These complaints have continued in the last few days. In all, 21 people went to the police to report the manager of a shop specializing in buying and selling gold in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales), believing that they had become victims of a large Ponzi pyramid scam. “Other people could still come forward in the coming days,” estimates Valérie Cons, a lawyer, who has seven clients in the case whose total losses are approaching one million euros.
Everyone one day passes through the doors of this shop run by René P., all entrusting him with all or part of their savings to buy gold coins, lured by the promise of 20% profitability and an eventual return on their initial investment, while the “safe haven” reaches record prices. “Most of my clients are retirees. They have three or four savings, they want to improve their daily life. The first months, to gain their trust, everything went according to plan. My clients received the promised amount every quarter,” reports Maître Cons.
Then things got worse. Pretending to have a security problem with his safe, the gold merchant then asked everyone to collect the gold coins they had purchased – which turned out to be worth much less than announced – before closing the iron curtain and never putting it back up. Since then, the radio has been silent. Payments are stopped and initial deposits are not returned.
Spare parts paid ten times too much
This is what happened to Aurélie (first name has been changed), a resident of Perpignan is about sixty years old. “I was directed to this trader by a distant acquaintance. At the beginning of 2024, I was in a weak period, in the middle of a separation,” he said. “He gave me gold coins, told me they were worth 150,000 euros, and some others. In total, I paid 200,000 euros which came from the shares I had in two properties sold to my ex-partner. The trader promised me a profit of 20%. At that time, nothing surprised me, I didn’t ask myself anything and let it happen. »
Until mid-2025, Aurélie receives almost 2,000 euros every quarter. “In October, I needed money to fix my car. I tried to contact Mr. P. He told me he was sick, then I finally got his voicemail. And the shop closed. »
She barely had time to collect her gold coins in a plastic bag: “When I went to see the police for the first time, they suggested that I appraise these coins. They were hardware! At most, they were worth 20,000 euros. » After filing a complaint, Aurélie submitted a request a few days ago to benefit from the RSA. An investigation is underway.
