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The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
27 Food Fraudsters Arrested In Lithuania And Italy
By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions EUROPOL
Fraudsters Relabelled Millions Of Expired Food Products And Reintroduced Them To The Supply Chain, Risking Health And Safety Of European Consumers
A two-part investigation across several EU Member States has unveiled a criminal/fraudster network that operates by reintroducing expired food into the supply chain.
In total, law enforcement officials have arrested 27 fraudsters/criminals responsible for this relatively new criminal practice that jeopardizes the health and safety of European consumers.
Exploiting vulnerabilities in the supply chain initially induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the suspect fraudsters started acquiring immense quantities of expired food and beverages. They would then chemically erase the expiry date printed on the individual items and reprint a new one. In other cases, a whole new label was forged and applied, giving the impression that the packaged food or beverage was still fresh and safe for consumption. Relabeled food and beverages may not only be unenjoyable but even dangerous for human consumption, and could pose a serious risk to public health.
This specific modus operandi of the fraudsters was discovered and further pursued within the framework of OPSON, a large-scale investigation into the food industry coordinated by Europol. The ensuing investigations pursued by Member States and coordinated by Europol led to two targeted operations.
Two Massive Hits Against Food Fraudsters
On 23 May 2023, Lithuanian Police (Lietuvos policija) and law enforcement from other Member States, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled an organized crime fraudster group that reintroduced millions of expired food products with altered labels on the market.
The fraudsters, who are also under investigation for large-scale VAT fraud, are believed to have made at least EUR 1 million in profits from their food labeling scam. Officers conducting 70 searches and inspections of warehouses, among other locations, seized equipment for altering the expiry dates on products. This equipment included household solvents, printers, and labels. In total, over one million food and beverage packages were found and prevented from entering the market.
An Action Day On 11 July 2023 Led To The Arrest Of Three Individual Fraudsters
Europol coordinated the action day conducted in Italy by the Italian Carabinieri (Nuclei Antisofisticazione e Sanità dell’Arma dei Carabinieri), with the support of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza). Law enforcement conducted 14 searches and seized more than 500 000 food and beverage items as well as equipment used by the criminal fraudsters. Many of the seized food items were not only expired but already spoiled, highlighting the harm that could have been done to consumers. The criminal network collected expired food and beverages for little to no cost and replaced the expiry dates with new ones to enable their resale. Upon reintroducing these items into the supply chain, massive gains were made on the backs of unwitting consumers.
The phenomenon is new in its scale and diffused across several EU Member States. However, there is no involvement of food producers, as intermediate suppliers or other entities working in food disposal are used as facilitators in this particular fraudster criminal activity.
Europol’s Role:
Europol identified the phenomenon as one of the main incoming threats during the COVID-19 pandemic and alerted EU Member States by disseminating operational plans. An important link connecting the Lithuanian and Italian investigations was found by Europol specialists, thus demonstrating the large scale of the trend. Europol officers were deployed on the action days to provide on-the-spot support with mobile offices and conduct forensic analysis.
Participating Member States and Authorities
- Investigation leading to action day on 23 May 2023: Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Europol, Eurojust
- Investigation leading to action day on 11 July 2023: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Europol
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Gallery From The Arrests & Seizures
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Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
