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FRANCE-FIRE-NOTRE-DAME-FRAUD
Scammers preying on Notre-Dame donors, France warns
PARIS, April 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Fraudsters are taking advantage of the
Notre-Dame fire to fool donors into handing over cash believing they are
helping to rebuild the gutted Paris cathedral, officials have warned.
The French Heritage Foundation, which has so far collected more than 13
million euros ($14.5 million) from individual donors to help restore the
gothic landmark, said any phone or email appeals were fake.
“A number of scams have been flagged to us both in France and abroad,” the
foundation said Wednesday, insisting it issues no appeals by phone, mail or
email for donations. “All of these initiatives are fraudulent.”
The foundation is accepting donations through its website (don.fondation-
patrimoine.org), its Facebook page, PayPal, a Paris metro station and by SMS
for those in France.
Culture Minister Franck Riester on Tuesday warned people to be vigilant of
websites claiming to support the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, which suffered
heavy damage in Monday’s blaze.
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild the monument by
2024, when France hosts the summer Olympics.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0846 hrs