www.as.com/english/articulo/getafe-revealed-as-victims-of/20120627dasdenspo_1/Ten
Getafe revealed as victims of fraud by fake Arab sheikhs. The Getafe president was promised the club would receive
an investment of €10 million by an Arab sheikh, who
turned out to be a Brazilian waiter who had dressed up as
an Arab millionaire.
AS.com | 27/06/2012
Catalan police have arrested a network of fraudsters who allegedly deceived businessmen and directors of football clubs, including Getafe, into thinking an Arab sheikh was interested in investing in their business.
Cadena SER has reported that Ángel Torres, Getafe's president, had been promised an investment of 10 million euros but the club never received the money because the sheikh who was supposed to be providing the investment never existed.
The victims of the fraud, including Torres, were required to
transfer funds as a guarantee of solvency to a bank
account belonging to the fraudsters. The victims paid the
money but the investment never appeared.
The fraudsters organised business trips to Arab countries
with their victims and had a luxurious office in a wealthy
Barcelona neighbourhood, where photos were found of the
fraudsters pictured with influential politicians and King
Juan Carlos. They organised meetings in luxurious hotels
which were attended by a false Arab sheikh, who was in
fact a Brazilian waiter who was paid 50 euros to dress up
as a sheikh.
Directors from Espanyol also travelled to Dubai to meet
with the fake 'Arab multimillionaires' but were later
informed that they were being swindled. A number of
football clubs and businesses have been victims of the
fraud.
At the moment seven people have been arrested in the
investigation, with two detainees being named as Joan
Batalla and Marc Toscas.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I have to admit, that made me chuckle a bit.
Getafe revealed as victims of fraud by fake Arab sheikhs. The Getafe president was promised the club would receive
an investment of €10 million by an Arab sheikh, who
turned out to be a Brazilian waiter who had dressed up as
an Arab millionaire.
AS.com | 27/06/2012
Catalan police have arrested a network of fraudsters who allegedly deceived businessmen and directors of football clubs, including Getafe, into thinking an Arab sheikh was interested in investing in their business.
Cadena SER has reported that Ángel Torres, Getafe's president, had been promised an investment of 10 million euros but the club never received the money because the sheikh who was supposed to be providing the investment never existed.
The victims of the fraud, including Torres, were required to
transfer funds as a guarantee of solvency to a bank
account belonging to the fraudsters. The victims paid the
money but the investment never appeared.
The fraudsters organised business trips to Arab countries
with their victims and had a luxurious office in a wealthy
Barcelona neighbourhood, where photos were found of the
fraudsters pictured with influential politicians and King
Juan Carlos. They organised meetings in luxurious hotels
which were attended by a false Arab sheikh, who was in
fact a Brazilian waiter who was paid 50 euros to dress up
as a sheikh.
Directors from Espanyol also travelled to Dubai to meet
with the fake 'Arab multimillionaires' but were later
informed that they were being swindled. A number of
football clubs and businesses have been victims of the
fraud.
At the moment seven people have been arrested in the
investigation, with two detainees being named as Joan
Batalla and Marc Toscas.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I have to admit, that made me chuckle a bit.
