More than a thousand victims, 28 million euros in damage and football clubs among the more than 800 plaintiffs: the trial of a giant internet scam opens this Monday, October 20 in Nancy. Victoire, one of the victims, lost 50,000 euros. She testifies at the microphone of RMC.
A very special trial opens this Monday, October 21 in Nancy: the “Red Card” affair. 850 civil parties, 500 lawyers and more than 28 million euros in damages. The investigation began after the scam suffered by several football clubs in 2017-2018 (Sochaux, Angers and Toulouse): the criminals posed as players’ agents and asked to change the bank details.
But by digging, the police discovered a much larger scam, carried out by the same network, between France and Israel. It targeted individuals who were thinking of buying diamonds or cryptocurrencies.
Between 2016 and 2018, more than 1,200 people were cheated. RMC was able to speak with one of the victims, scammed eight years ago.
“It seemed particularly reliable”
In 2016, Victoire looked for an advantageous investment for her savings. This former director of the civil service comes across an interesting announcement: investment in diamonds. A man then calls him to suggest he get started:
“It seemed particularly reliable,” she explains, “the diamonds were calibrated, there was a whole bunch of information, the carats, the colors of the stones… The person I often spoke to on the phone was very professional.”
Convinced of making a deal, Victoire buys 10,000 euros of so-called diamonds, and she quickly receives a first return on her investment. “It gave me confidence, and instead of stopping this stupidity, I kept buying,” she says.
In total, Victoire invests 50,000 euros. But after this first transfer, the expected money does not arrive in his account, and his advisor, previously so contactable and always ready to offer him new investments, no longer responds. “I studied law, I am still an informed person. But I was… fooled!”, continues the victim.
Four weeks of trial
Eight years later, she still blames herself. Like her, there are more than 800 of them who have been trapped by around thirty criminals, 22 of whom are appearing this Monday, October 21, 2024. For Gaël Collin, the lawyer for Victoire and around a hundred plaintiffs, it is a trial outside standards.
“This is the first time that there is the whole chain, not just small hands, but a real organization. With this trial, we will be able to show that investigations are possible and that we can complete these procedures,” he relates.
Among the 25 defendants, the degrees of involvement vary. Five of them are referred both for internet scams and those against football clubs, only one for the clubs. A dozen men and women are being referred for “criminal conspiracy” for this trial which is expected to last a month.
