Alleged multi-million euro fraud attempt against Novobanco using document attributed to Lagarde
A Barcelos-based company is demanding ten billion euros from Novobanco, claiming improper retention of German debt funds. The bank considers a letter attributed to ECB president Christine Lagarde to be false.
Alleged multi-million euro fraud attempt against Novobanco using document attributed to Lagarde
Novobanco is at the centre of an alleged large-scale fraud attempt. A company based in Barcelos, designated FNBC Invest, is claiming ten billion euros from the bank, arguing that the financial institution is retaining funds that belong to it.
The story begins in 2022, when the company claims to have received amounts resulting from a contract for the sale of German public debt bonds. According to FNBC Invest, these amounts would have been transferred to Novobanco accounts, which now refuses to release them.
To substantiate its claim, the Barcelos-based company attached a letter which it presents as signed by Christine Lagarde, current president of the European Central Bank. The entity led by Lagarde and Novobanco itself consider the document to be fraudulent.
The amount claimed — ten billion euros — places this case among the most ambitious fraud attempts on record in the Portuguese financial sector. The bank refuses to pay any sum, considering that the company's allegations lack foundation.
The case was revealed by Eco and remains under investigation.
Source: Correio da Manhã