MODENA. «Are you a musician? Here’s one for you non-repayable financing up to 2500 euros for the purchase of your favorite musical instrument”.
An attractive proposal, which has in fact attracted thousands of people throughout Italy since last summer, including hundreds of people from Modena. Too bad that this money never arrived and that it was all a scam. The operation was planned in every detail by Savings Club, a fictitious association that has entered into agreements with various instrument shops. The agreement was simple: Risparmio Club promised customers a refund in 10 installments of up to 2500 euros, 100 percent in the case of under 25s, 80% in the case of over 25s. While the shops had to recognize a 6 percent on every sale resulting from the agreement. The association has evaporated, the shops have paid it thousands of euros and the customers have received nothing or almost nothing.
«It was a false association, which boasted of having sums from public and private entities with which it could afford to finance these purchases – explains Marzio Govoni, president of Federconsumatori Modena – The people who purchased then told their friends and sales exploded. But the mechanism for returning the sum in installments was never activated. It was discovered that the Risparmio Club headquarters was in a run-down building on the outskirts of Bologna, was not active and was not registered in the association register. In short, everything is false. Behind it was a well-known fraudster who has been planning these operations for almost thirty years. But now he’s gone.” For Federconsumatori there is no doubt: musicians have no responsibility. While the shops, often established and well-known businesses, should have ferreted out the scam beforehand. «The primary responsibility falls on the scammer, there is no doubt – continues Govoni – But I think the majority of these kids would have noticed the scam even just from the association’s website. They trusted the various instrument shops, serious and well-known companies. But none of them asked for information, it was enough to look for the name and surname of who was behind it to realize. For two people we asked for the entire sum to be returned, these purchases were often made because there was an offer. But we were told no. We’re talking about a hundred purchases in Modena.”
From Modena to Fiumalbo, here are some of those scammed.
Davide, Fiumalbo
«Out of enthusiasm I purchased two keyboards, one for me and one for my wife. We spent almost 5 thousand euros confident that we would be reimbursed. We only got 150 euros, now I think I’ll sell one of the two keyboards. Many of us in the town took advantage of it.”
Gabriele, Modena
«I bought a sound card for 990 euros, I needed it. I was offered the opportunity through another customer of the Lenzotti store. I needed it anyway, I tried to seize the opportunity. A first installment arrived, then they disappeared completely. I didn’t think it was a scam.”
Alessandro, Modena
«The advert in the shop intrigued me, it seemed credible. I needed to buy a mixer worth 1800 euros, the contribution is welcome. I didn’t even get the first installment.”
