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A Swiss fraudster is said to have manipulated hundreds of people in France. The older man lures his victims by hitchhiking, tells them moving stories and thus steals their pity – and their money. Although the man is known by the nickname ‘Max the Swiss’ or ‘Max the fraudster’, he has never been convicted, according to ‘La Dépêche’.
His real name is Matteo S.*, but he has already introduced himself as Max, Claude, Reto, Carl or Gérard. The newspaper’s investigation shows that his made-up stories are constantly changing: sometimes he has to visit his sick daughter, sometimes he is a doctor or architect, sometimes his car or personal items have been stolen.
Stories that move
His scam dates back to 2009, when the now 70-year-old was arrested. But the court in Brive acquitted him. The first post on the blog that the senior’s victims dedicated to him is also from this year. A man from Toulouse meets “Max the Swiss”, who claims to be the inventor of the snow cannons from St. Moritz GR. He wanted to visit his daughter in Toulon, but someone had just stolen his car. Out of pity, the Frenchman gives the older man 120 euros, he tells “La Dépêche”.
Three years later, it is a woman from Bélésta who feels deep compassion: for the man whose wife has just died of leukemia and who wants to go to the Swiss consulate in Perpignan. According to L’Indépendant, she withdraws 75 euros to help him.
Eloquent and educated
“Max the Swiss” struck again last year. As ‘Marcus’, he was hitchhiking near Toulouse in June when his bag was apparently stolen. Although he didn’t ask his passenger anything, he dropped him off in Villeneuve-sur-Loot and gave him 100 euros for a hotel room. The fraudster promised to give him the money back, but that also turned out to be a lie.
“I was dealing with a polite, very well-educated person who was a pleasant traveling companion,” the victim described herself to “Sud Ouest”. Another person remembers it the same way: “A very educated person” who knew the answer to everything. The woman gave the elderly person 150 euros in 2013. Others also describe him as sociable, eloquent, well-educated and friendly. He speaks good French with a slight German accent. The contact details left behind are incorrect.
Only in late December had the elderly man secretly smuggled a train and bus ticket to Alsace to supposedly visit his daughter, who was suffering from cancer. At Ambazac train station, a passenger believed the senior. Just a few days later, on January 3, he attempted the same scam on the Rihac-Rancon road. Those who were accosted alerted the gendarmerie, but they were unable to arrest him, reports ‘Le Popculaire du Centre’.
*Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
