PARIS (Reuters) – A multimillion euro scam which centred on getting fraudulent reimbursements for hearing aids from the French state has been dismantled and eight suspects have been arrested, European police body Europol said on Friday.
Europol said that in July 2024, the suspected fraudsters had set up fictitious hearing aid companies, using falsified diplomas to secure accreditation from health authorities and get contracts with the French state’s health insurance fund.
They then issued false invoices, and used stolen patient details to help them, leading to the payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.3 million) via fraudulent reimbursements.
The illicit funds were then channelled through shell companies across Europe, with proceeds laundered in Germany, said Europol, which is headquartered in The Hague.
Europol said French police arrested eight suspects earlier this month, with 195,000 euros worth of criminal assets seized.
($1 = 0.9228 euros)
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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