What is the 'Bed Bug Scam' for which two have been arrested in France

France has been making headlines owing to a bed bug outbreak that has reportedly been wreaking havoc in the nation. Amid this, French authorities have arrested two men for preying on elderly residents, making them pay thousands of euros by falsely claiming to offer bedbug treatments.

Strasbourg Police said the duo would visit to homes of victims, reportedly conducting fake control services, and then overcharge them for unnecessary treatments.

As many as 48 people have fallen prey to their ‘bed bug scam’, many of them women over 90 years of age.

What is the ‘bed bug scam’ plaguing France?

France is grappling with a surge in bedbug infestations, raising concerns at both local and national levels. Government officials are actively working on measures to address the issue, while health experts and entomologists caution that the outbreak has led to an increase in false sightings and unwarranted panic.

The scammers, meanwhile, employ a calculated modus operandi, contacting victims and fabricating claims of a neighborhood bedbug infestation.

Posing as health officials, they visit victims’ homes, conducting sham fumigation with aerosol sprays. As a parting gesture, they offered a supposed bug-repelling ointment, which turned out to be a basic eucalyptus-scented cream. The scam culminated in charging victims exorbitant fees ranging from €300 to €2,100. (Rs 26,981 to Rs 1,88,852).

Authorities respond to fraud reports

Upon receiving nine formal complaints of suspected fraud, law enforcement placed the suspects under surveillance. They were arrested when alleged scammers left the home of one of their victims in Strasbourg.

Concerns extend beyond borders

With bedbug infestations on the rise in Paris, there are growing fears that the problem could spread to other regions, including London. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, expressing concern over the potential impact on the capital’s public transport system, has initiated discussions with officials to proactively address and prevent any similar threats.