Several people have been arrested in Egypt in connection with an alleged plot to defraud individuals, according to Egypt's Ministry of Interior. The alleged scam involved staging fabricated scenes in court and impersonating judges on social media platforms.
The ministry stated that the main suspects, an unemployed man and a student residing in Cairo and Giza, have been detained. They reportedly confessed to forming a criminal gang and taking money from citizens by falsely claiming they could allocate government housing.
The suspects are also said to have admitted to staging fake court scenes with the assistance of others. State-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported that several suspects believed to be involved in the plot were detained and referred for an expedited criminal trial.
The alleged plot reportedly came to light after authorities began an investigation following a man's claim that he had been defrauded by someone falsely presenting himself as a judge. Police reportedly seized a firearm, a judicial sash, and identity cards bearing a fake judicial title during the arrest of the main suspect.