A gang of 5 men’s and 3 women’s has been allegedly charged while running a series of blackmails with an Indian entrepreneur in Paris. The police registered arrest of 4 members of the multinational gang including French, Serbian and Iranian nationals living in sub-urbs of Paris identified.
A typical blackmail rip deal scams was going un-noticed in Paris through the year by compromising smartphone of an Indian entrepreneur, hiring an intermediaries to lay a “honey trap” against a Indian entrepreneur residing in Paris who they partnered with as investors slowing building confidence and trust as classic rip deal, The victim’s smartphone and emails were compromised with sexual content and conversations under different names and as per reports a sim card was swapped and was used by one of the accused and an Indian national whose whereabouts are yet to be disclosed by the investigation authorities. A classic mix of high-tech blackmail where cell phone comprising deal to a honey trap.
The arrest of an Iranian national reported on Friday plead guilty on the charges leading to the arrest of others three. The French National police conducted raids in the premise in Bobigny , Gentilly and northeastern suburbs in Paris, resulting in confiscation of several phones and laptops, €85,000 Swiss francs, and several crypto-ledgers of which the values are yet to be know and origin of funds. Apparently, conversations from social media and the orchestrated conspiracy plan were found which are charged against them.
The victim was initially blackmailed to pay a ransom of €450,000 euros in cryptocurrency but upon refusal blackmails and threats continued, sexual contents of allegedly hired intermediaries was placed on the victim’s device, the compromised device and evidences were kept for the blackmail in the victims device but later found out being duped upon further investigation, the last interaction happened between them and the victim was in May 2023 failed conspiracy leading to blackmails and the victim had to flee the country afraid of this own safety. The investigation agencies have registered charges of 321-1, 222-18-3, L 335-2, L 713 non bailable further investigation from ANSSI has been leading to more conclusions.
Currently two of the French nationals under investigation of tax frauds and charges of money laundering and was restricted to travel outside France since February 2023 since his allegedly involved in some real estate rip deals happened through 2022-23.
They shall remain in custody until October 14th for further investigations.
Refrence
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/17941-spanish-authorities-bust-rip-deal-scam-gang-8-arrested
