Large-scale operation against alleged COVID-19 scammers

Illegal activities take place. - Large-scale operation against alleged COVID-19 scammers

In a massive crackdown, the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office targeted multiple alleged fraudsters in North Rhine-Westphalia and other federal states for allegedly illegally acquiring millions in Corona and flood relief funds. On Tuesday, two main suspects aged 23 and 57 from the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis were arrested. A total of 21 locations in the Rhineland and Ruhr area, Hesse, Bavaria, Saxony, and Poland were searched, as per the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office. Eight suspects are currently under investigation.

Luxurious items such as gold bars, pricey handbags, graphic cards worth thousands, and coin collections were seized by the authorities. A Ferrari had previously been confiscated.

The primary suspects are believed to have illegally obtained Corona aid worth over €1.1 million from March 2021 to April 2022, only to receive €320,000 in real currency. It is alleged that the money was transferred to Polish accounts through deceitful business relationships. After the flood in June 2021, these suspects allegedly applied for "Storm Damage Emergency Aid" worth approximately €1.2 million, without any proof of damage, resulting in the disbursement of €972,000.

The unlawful activities of these suspected fraudsters were uncovered by the authority responsible for processing these applications, as revealed by a spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor's Office. They noticed "irregularities" in the applications, which prompted the ongoing investigation.

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1. The Rheinisch-Bergisch district, located in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), was one of the regions where the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office operated during the major raid.
2. Despite the ongoing operation against alleged COVID-19 scammers, illegal activities continue to take place in various parts of Germany, including the Ruhr area.
3. In addition to the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office, other public prosecutor's offices in Hesse, Bavaria, and Saxony also played a role in the large-scale operation.
4. The fraudulent activities of the suspects extended beyond Germany's borders, with Poland being another country involved.
5. Authorities in the Rhineland, known for its beautiful landscapes and historical cities like Cologne, were not spared from the effects of the alleged fraud.
6. The Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent floods in Germany provided ample opportunities for these alleged criminals to exploit relief funds, as seen in this major raid.
7. In response to the alleged crimes, the authorities have vowed to ensure justice is served and have pledged to combat such illegal activities more effectively in the future.
8. As Bavaria and other federal states continue to grapple with the consequences of the floods, it is essential to remain vigilant and report any suspected instances of fraud to the appropriate authorities.

• Severe flooding continues in southern Germany.
• Floods continue to pose a major threat in southern Germany.
• Rising floods in the southern regions
• Floods: water levels remain critical in many places