FRENCH chancer

French con-artist Francois de Dietrich caught more than a few investors in Northern Ireland and in the north west. He promised great returns for investors in his firm, ETIC Solutions, that bought and sold unwanted stock such as aircraft seating. One financial adviser told Fakes, Fraud and Scams that he met de Dietrich and his schemes failed to stand up to the most basic scrutiny. Unfortunately lots of others fell for his charms. Read here. In the meantime the High Court in Belfast has given him an 18-month sentence for failing to explain where the cash went, read here. Asset-freezing court orders relate to over €20 million of investments.