Rising Scams Targeting French Tourists in Morocco
In recent reports, a disturbing trend has emerged in Morocco where an increasing number of elderly French tourists are falling prey to elaborate scams that deplete their bank accounts. According to a detailed investigation published by Libération, these fraudulent activities have been meticulously orchestrated by fake travel agencies, leading to the exploitation of hundreds of victims during their stays in the country. The findings reveal that over the past fifteen years, approximately twenty million euros have been siphoned off from unsuspecting tourists, highlighting a significant and troubling issue for travelers.
The Mechanics of the Scams
The Collective for the Defense of Victims of Scams in Marrakech (CDVAM) has been actively supporting those affected and estimates the total losses to be around twenty million euros. Among the many victims, a couple from Val-de-Marne reported a staggering loss of 7,500 euros, while another couple from Côte-d'Or fell victim to a scam amounting to 25,000 euros. The modus operandi of these scams typically begins with a phone call where victims are informed they have won a promotion, such as a week-long hotel stay in Marrakech for just 500 euros. Excited by the prospect, the couples often pay upfront, only to find themselves abandoned when they seek the promised services.
For instance, one couple, Jean and his wife, experienced this firsthand. After receiving a call claiming they had won a promotional offer, they promptly paid the requested amount but received no further communication. In a desperate attempt to retrieve their money, Jean reported the incident to the police, providing the contact information of the supposed travel agent. However, the investigation led nowhere as the phone numbers were traced back to an Israeli company, Kav El International, which simply resells blocks of phone numbers.
Upon arrival in Marrakech, the couple was met by a taxi driver offering excursions at exorbitant prices, which were misleadingly quoted as being for two people, not one. Frustrated by the lack of assistance from local tourist police, their ordeal continued. Just before their return flight, an intermediary offered to resolve their issues at a fake agency, further complicating the situation. The female traveler was misled into sharing her banking app details with a supposed agent who claimed to conduct a 'solvency check.' This critical error allowed the scammer to drain her bank account within moments using a new system designed to facilitate instant money transfers.
Upon returning to France, these victims sought justice but found themselves at a dead end. Their case was dismissed by the Paris prosecutor's office, as the investigation failed to identify the perpetrator. The alarming frequency of such scams underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and preventive measures among tourists visiting Morocco.
As reported by visa-algerie.com.
