France arrests two individuals in connection with an alleged fraud involving bedbugs.

In France, two men have been apprehended for allegedly deceiving elderly individuals into paying large sums of money for bedbug treatment that was unnecessary. According to authorities in Strasbourg, the fraudsters would visit the victims' residences, perform fake pest control services, and then charge exorbitant prices for treatment products. The scam affected a total of 48 people, with many being women over the age of 90. Recently, bedbug infestations have been on the rise in France, causing concern among governmental officials who are working on addressing the issue. However, this outbreak has also led to an increase in false reports and unnecessary panic. The scammers would contact their victims, claiming there was an infestation in their neighborhood, and then pose as health officials during their home visits. They would use aerosol sprays to mimic fumigation and offer a cream that they falsely promoted as a bug repellent. The victims were charged anywhere between €300 and €2,100 (£257 and £1,800). The police have received nine official complaints regarding suspected fraud. After placing the suspects under surveillance, they were apprehended as they left the residence of one of their victims in Strasbourg. As bedbug infestations have become a concerning issue in Paris, there are fears that this problem could spread to London. London mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed his worry about the threat bedbugs pose to public transport in the capital and has actively been in contact with Paris officials and Transport For London to prevent such a situation.