“Prices were reasonable and consistent for vehicles imported from Germany,” says Charlie, reassured by…
“Prices were reasonable and consistent for vehicles imported from Germany,” says Charlie, reassured by reading the terms and conditions and the number of positive comments. “We know that there are scams on the Internet but, there, it seemed square. »
He therefore contacted the seller, paid the reservation costs and the vehicle, some 17,500 euros, in accordance with the estimate received and adorned with registration or tax registration numbers and an address that could not be more credible.
“We wrote to request reimbursement, to apply the withdrawal period, but it was only after the delivery which did not take place! »
“Like a dick”
But on D-Day, “nothing, silence”. “A delivery man had called us asking for delivery and insurance costs that were not foreseen. It stank of confusion. We demanded to see the vehicle, we wrote to ask for a refund, to invoke the withdrawal period, but in the end, the salesman completely laughed at us and we never heard from him again. »
Looking hard, Charlie found it. “Everything was fake, borrowed or made up. The identity of the seller, the name of the company, the company itself, the comments that were written via fake accounts… But it’s really well put together. Without any illusions, he filed a complaint in his corner.
Charlie felt duped, abused “like shit, like an idiot. In fact, we feel several things at the same time. Anger, disgust, guilt. He spoke about it to those around him when others, ashamed of having been fooled, told their loved ones about their misadventure. But he quickly realized that he was not the only one in this situation.
“A criminal organization”
With some, he took a Bordeaux lawyer and considered a joint action. “To have more weight. Even if we don’t get the money back, this scam must at least stop. » In January 2022, Me Julien Plouton therefore addressed fifteen complaints to the public prosecutor of Bordeaux, asking that they be grouped together in the same procedure and that a single investigation service be seized.
“These crooks are playing on the fact that the victims will be isolated cases, with scattered complaints,” sighs Me Plouton, struck by the distress of his clients. “They find themselves deprived of their savings. Some feel damaged in their person, there is a significant psychological dimension in these scams. »
“These crooks are playing on the fact that the victims will be isolated cases, with scattered complaints”
“We must understand the facts in a global way in order to dissipate the smokescreens arranged to mislead the investigators”, continues the Bordeaux lawyer. “This time, it’s not an individual approach from a cybercafé in a Third World country. We are faced with a structured criminal organization and with large resources, because it was necessary to invest money to create an attractive Internet site, of quality and likely to reassure the consumer. »
“While the general terms and conditions can be considered particularly reassuring for a layman, they can only leave an informed lawyer doubtful, even admiring, in the face of the audacity of the crooks who do not hesitate to write ”in the event of no -delivery of the ordered item, the customer may file a complaint”, underlines Me Plouton.
The complaints against X relate to acts of organized fraud and money laundering, as it is obvious to the council that the online banks, on whose accounts the transaction funds have passed, have “failed in their duty of vigilance” .
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