France considering legal action on ‘$21 billion’ Haiti hoax
By APThursday, July 15, 2010
France looking into ‘$21 billion’ Haiti hoax
PARIS — France’s Foreign Ministry says it is considering legal action against the alleged perpetrators of an Internet hoax that claimed France would pay a huge indemnity Haiti demanded 125 years ago.
The alleged hoaxers have e-mailed international media to announce the repayment of 90 million gold francs — which the fake “Foreign Ministry” says is worth $21 billion — to help Haiti’s recovery from the January earthquake.
The e-mail directs recipients to French- and English-language videos of the “announcement” posted on a website made to resemble French government portals.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Thursday the perpetrators are “spreading false information and fraudulently copying the site of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.”
Tags: Caribbean, Europe, France, Haiti, Latin America And Caribbean, Paris, Western Europe