Annaba: National financial fraud network dismantled

Security services in Annaba have dismantled a national criminal network involved in large-scale financial fraud affecting dozens of victims across multiple Algerian provinces. Led by a local woman, the network used social media, particularly Facebook, to target customers and household appliance merchants. The perpetrators employed various tactics, including offering usurious loans and fake appliance sales, to gain access to victims' bank and postal accounts for monthly unauthorized withdrawals. They also utilized impersonators posing as informal taxi drivers to rob victims. Fraudulent transactions ranged from 200,000 to 2 million dinars. Following a wave of complaints, the suspects were arrested and referred to the judicial authorities. The investigation underscores the dangers of conducting financial transactions with unverified parties on social media platforms.