Becoming Rich with Daily Scavenging APP-Chapter 536: Antique Counterfeiting Scandal in France

Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Antique Counterfeiting Scandal in France

"Palot is a recognized expert in antique tables and chairs, that’s beyond question.

Dealing with such an authoritative figure, unless you have evidence that can completely nail him, it’s absolutely unwise to alarm the snake prematurely."

Schaefer was particularly invested in helping Kasim investigate fake antique furniture.

After all, Kasim is a favored courtier of the Crown Prince, and for a broker like him, being connected to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia couldn’t be better.

Chen Yiyang was happy to watch the proceedings, hence he left the matter mainly to Schaefer to handle, providing only some reference ideas.

"How about changing our approach?" Chen Yiyang considered the many fake case studies he had seen.

In the domestic field of forgery, there has not yet been a case of an industry authority personally participating in forgery.

However, most forgers actually have a professional team behind them to create such convincing fakes to prevent being exposed.

"Palot is a figure of authority in the industry, but he is merely an appraiser, not a craftsman. So, he must have a trustworthy carpenter behind him to make the fake artifacts."

"Indeed." Schaefer thought about it and agreed.

Palot, as an authority in the industry, excels in weaving stories for antique furniture and has even published many books.

But being skilled and knowledgeable does not mean he personally can make a believable fake chair.

"Kasim is paying after all, so I’ll hire a few professional detectives to investigate Palot." Schaefer took action.

As a country that produced Sherlock Holmes, the United Kingdom has a considerable number of private detectives. Schaefer was willing to spend money, immediately hiring several people to monitor Palot and investigate Palot’s social network.

Despite being a French antique tables and chairs expert, Palot has been residing in London for the past few years.

Mainly because London, as a major financial city, has many wealthy people and few peers.

Palot has accolades backing his professional field; selling antique furniture here does even better than in Paris.

British private detectives may lack other skills, but their tracking and monitoring techniques are top-notch.

Back in the day, British tabloids even monitored celebrities’ trash bins, deducing the status of their relationships by the number of used condoms found inside.

Hence, investigations and surveillance quickly yielded results.

"Palot has a very close carpenter couple friend in London. This couple were originally French but recently moved to London along with Palot."

Schaefer reported the results of the private detective’s investigation to Chen Yiyang.

"Is there anything worth noting about this couple’s finances?" Chen Yiyang inquired.

Forging antiques is pure profit.

For instance, the set of antique furniture sold to Kasim, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia paid roughly eight million pounds.

But if this antique furniture is fake, the cost wouldn’t even come close to eight hundred.

Such massive returns, even if Palot only gives a small share to the carpenter couple, would still be a substantial sum.

"This couple’s daily life is a bit extravagant, yet within normal consumption boundaries, it can be understood that they don’t save, using all income for enjoyment.

But they have not purchased any fixed assets or property in the United Kingdom. I had someone investigate their assets in France and found they also do not own any fixed assets there."

"That’s odd." Chen Yiyang reviewed various materials sent over by the private detective.

This couple leads a lavish daily life yet does not purchase any fixed assets.

This is not the behavior one would expect from someone who suddenly got rich.

"If we’re unable to determine if Palot is involved in forgery, then the couple’s daily behavior is normal.

But we’ve already determined Palot is involved in selling fake antique furniture. The couple’s actions might be concealing something.

Is it possible they could have gotten someone trustworthy to purchase some fixed assets for them, then use nominee ownership to mitigate risks?"

"Then let’s focus the investigation on this carpenter couple’s friends in France." Chen Yiyang suggested.

"Cross-border investigation carries high risks, we need an ally." Schaefer proposed.

"An ally, who?"

"Certainly the British media, who would love seeing the French fall flat."

The rivalry between England and France spans hundreds of years.

Although the French maintain their great nation demeanor, they outwardly treat the British a bit better.

But the British show no restraint in their spite for France.

A previous British Prime Minister, whose term did not last longer than a cabbage’s shelf life, when asked whether France was an ally or enemy, straightforwardly replied that there was no conclusion, and she would use action to decide.

After saying this, the British in attendance actually erupted into cheers.

This indicates the British attitude toward France.

Thus, when Schaefer reached out to BBC, the renowned British media regularly adding a haze filter to videos involving Huaxia.

BBC immediately showed great interest, spending money and sending reporters to help investigate in France.

"This carpenter couple has a couple friend in France. Their friend couple has recently become absurdly wealthy."

With BBC’s assistance, Schaefer and the team found clues in France swiftly.

"This couple has no apparent job but recently spent 2.2 million Euros to purchase a mansion, and paid in full."

France is unlike the United Kingdom, lacking such extreme environmental policies, so new houses are built annually in France, with typically reasonable prices.

A 2.2 million-Euro house would be considered a mansion for a middle-class family.

It’s absolutely impossible for a couple without jobs to have this amount of money.

"But our investigation has strayed too far." Schaefer noted, "We have no evidence that the money this couple used for buying the house came from their carpenter friends."

"We don’t need to find evidence ourselves." The BBC reporter, an expert at uncovering news, said.

He stated directly, "We simply need to report the couple’s unexplained large assets to French tax authorities, who will then investigate the origin of this money for us."

Things indeed unfolded as the BBC reporter had anticipated.

Even in Europe, if an ordinary person suddenly has a large, unexplained source of funds,

the tax authorities will certainly come knocking.

If you can’t explain the source of the money, the police will intervene to check if you are laundering money or helping conceal assets for a criminal gang.

Therefore, the couple dared not lie, quickly confessing the money came from the carpenter couple.

With the BBC’s help, the British promptly dispatched police to question the carpenter couple about the origin of this large sum of money.