French Var Department Cryptocurrency Fraud Case: Mother and Son Defraud Couple of 1.5 Million Euros in Crypto Assets

According to French media Nice-Matin, the French Var Department Gendarmerie, after a one-year investigation, arrested a mother and son at a rented villa in Cavalaire-sur-Mer on June 25. The pair, under the pretext of a "house sale security deposit," induced a wealthy couple from La Môle to deposit 1.5 million euros worth of crypto assets into a designated account, subsequently using a micro camera hidden in glasses to secretly obtain the account private keys during a meeting in Milan and transferring all the funds away. This method constitutes a typical "fake sale" (Rip Deal) fraud. Both suspects have prior records and refuse to admit guilt; they are currently under judicial control, and three properties under their names located on the Côte d'Azur (valued at approximately 1.9 million euros) have been judicially seized. The case will be heard at the Draguignan Criminal Court on September 1, with charges of organized fraud and unexplained asset sources.