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Gel, masks, gloves ... 7 fraudulent online sales sites closed

2020-04-01T13:06:38.673Z


These sites offered material to fight the coronavirus epidemic without ever delivering to customers. The scam is valued at one million euros.


They sold masks, coronavirus tests, gloves and even toilet paper. Seven websites selling online equipment related to the prevention or screening of coronavirus were closed on Friday March 27 by the gendarmes of the Central Office for the fight against damage to the environment and public health (Oclaesp). These sites all belonged to the same crook, already known for similar acts in the past, and customers who bought for a million euros of supplies were never delivered or reimbursed.

Read also: Coronavirus: beware of the risk of scams, warn the AMF and the ACPR

"Self-test" at 39 euros

The sites are now closed, but it is possible to find recordings of old versions on the internet. Thus on March 19, the my-natural-shop.fr site put forward on its site exclusively products related to the coronavirus. You could " buy " a pack of 10 small bottles of hydroalcoholic gel for 25 euros, a box of 100 latex gloves at 8 euros and even toilet paper. The eshop 360 site, which was also closed, sold coronavirus "self-tests" for 39 euros in the form of a small plastic pipette.

But once the orders are placed and paid, nothing. Many customers have therefore started to express their dissatisfaction, directly on fraudulent websites or on the signal.conso.gouv.fr platform set up by the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF). As of Wednesday, March 25, the Paris prosecutor's office had opened a preliminary investigation and co-seized the DGCCRF and Oclaesp. Two days later, all sites were closed.

12,000 customers affected

" These are seven sites of the same natural person , explains to Le Figaro a source close to the file. We knew this person, they had already created fake websites to scam consumers in the past. According to Le Parisien , he is a Frenchman who operates from the United Arab Emirates. These sites would have attracted more than 12,000 customers and reported around a million euros.

Other similar sites have flourished since the start of the epidemic. " There are fake administrative sites with a Marianne and the government graphic charters which explain that the State makes available to all French people a screening test. Provided, of course, that you enter your bank details, explains Loïc Tanguy, director of cabinet at the DGCCRF. Others offer to fill out travel certificates online, provided they fill in their personal information. "

Read also: Turkey hunts for false masks

Brands are also taking advantage of a “ covid-19 marketing ” effect to sell more of their usual products. " We have seen anti-covid honey, air purifiers or essential oils supposed to protect you from the virus," continues Loïc Tanguy. These brands simply say that by putting the word "coronavirus" in their description, they will sell more. "

From Lubrizol to Navigo

“With each crisis, there are always opportunists,” concludes Loïc Tanguy. At the time of the fire at the Lubrizol factory in Rouen , there had been door-to-door canvassing for asbestos analyzes. And when the Navigo pass reimbursement was announced after the strikes in December, fake sites had been created to recover data ... "

Contacted by Le Figaro via the "contacts" tab of one of its sites, the man behind this scam never replied. The email address entered does not exist and the answering machine keeps repeating: " Hello, welcome to our customer service. Please be patient, we are doing everything we can to shorten your wait. ” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros for fraud.

Source: lefigaro

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