Both FC Groningen and Allach have lodged official complaints over the misuse of their names and identities. The club has since alerted other Eredivisie sides, and both the KNVB and the Public Prosecution Service are now aware of the situation. Officials at the club believe this wasn't the work of a lone scammer, but rather an organized group operating with real skill.



How the Fraud Was Carried Out
According to the club, the fraudsters contacted players' agents by phone and email, posing as FC Groningen representatives and claiming genuine interest in signing their clients. To make the approach convincing, they used documents carrying the club's official logo, colour scheme, and address, along with email addresses designed to look authentic.

Once a deal seemed close to being finalized, the scammers would ask for money, usually from the agents, saying the funds were needed to cover things like medical checks, flights, or travel arrangements.

Chief scout Arno de Jong said he personally fielded roughly ten calls from worried agents over the past few weeks, all flagging the same suspicious pattern, which told him the operation had been running at a considerable scale. He described one instance where an agent reached out to him, thrilled about an offer and contract terms he thought had come directly from the club, only to realize later the whole thing was fabricated.

Allach noted that the fake contract.