Scammers make 66-year-old man no less than 331,000 euros lighter after misleading advertising: “Supposed investment” (Blankenberge)

331,000 euros: that is the astronomical amount that a 66-year-old man from Blankenberge lost to scammers. The victim thought he was making a promising investment, but his ‘investment’ ended up with the police. “Through misleading advertising on social media,” said Commissioner Jan Maertens.

You know them: deceptive advertisements on social media that misuse photos of famous Flemish people who supposedly encourage them to invest in a certain company. In this way, a 66-year-old man from Blankenberge lost no less than 331,000 euros. “As a result of such misleading advertising, the victim invested a certain amount in a company,” said Commissioner Maertens. “Afterwards, the customer would request his money back via Bitcoins.” But nothing came of that.

First 135,000 euros, then 196,000 euros

The ‘company’ contacted the victim during the facts, both by telephone and by e-mail. During such a telephone conversation, the man’s screen was taken over to allegedly enter the correct details of his account number. “Ultimately, the victim transferred more than 135,000 euros for his personal plan,” says Maertens. That turned out not to be enough: after some detours the man made it again 196,000 euros transferred to different bank account numbers. Allegedly insurance money that he would later recover.

Only when the scammers asked for a certain percentage did the 66-year-old man smell trouble. He eventually goes to the police, but is currently losing his money. “Our police zone has drawn up an official report and, in collaboration with the West Flanders public prosecutor’s office, has started an investigation into the facts and the suspects,” said the local police zone Blankenberge/Zuienkerke.

Resourceful

Given the seriousness of the facts, the local police and the public prosecutor’s office once again call on people to remain extremely alert to phishing and crime on the internet. “Scammers are very resourceful and anyone can be misled by strangers,” Maertens emphasizes. “Be careful with digital banking, transfers and sales pitches. Never accept an offer from strangers, never let them take over your screen and never give codes by telephone or email. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.”