In the world of higher education, it is unfortunately common to see scams occur. Recently, a shocking case broke out in the city of Le Mans, France, where three people, managers and directors of a so-called business school, were indicted on various charges, including aiding the stay of an organized gang, aggravated fraud and tax evasion. But what was the nature of their scam?
The school in question, known as the European School of Business and International Affairs (Esbia), claimed to offer around twenty courses to foreign students. However, it turned out that this school was just a decoy, a way for leaders to take advantage of young students seeking a quality education.
The case mainly concerns Beninese students, who paid between 5,000 and 6,000 euros per year to obtain fraudulent education documents. The objective of these documents was to allow students to legally stay in France. Unfortunately, it turned out that these documents had no legal value and the Beninese students found themselves trapped in a scam with no way out.
Instead of receiving the requested courses, students were offered limited English or accounting sessions. They quickly understood that they were victims of a scam and that school was their only way to stay legally in France. A real manipulation which left students in a situation of uncertainty regarding their future in the country.
The investigation revealed that this fictitious school had attracted a large number of Beninese students, and that the managers had even received public funding for work-study training assistance, without any link with their real activity. .
The three suspects were indicted and placed under strict judicial supervision. They face up to ten years in prison for their wrongdoing.
This case raises many questions about the auditing and regulation of educational institutions, particularly those that welcome foreign students. Strengthening control and transparency measures is essential to protect students from such scams and ensure the quality of higher education. Let us hope that adequate measures will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.