French police raise concerns over 'fake tarmackers' with Limerick links
French authorities have raised concerns over a gang with links to a town in County Limerick, posing as builders to defraud property owners. Over the past five years, about 2,000 complaints have been made to the authorities, according to a French daily newspaper.
As reported in Le Parisien, “faux bitumeurs”, or fake tarmackers have been posing as builders in a bid to scam property owners.
According to a report published in February by SIRASCO, the Information, Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Service on Organised Crime, the tarmacking scam is the main activity of the “Irish Travellers,” who are members of the Rathkeale Rovers, a criminal clan with links to Limerick.
As reported in Le Parisien, members of the Rathkeale Rovers are nicknamed “Gucci Travellers” for “their love of luxury.”
An asparagus grower in a Southwestern region of France, Arthur, told Le Parisien he was approached by “builders” who claimed to have surplus tar. The man saw it as an opportunity to pave his farm, and paid the scammers who “appeared to be professionals” about 2,000 euros for their work.
However, just a few days after the work was done, Arthur said parts of the bitumen, started coming off before completely falling apart.
According to the French newspaper, the workers all had Irish accents.
In their report, SIRASCO noted that the “tarmackers generally present themselves as road workers and offer tarring services on the pretext of a surplus of tar.”
“Price vary between €7 and €15 per square meter rather than the typical 40 euros,” they added.
According to the anti-mafia organisation, the French police believe older or “isolated” people are often targeted.