groups. With the approach of the holidays being a favorable time for scammers, it is more necessary than ever to be extra careful when purchasing luxury products such as wine.