The check remains one of the means most used by fraudsters and crooks as shown in this case where residents of a district of Taverny (Val-d'Oise) practiced swindling via social networks.
Four men, aged 21 to 25, were indicted on Wednesday in Pontoise for swindling in an organized gang before being imprisoned.
They are suspected of having for more than two years between Ermont and Taverny set up a system to sell stolen checks.
They would have managed to pocket 300,000 euros to the detriment of 105 victims.
This astonishing story begins on November 29, 2018 in Taverny when the police control and question a young motorist in possession of five stolen checks.
The police also find in his car a slip for the delivery of checks in the amount of 25,000 euros.
But the bank account that collected this sum is in the name of another person.
During the search carried out at the motorist's home, the police got their hands on six other stolen checks and three suspicious slips.
They contacted the victims via social networks
The investigations continue and the investigators discover that the controlled man belongs to a team of crooks, installed in the district of Pins in Taverny.
Their method: They make contact with the victims using social networks, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.
They offer to cash a check for a commission before returning the money to them by Western Union money order.
But the victim is quickly wronged.
The money only stays in his account for forty-eight hours, enough time for the bank to reject the stolen check.
Tuesday morning, the police from the Ermont police station arrested four suspects in Taverny before placing them in custody at the police station.
During the hearings, the four criminals minimized their involvement in this network.
If the use of the check is in decline, according to the Bank of France fraud increased by 20% last year, to reach 540 million euros.