Annaba, Algeria – A sophisticated fraud network targeting customers of a well-known trucking company has been dismantled by the Regional Group of the National Gendarmerie in Annaba. The operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals suspected of orchestrating the elaborate scheme.
According to a statement released by the Gendarmerie, the investigation was launched following a complaint filed by a citizen who fell victim to the scam. The victim reported engaging with a fraudulent online page that impersonated a reputable truck sales company. The perpetrators allegedly lured victims through a series of deceptive interactions, culminating in requests for sensitive information, including images of their gold debit cards. Subsequently, funds were illicitly withdrawn from the victims’ accounts without their knowledge or consent.
‘The criminals were using social media and modern communication technologies to deceive their targets,’ a Gendarmerie spokesperson stated.
Following a thorough investigation, authorities were able to identify and apprehend all members of the criminal network. A search of the suspects’ properties yielded several items of evidence directly linked to the fraudulent activities. These included mobile phones, electronic SIM cards, pre-filled postal checks, and numerous gold debit cards.
The investigation revealed that the financial transactions among members of the network exceeded 2 billion centimes in a short period. This highlights the scale and impact of their criminal enterprise.
The Gendarmerie is urging citizens to exercise extreme caution when conducting online transactions and to verify the legitimacy of any online entity before sharing personal or financial information. This bust serves as a strong warning to those who seek to exploit unsuspecting individuals through online fraud.
