A surprising fact has recently shaken Lidl stores in France. A woman, in the midst of the over-indebtedness procedure and with a closed bank account, managed to make more than EUR 2000 in purchases. But how was such fraud possible? This case highlights the gaps in payment systems and raises questions about growing precariousness.
A fraud revealing a context of precariousness
It all started in Valenciennes, where a mother, faced with major financial difficulties, was shopping in several Lidl stores. She pays her purchases with cheques from a closed bank account for several months.
This woman, already overwhelmed by heavy financial liabilities and living on social aid, seems to have tried to act discreetly. But soon, the cheques were refused when they were collected. As a result, payments were found to be unfunded, causing a dry loss for the brand.
A desperate situation at the origin of the gesture
Why did this woman take such a risk? According to her relatives, she was in a dramatic situation:
An ongoing issue of over-indebtedness,
Two dependent children,
The recent mourning of a child.
Elements that paint a portrait of a cornered woman, looking for a solution in a dead-end situation.
Lidl complains: increase vigilance over cheques
Faced with this scam, Lidl quickly filed a complaint. The aim is to protect the sign but also to make merchants aware of the risks of cheque payments.
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