German gypsy clan scams dozens of people: “They promise money for a fur coat, but actually want your jewelry” (Turnhout)

The ball started rolling when one of the victims filed a complaint with the police for fraud. “My client saw an advertisement in the newspaper in 2020 stating that people could sell their gold jewelry and furs at a fair price,” said Nadine de Boer, the victim’s lawyer.

On January 30, the victim went to the Turnhout hotel Terminus with her jewelry and fur coats. “There were two men present there who were particularly interested in the jewelry,” De Boer continued. “They offered 2,000 euros for the fur coats and 400 euros for the jewelry. My client was persuaded and agreed.” A deposit of 400 euros was made, for the remaining 2,000 euros she had to return at 4 p.m. When she returned at the agreed time, there was no trace of the scammers. The hotel, which otherwise had nothing to do with the sale, indicated that they had already left earlier that afternoon.

Cartridge

The file deals with several cases of the same scams that took place in 2020. The perpetrators always followed the same pattern by placing advertisements in the regional newspaper for so-called action days.

“The fur coat was overestimated and the gold underestimated and immediately taken away. The gold disappeared and the fur coats were mostly left behind in the various hotels.”

Catherine Dederen

Public prosecutor

“The target group always consisted of older people,” continued prosecutor Catherine Dederen. “These people were then pressured to offer as much jewelry as possible in addition to those fur coats. That fur coat was then overestimated and the gold was underestimated and immediately taken away. The gold disappeared and the fur coats were mostly left behind in the various hotels.”

Research showed that behind these scams was a German gypsy clan that was active not only in Belgium, but also in several other European countries. Numerous individuals, mainly the elderly and elderly, fell prey to these scams.

“Ultimately, a list could be drawn up showing that between January 27 and June 18, 2020, 14 similar advertisements had been placed in Belgium for shopping days at different locations,” prosecutor Catherine Dederen clarified. “The advertisements were always paid for in cash, and the advertiser could be traced back to the gypsy clan.”

Four defendants

Four suspects were arrested in the Novotel in Antwerp and the Europa Hotel in Ghent. The first defendant, AC, was in possession of 15,500 euros in cash. A bag containing coins, watches and the like was found in the trunk of his car. For AC, the public prosecutor’s office demands a prison sentence of 40 months.

DO faces an 18-month prison sentence, just like RG D. was found with 15,000 euros in cash. R. was also found with money, gold testers and other paraphernalia. Two vehicles with a value of 180,000 euros were found.

The public prosecutor demanded 20 months for the fourth defendant, SK. He was in possession of 3,000 euros in cash and all kinds of equipment for testing gold. During a search, 157 fur coats were found and documents from a gold exchange office showing that a total of more than 53,000 euros was received from them in a month.

All four deny that it is fraud. “The advertisements were not deceptive. They simply announced that there would be shopping days. A price was proposed. The people were free whether they would accept that price.”

Verdict on April 24.