On social networks, he exhibited a life of rhinestones and sequins and did not hesitate to share his technique, which seemed simple. En the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, a 24-year-old young man is accused of having embezzled at least seven million euros from the solidarity fund for companies set up by the French authorities. Paul Anthony, aka “PA7”, is also suspected of having benefited its subscribers.
He allegedly falsified dozens of compensation claim forms. While the government had launched the “Whatever it costs” in order to keep the French economy afloat during the first wave in March 2020, theInvestigators thus accuse the influencer of having created false companies and claimed aid on the tax site, according to an inflated and fanciful turnover based on the previous year.
Influencer Paul Anthony, 24, has been remanded in custody
He is suspected of having embezzled more than 6 million euros in Covid aid
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A “commission” on each (false) file
According to the investigations, the State then pays without further verification compensation to these companies whose activity was supposedly impacted by the crisis. This allows PA7 to receive several million euros. He then shares the “good tip” to his 60,000 subscribers on social networks. So, on WhatsApp messaging, he writes : “I have a family plan, it’s crazy, reserved only for the elite of my clientele !!!! up to 300,000 euros in 27 days.”
The investigation carried out by investigators from the Central Office for the Suppression of Serious Financial Crime (OCRGDF) reveals that 657 people have received payments of several thousand euros each from the State. The prosecution also accuses “PA7” of having taken a commission of 30 to 50% on each of the payments, which allowed him to move to Dubai, where he was arrested and deported to France end of August 2021 to be judged.
It’s a banal tax audit at a young delivery man – who had then received 16,000 euros from the solidarity fund – which led to the discovery of this gigantic scam. The Treasury has already reclaimed the overpayments from the fraudulent claimants. The “influencer” compared, from this Monday, June 13, with six other people, for four days before the Paris Criminal Court. IHe faces up to ten years in prison.