Fake Frenchwoman fraud scheme dupes elderly woman in Haskovo, Bulgaria

Police in Haskovo province opened an investigation after a 75‑year‑old resident of Dimitargrad reported being defrauded by a woman who posed online as “Marie Francoa,” a French philanthropist. The impostor claimed to manage €550,000 for poor and sick people and said she would arrange legal and banking assistance to transfer the funds. Believing the story, the victim sent 5,000 levs and later an additional €1,500 to accounts provided by the fraudsters, without keeping any banking documents. The woman only realized she had been scammed after discussing the matter with a friend. Authorities have warned citizens to verify identities before making any payments and urged anyone suspecting similar fraud to contact police immediately.