Two individuals, identified as nannies, suspected of masterminding a travel scam, may have defrauded around 300 families.
In a recent turn of events, sixty complainants, including two friends Magali Manin and Annabelle Guimmara, find themselves in a precarious situation after a travel company, Nounou et Famille Privileges, allegedly failed to fulfil its obligations. The company, which was previously trusted by Guimmara based on a positive previous vacation experience, has been reported to have closed after cancellations, although this has not been officially confirmed.
The planned budget-friendly trip to Lapland for a five-day stay, costing 3,580 euros, was scheduled for the two friends and numerous other customers. However, a few days before departure, the trip was abruptly cancelled, leaving many travelers in the lurch. The company was unreachable after the cancellation, and emails stating refunds would be issued went unanswered.
As more people's trips were cancelled and the company remained silent, doubt set in for Manin. This was further compounded when she noticed that other people were also not leaving for the Lapland trip. One such individual, a client of lawyer Nicolas Berthier, paid nearly 50,000 euros for trips he never took. The total amount of money lost by complainants is estimated to be around 50,000 euros.
Berthier, a lawyer representing the complainants, has raised concerns about a potential Ponzi scheme, questioning if new entrants paid for the trips of previous members. He also suggests that the system's collapse could explain why there are no more honored trips.
One of the responsible parties denies any intention to defraud but admits to management errors. The specific name of the individual responsible for the management of Nounou et Famille Privileges, which is liable for the unpaid repayment of more than 50,000 euros to various vacationers, is not publicly available.
In response to the growing concerns, a preliminary investigation has been opened by the prosecutor's office in Aix-en-Provence. The future of the refunds and the fate of Nounou et Famille Privileges remain uncertain as the investigation continues.
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