A family says it handed over €215,000 in cash believing the money would be used to settle its debts and protect its property, only to discover years later that the funds had allegedly never reached the credit institution.
According to a complaint revealed by SIGMA, the family is now facing the foreclosure of two homes.
“We are victims of a major fraud,” the complainants said.
€215,000 raised to settle debts
The case dates back to 2020, when the family was allegedly introduced through an acquaintance to a man who presented himself as an experienced lawyer specialising in banking cases and promised he could arrange the settlement of their debts.
The €215,000 was raised through the family’s savings and financial assistance from relatives.
The money was allegedly handed to two people, one of whom was a lawyer. The second person, according to the allegations, falsely presented himself as a lawyer.
The family alleges that they were repeatedly assured over several years that their debts had been settled and that the mortgages on their properties would be cancelled.
However, the credit institution allegedly never received the money and continued proceedings towards the auction of the properties. The family now faces the foreclosure of two homes.
“They deceived us, repeatedly assuring us that the debts had been paid off and that it was only a matter of time before the properties were returned to us,” the complainant said.
How the alleged fraud came to light
The alleged €215,000 property fraud began to emerge when a third person, who presented himself as an associate of the purported lawyer, contacted the family and requested €3,000 to hand over the case files.
“You brought this on yourself, what can I do? You see, all these years I wasn’t asking for money because the other one deceived you and I felt bad. But now, €3,000.
“Normally it’s €3,000 per case, just so you know (…) Ask the Pope if you want. If you don’t bring it, there’s no point in coming,” the alleged associate of the law office said.
Complaint filed with police
According to information obtained by SIGMA, the family has filed a complaint with police over the case.
Information also indicates that orders have been issued freezing the assets of three people against whom the allegations have been made.
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