This Monday, March 4, the trial of the most prolific French counterfeiters of recent years opened in Paris. Their business was so successful that they had to automate the process, while remaining untraceable for years by law enforcement. In total, it is estimated that the scheme generated no less than €400,000 in profit.
“The Genevarie”. The play on words makes the judge smile when the creator of this Telegram channel explains its origin. To name his trafficking in fake luxury watches, Anthony, a 28-year-old computer scientist, mixed Geneva and watchmaking. Skillful, but not enough to escape the police, who brought him to the start of his trial this Monday, March 4. It must be said that the budding crook did not know how to exercise discretion when his scheme gained momentum.
In 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, Aurélien began his activities as a forger. He then sells diplomas, identity documents and other fabricated checks. Success very quickly came so much so that in 2022, the man who now calls himself Volrys gets closer to a certain Aurélien, a professional baker. He who has several debts to pay off is quickly seduced by his accomplice’s little operation.
On the same subject —This scammer stole 1 million euros from Apple with fake iPhones for over 3 years
A computer scientist and a baker create one of the largest counterfeiting networks in France
Together, they created La Genèverie, a sort of counterfeit supermarket on Telegram and on the dark web. Their business is taking off: the two partners produce up to ten identity cards per day, printed at their home. Their clientele became so large that Anthony decided to automate the process. From now on, customers arrive on Telegram, chat with a chatbot and fill out an online form to generate the information necessary to produce the false documents.
To maintain their anonymity, Anthony and Aurélien are of course paid in cryptocurrencies, either by PCS coupon which they then transfer directly to prepaid cards. Their business earned them between €100 and €400 per order. In one year, the prosecution estimates that up to 6,400 false documents were produced by the two crooks, thus generating a nice jackpot of €400,000.
On the same subject – Dark web: police arrest 150 arms and drug sellers in historic operation
But everything changes in 2023. In reality, from the start of his activities, Anthony is spotted by the police. But the latter struggles to discover who is hiding behind Volrys. The investigators then decide to place an order on his platform in order to get in touch with him. Failed, but they still manage to trace the trail to another contact, who soon reveals Volrys’ true identity.
Anthony was arrested at his home on April 3, 2023. Shortly after, it was the turn of his accomplice, in whose home the police found a real printing factory, capable of manufacturing an identity card in just 15 minutes, for a total of 35 documents per day. Neither of the two accomplices will deny the facts. Their trial will be held until March 20.