Forty police officers were mobilized for the operation (illustration).

-

ALLILI MOURAD / SIPA

They only attacked men of the Church.

According to information from Europe 1, 14 people suspected of having defrauded priests were arrested on Wednesday in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) during a vast operation carried out by around forty police officers.

The modus operandi of this gang of suspected con artists was well established.

One of its members was posing as a former parishioner who had become a widower.

He explained that he was in need to obtain a deposit for a home or to buy a car.

The swindler could even go further to attest to his good faith by providing the number of a false gendarme.

About twenty priests concerned

Twenty-six priests were thus allegedly swindled for a total sum of 150,000 euros.

A few thousand euros in cash were found by the police during the searches.

According to Europe 1, the arrested suspects are already well known to the police.

Some are involved in a similar case in which 80 priests are said to have been duped.

The case goes back two years and has not yet been tried.

Free, the suspected crooks were thus able to continue to commit their misdeeds.

Miscellaneous

Le Havre: A vast scam involving real estate agents uncovered

Nantes

Nantes: Calendars, mutual ... Alerts for false canvassing are increasing

  • Miscellaneous

  • Fraud

  • Priest