The town of Nancy has formally opened the trial of the ‘Red Card’ rip-off case, which noticed over a thousand victims, together with a few of France’s high soccer golf equipment, lose €28 million ($30 million) by faux cryptocurrency and diamond funding schemes.
Twenty-two defendants appeared within the metropolis’s conference middle on Monday to listen to opening statements. The venue was chosen as a result of a courtroom couldn’t accommodate the 850 victims represented at trial — one in every of whom misplaced €400,000 ($433,000) to what they believed was a “diamond savings plan.”
Some even obtained faux diamonds, price pennies in comparison with their investments.
The defendants, aged between 28 and 73, are accused of opening 199 financial institution accounts throughout 19 international locations with the intention to fund diamond and crypto fraud schemes between 2016 and 2018.
The Purple Card case — ‘Carton Rouge’ in French — was dubbed for swindling €60,000 ($65,000) from soccer golf equipment Sochaux, Angers, and Toulouse.
Six extra have been focused however didn’t take the bait: Marseille, Nantes, Lorient, Dijon, Brest, and Rennes. The soccer golf equipment’ sponsors have been additionally focused.
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The rip-off labored one thing like this: Round 30 web sites have been created to lure victims into believing that their investments into diamonds and cryptocurrency would include a assured return of 6-to-8%. Collected funds could be transferred to the near-200 financial institution accounts the scammers managed throughout the globe, and have been then laundered to take away all hint.
Nevertheless, authorities managed to grab €2.8 million ($3 million) which might be used to compensate victims.
Six further defendants have already plead responsible. In the meantime, three extra are nonetheless on the run. Worldwide warrants have been issued for his or her arrest.
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