A scam network involving fake sick leave has been dismantled in the Île-de-France region.

Seven individuals were taken into custody in early May in the Île-de-France region as part of a large-scale operation orchestrated by the Central Office for Combating Illegal Employment. These fraudsters are suspected of having defrauded the French national health insurance system (Assurance Maladie) of €3,5 million by providing fake sick leave certificates to nearly 1,200 insured individuals, primarily in Seine-Saint-Denis. The investigation reveals that the network offered its services directly on Snapchat, thus facilitating contact with clients seeking undue daily allowances.

A fraudulent kit sold on social media

The fraudsters provided a complete kit enabling beneficiaries to collect health insurance benefits without legitimate medical justification. This turnkey system included all the necessary documents to circumvent controls and receive payments for several weeks. The simplicity of the process and the use of social media allowed the scam to grow considerably before being detected by the authorities.

The dismantling of this network illustrates the growing scale of fraud targeting social security organizations. Investigations by Radio France's unit uncovered a perfectly honed modus operandi that exploited loopholes in the sick leave reporting system. The seven suspects will face charges of massive embezzlement in court, while the national health insurance system assesses the financial consequences of this organized fraud.