Paris 2024 Olympic Games: traders scammed out of several thousand euros

Une quinzaine de plaintes ont été déposées en région parisienne. MAXPPP – LP/Aurélie Audureau

Plusieurs commerçants et restaurateurs ont récemment été victimes d'escrocs qui leur ont fait miroiter de faux emplacements de stands de vente ou de food-truck sur les sites des Jeux olympiques en échange de plusieurs milliers d'euros d'acompte. 

This is exactly what the judicial police are warning about this Monday, February 12. "We started detecting scams at the end of 2023 and it is gaining momentum throughout the country", explains to AFP Magali Caillat, the deputy director of the fight against financial crime (SDLCF ) 

The first reports took place in the Paris region and facts in Marseille and Nantes came to light last week. 

Scammers approach food artisans by sending them by mail or email "brochures or leaflets" precisely imitating "the advertising or communication materials of the organizing committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games" (Cojop), underlines the commissioner.

To reserve a location, victims are asked to pay a deposit, "between 5,000 and 7,000 euros on average".

However, for the rental of stands, the organizer (Cojop) does not approach professionals. Candidates must respond to calls for tenders published on the "Maximilien" portal, created to facilitate access for VSEs/SMEs to public contracts linked to the 2024 Olympic Games.< /p>

No deposit is required

In addition, "no deposit is expected, invoicing is carried out in the form of a fee based on the turnover at the end of the operation", recalls Ms. Caillat.

The commissioner also invites you to check the email address: in several cases, the domain names used by the scammers ended with @france-paris2024.org and not with l' official @paris2024.org.

Also read: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: "We must check that the balconies can withstand the shock", concern in the capital

Several investigations have been opened and the first arrests have already taken place, said Ms. Caillat, without giving further details.

"Paris 2024 and On Location (official Olympic hospitality provider) have filed criminal complaints with the competent authorities", indicates Cojop on its website.

Mass reports

Around fifteen complaints were filed in the Paris region and at least two suspects, including a Spaniard, were recently arrested, a source close to the AFP told AFP. investigation.

"There's a good chance" that the sponsors are “largely from the same delinquent community”, of Franco-Israeli origin, which practices the “false transfer order” scam ;, adds the commissioner.

In case of suspicion of a scam, merchants can contact the organizers of the Olympic Games at the email address integrityandenforcement@paris2024.org.

"Several dozen reports have already been sent", indicates Magali Caillat.