An MRE is scammed 20,000 euros

Of Moroccan origin, Touria, who lives in a modest apartment in Plaisance-du-Touch, had just obtained 31,000 euros from her ex-husband, after a divorce procedure that had lasted twelve long years. Unfortunately, the mother of the family is left with almost nothing. She was scammed 20,000 euros, a sum she thought she had deposited in an online account on an HSBC bank website.

What really happened? The woman in her forties opened this account on October 8, 2024 with an initial deposit of 15,000 euros at a 7% annual return. She later adds the sum of 5,000 euros, on the proposal of an advisor who informs her that this additional amount would earn her a bonus of 500 euros. With this operation, Touria hoped to ensure financial stability and acquire a small apartment in Morocco.

But a week later, her dreams vanish, after realizing that she has been the victim of a financial scam. "While driving, the engine of my Mégane caught fire. Impossible to repair. I had to buy a new one. I call my advisor to recover 5,500 euros of the money I had just deposited. It rings in the void. He finally picks up after a week and promises me that I will receive the transfer," she tells La Dépêche.

Having obtained no transfer after several days, she decides on October 23 to file a complaint against X for fraud at the central police station in Toulouse. Pending the results of the investigation, she contacts the scammer again, who finally answers her call. Admitting to having scammed her, he lets her know that the 20,000 euros are intended for the children of Gaza. He adds that he swindled her to "punish French Muslims for not supporting the Palestinians against Israel".

Touria is desperate and fears the worst. "These fake bankers now have all my personal and banking information, which would allow them to make online purchases or take out loans in my name. I live in fear that they will commit other offenses with my data." Touria’s case is not isolated. Online scams have increased by 64% in France over the past eight years.