Pass Navigo: 28 Million Euro Fraud Trial in Paris

The Paris Criminal Court handed down significant sentences in the case of the Welfare Transport Pricing fraud.

As a reminder, a network producing false certificates to obtain reduced fares on the Navigo pass was dismantled by the police last January. The counterfeiters offered their services to travelers to create, for a fee, a request file for a discounted fare with the Île-de-France Solidarity Transport Agency.

As soon as they were notified, Île-de-France Mobilités filed a complaint and became a civil party to seek compensation for their damages, taking all necessary measures to curb the problem:

• Systematic filing of complaints against fraudulent sales websites;
• Reporting to platforms (especially social media) to shut down sales pages;
• Updating the Terms of Service and General Conditions to enable blocking of Navigo passes bought fraudulently;
• Coordination with the State Digital Directorate and the Social Security Directorate to strengthen controls prior to subscribing to TST packages.

The Paris Criminal Court sentenced the defendants to the following penalties:

• 24 months in prison with a special suspension and confiscation of seals for one defendant;
• 30 months of firm imprisonment, issuance of an arrest warrant, ban from French territory for 5 years, and confiscation of seals for one defendant;
• 30 months of firm imprisonment with a detention order at the hearing (meaning he was incarcerated immediately during the hearing), ban from French territory for 5 years, and confiscation of seals for two defendants;

The implementation of the judgment was ordered to be displayed at Saint Lazare, Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz stations, and in the Avron and Hoche metro stations, at the expense of the defendants, as requested by Île-de-France Mobilités.

The financial harm to the Public Transport Authority is estimated at 28 million euros.

The civil hearing, scheduled in the coming weeks, will decide on the financial damages.

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