French police uncovered a massive fraud operation after stopping a Ferrari traveling at nearly 250 km/h on a motorway, only to discover the driver was officially living on government benefits, according to French media.
The incident began on June 14, 2025, on the A7 motorway near Orange in southern France. Police clocked a Ferrari Portofino speeding at 247 km/h, far above the legal limit. The luxury vehicle, worth around €210,000, was immediately seized, and the driver was taken into custody. At first glance, it appeared to be a straightforward case of reckless speeding, but investigators quickly realized something didn’t add up.
Authorities became suspicious when they discovered the driver had no declared income. Despite officially receiving social assistance and appearing to have no legitimate employment, he was behind the wheel of one of the world’s most expensive sports cars. This contradiction triggered a deeper financial investigation into the driver and his family.
What police uncovered was far more serious than a simple traffic violation. The Ferrari was linked to a construction company operated by the driver, his mother, brother, and sister. However, investigators found that the company was never officially registered. Instead, the family allegedly operated the business informally, receiving large amounts of cash while simultaneously claiming government benefits intended for unemployed or low income individuals.
Officials described the family’s lifestyle as completely disproportionate to their declared financial situation. While officially reporting little to no income, they were allegedly receiving substantial public aid while secretly accumulating wealth.
The investigation ultimately revealed an estimated €1.8 million fraud against multiple French government agencies, including the social security authority (Urssaf), the family allowance fund (Caf), and tax authorities. During coordinated arrests carried out in February 2026, police seized more than €600,000 in real estate assets, €170,000 in luxury goods, along with cash and funds held in bank accounts.
The four family members are now facing serious criminal charges, including undeclared work, aggravated money laundering, and misuse of company assets. They are scheduled to stand trial in October before the criminal court in Draguignan.
What began as a routine speeding stop ultimately exposed a sophisticated fraud scheme that had gone undetected for years.