Birkirkara FC player targeted in fake transfer scam

A Birkirkara football player’s agent paid $25,000 to a fake sporting director in recent weeks after being targeted by a scammer posing as a top official of a Bundesliga 2 club.

The con artist also sought to extract money from the Maltese football club but was unable to do so as club officials grew suspicious when he demanded $12,000 in supposed taxes.

Club sources at Birkirkara FC told Times of Malta that the case began in the past two weeks when a foreign individual who claimed to be the sporting director of a Bundesliga 2 side approached the agent of a Birkirkara player and offered him the chance to continue his career with the German club.

The agent spoke with Birkirkara FC’s top officials, who set a transfer fee for the contract-bound Maltese player.

Two days later, the football agent was told that the player could travel to Germany to complete his transfer between Monday and Wednesday.

The agent paid $25,000 to the fake sporting director, sources said, with that money requested to provide the player with travel arrangements, accommodation, as well as a medical test.

On Monday, the alleged sporting director phoned Birkirkara’s secretary and told him that the club had to pay $12,000 in taxes, but the Maltese club refused.

It was at that point they discovered that there was something suspicious in the move.

“The Club confirms that it had received a lucrative offer for one of its players from an individual falsely impersonating a sporting director of a club in Germany. The player had also been approached directly and presented with an offer that appeared difficult to refuse,” Birkirkara said in a statement.

“Over the past days, the Club and the player cooperated closely in an effort to fulfil the player’s dream of securing a move to a stronger league with significantly improved personal terms.

“However, yesterday evening, the Club received a suspicious document which immediately raised concerns among its officials. Subsequent communications led to the Club being asked to pay a so-called temporary “transfer tax,” with assurances that the amount would be refunded.

“Thanks to the diligence of the Club’s legal team and the support of ECA lawyers, it was quickly established that the proposal was fraudulent and that no further action should be taken.”

Birkirkara said that the club then made direct contact with the German club in question, which responded promptly and professionally.

“They immediately confirmed that the offer was not genuine and that a police investigation was already underway after the same club had received similar reports from other clubs and agencies,” the statement said.

“The Club would like to express its gratitude to all those involved, particularly its legal team, the ECA, and the representatives of the German club for their assistance and cooperation in safeguarding the club’s interests.”

The club sources said that this matter should serve as an eye-opener for Maltese clubs who could be subjected to similar attempts in the future.”