Dismantling of a vast scam at MaPrimeRénov' worth several tens of millions of euros

The total damage from this scam is estimated at 27 million euros, according to the gendarmerie. The main suspect, who ran seven companies, managed to launder 13 million euros for his own benefit, the same source indicated.

In December 2020, the Nanterre public prosecutor's office opened a judicial investigation into money laundering by an organized gang, misuse of corporate assets and fraud "on the basis of information collected by the financial research and investigation brigade" which was investigating "a network operating through companies working in the energy saving sector".

386 complaints from individuals were received in connection with this case, the public prosecutor said.

"A half-dozen people have been indicted (...) since 2020, several placed under judicial supervision and the main one of them in pre-trial detention for around six months, then under electronic surveillance for a year," added the prosecution.

Since September, as part of a letter of request from the investigating judge in charge of this case, 78 victims have been heard by financial investigators.

This allowed the research section of the Versailles gendarmerie to recently interview eight self-employed salespeople, "some under police custody, others in voluntary hearing", the prosecution indicated.

The companies in question, specialising in the installation of heat pumps or water heaters, "solicited individuals via sales representatives" by promising them significant energy bonuses and encouraging them to take out loans for this purpose, paid directly to the companies carrying out the work, the police explained.

"A real trap was then set," adds the same source: the equipment was installed as soon as the purchase order was signed, the promised aid was never paid and appeals proved impossible because the sales representatives used a false identity and a temporary telephone number.

The people targeted were mainly "modest individuals, retired or in precarious situations", the gendarmerie indicated, specifying that some of them had become heavily indebted, "sometimes forcing them to consider selling their homes".

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.