No registration

Millionaire fraudster busted because of his car

The Frenchman was uncovered during a police check. (symbolic image)

(Bild: Juergen Radspieler)

Because his car was no longer registered for traffic and he only had a photo of an ID card on his cell phone as proof of identity, a 22-year-old Frenchman was put under closer scrutiny by the police in Upper Austria. In the end, it was clear that a big fish had been caught.

Officers from Tumeltsham police station noticed an unregistered car with French license plates on the A8 in the direction of Sattledt near St. Marienkirchen. During the subsequent check, the 22-year-old only identified himself as a passenger with a photo of a French identity card stored on his smartphone. However, this photo apparently showed a different person.

The man became uncooperative
As the man was unable to provide any further proof of identity, he was provisionally arrested. During his interrogation, he was uncooperative and was therefore taken to the police detention center in Wels. After extensive investigations, the police clarified the actual identity of the 22-year-old.

Wanted for arrest
A search of the data with his true identity - which he then revealed - in the wanted persons database resulted in an arrest warrant from the Vienna public prosecutor's office. He is accused of having made millions as a member of an internationally operating fraud group - so-called RIP deals. By order of the Vienna public prosecutor's office, the arrested man was taken to Wels prison.