Real Estate Scam Targets Moroccan Properties Using Forged Wills from France

Is a company founded by Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) carrying out suspicious activities? An investigation by the Moroccan and French authorities reveals that this company has managed to fraudulently appropriate real estate properties in several cities including Casablanca, Marrakech and Settat, reports the newspaper Assabah. To achieve its ends, it exploits inheritance rights carried out abroad and then transfers them through suspicious notarial acts to another company.

The modus operandi of the owners of the foreign company consists of recruiting brokers in Morocco. They are tasked with searching for foreign real estate properties. After identifying the owners of these properties, French individuals undertake to create wills in their name with a notary, claiming to be relatives of the property owner. Once the wills are established, powers of attorney to represent them before the Moroccan justice system and public administrations are drawn up. The accused then fly to Morocco to obtain judicial rulings affixing the enforceable formula to the wills drawn up in France.

They then request a notary to carry out a deed of sale of the targeted real estate property based on the powers of attorney established in favor of the French company. The latter then resells it to another company to muddy the tracks with the security and judicial services.