The trial known as 'Carton rouge' commenced today in Nancy, France, involving a cryptocurrency and diamond scam that has caused approximately 28 million euros in damages, impacting around 1,000 victims, including several professional football clubs.

The law firm representing the victims emphasized that this trial is a significant step in combating international financial fraud and aims to amplify the voices of those affected after a long struggle.

Over 800 civil parties, out of an estimated 1,300 victims, are seeking justice against the defendants for charges including organized fraud and money laundering.

The scam, which operated between 2016 and 2018, involved 900 victims who collectively lost 20.9 million euros through 14 counterfeit diamond-selling websites.

The investigation revealed that nearly 200 bank accounts were opened across 19 different countries to collect and transfer money from victims, with 2.8 million euros seized during the investigation potentially available for victim compensation.

The scammers operated from locations in Marseille and Israel, opening bank accounts and phone lines across Europe while attempting to misdirect player salaries by claiming changed banking details.

Several professional football clubs, including Angers, Sochaux, and Toulouse, were scammed, with attempts made to defraud six other clubs, including Brest and Marseille.

Guy Grandgirard, president of the French Consumers Defense Association, highlighted the increasing risks of online investments, noting a significant rise in such scams since 2018.

Police traced the fraudulent bank accounts to a company based in Marseille, leading to a broader investigation into the scam's operations.

This trial features 22 defendants who are suspected members of an international network specializing in financial scams related to diamonds and cryptocurrencies.

Victims were lured into investing in fake cryptocurrencies and diamonds through these fraudulent websites, often receiving nothing in return.

The investigation initially began when several Ligue 1 football clubs received fraudulent requests to redirect player salaries to a new bank account, purportedly from a sports agent.