Barcelona transferred £830,000 to fraudster posing as Robert Lewandowski's lawyer

A conman, who pretended to beryllium a lawyer moving with Robert Lewandowski's cause Pini Zahavi, managed to person Barcelona to transportation €1million (£830,000) into a Cypriot slope account

Barcelona were tricked into sending €1million (£830,000) to a fraudster, who pretended to beryllium moving with the cause of prima striker Robert Lewandowski.

Barca signed Lewandowski from Bayern Munich successful the summertime of 2022 for an archetypal interest of €45m (£37m). The Polish striker has banged successful 71 goals successful 106 matches for Barcelona since past to beryllium his worthy to the team.

But down the scenes determination has been a superior issue, with a fraudster utilizing the big-money transportation arsenic a mode to effort and con Barca. In the aftermath of the deal, Barcelona were contacted by idiosyncratic who said they were moving with Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, and demanded €1m beryllium transferred into a Cypriot slope account.

Someone utilizing the mendacious individuality of Michael Hermanus Gerardus Demon, who claimed to beryllium Lewandowski’s lawyer, was highly persistent and Barcelona yet agreed to pay. They sent the wealth to an relationship with the Banc de Xipre, but it was ne'er released due to the fact that the bank’s compliance section thought it was suspicious.

An probe by Cadena SER revealed that the fraudster, who had nary banking past with the Cypriot bank, was forced to beryllium their identity. Barcelona contacted Zahavi, who confirmed helium had nary cognition of the idiosyncratic progressive and the slope froze the money.

‘Mr Demon’ aboriginal threatened to spell to UEFA if Barca didn’t wage up and besides demanded further payments of €250,000 (£207,000) for their silence. Barcelona yet got their wealth backmost from the Cypriot bank, but the Catalan constabulary person not launched a transgression probe due to the fact that the nine hasn’t submitted a ceremonial complaint.

Barcelona confirmed to Cadena SER that the nine had been the victims of an attempted fraud. The nine said the incidental has prompted them to reenforce their anti-fraud protocols.

It was a adjacent miss for the Catalan giants, with immense sums progressive successful the situation. According to his contract, Lewandowski stands to gain €104m (£86m) implicit his four-year deal, 10 per cent of which (£10.4m) is owed to his representatives.

Lewandowski has 12 goals and 2 assists successful 11 matches for Barcelona this season. Hansi Flick's broadside are apical of La Liga, 3 points supra rivals Real Madrid, having won 8 of their 9 matches.

The 36-year-old is presently an wounded concern, having been wounded successful Poland's 3-3 gully against Croatia earlier this week. Barcelona are inactive hoping helium volition beryllium acceptable capable to look Sevilla successful La Liga this weekend.

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