INVESTIGATION. Real estate scam in the only forest on the Black Sea coast, with politicians and a well -known actress

Comorova Forest, the only forest on the Romanian coast, is for sale for real estate developers. One of them, Certion – connected to public institutions in Constanța – announced ambitious projects: 17 and 21 floors. He didn't build them anymore. Now, dozens of people from all over the country are trying to recover their money, the Snoop investigative site reveals.

• In 2021, the mayor of PNL of Mangalia, Cristian Radu, initiated a decision that allows the construction of 9 -storey buildings “and over”, even in the Comorova forest on the Black Sea. The real estate development was left without limits of height and thus the path for massive projects was opened in one of the few green areas of the coast.
• One of the lands in the forest that Certion wanted to build was obtained from the company of the mayor of Mangalia. Another land, near the beach, comes from the company of the wife of a former mayor of the city, Zanfir Iorguș, current local PSD councilor.
• Snoop discussed with 19 injured persons, from various counties, who paid advances – some even integral – for apartments. It was the money raised “with sacrifices” until 35-40 years old, others gave their savings for the pension.
• Cătălin Scripcaru, the founder and CEO Certion, for Snoop: “We may not always make the best decisions. However, we did everything we knew best to protect the investment with our investors. We are in active search for external financial partners and we have recently succeeded in signing such a partnership.”

“There are money worked, we do not have very high salaries, we do not live in luxury. It is painful that all these years of sacrifices have resulted in nothing,” says Diana, 35, one of the dozens of persons injured.

He gave ahead of almost 40,000 euros-shows the documents reached Snoop-for a parking place and a studio in a high block of Solantis Neptuncompany from the Certion Group. “All the money I paid where they went?” She asks.

The developer has promised to build seven apartments that can be rented in hotel, all with over 150 apartments. Began to promote them from 2021.

Six buildings at sea near Mangalia, Constanța County:

• Five in the resorts Neptun and Olimp, in Comorova, the only forest on the Romanian coast;
• one in Saturn resort.

And one in the mountain, in Poiana Brașov.

The block with the flooded roof, which “It still has about 30%”until it is ready

Of the seven buildings, one was completed, the other started, and for the rest the works never started. Some had to be completed in 2023 and 2024.

That's how the building looks Galileo – “almost completed” – from Olimp, where the Snoop reporter moved in April. The drone surprised pictures of the flooded roof. There was no one on the site.

The chairs used by Certification in the summer, at beach parties, in another location, were stored here.

The Snoop reporter called the company's sales department and presented as a person interested in a studio in the Galileo block.

The agent replied: “It is close to completion (Galileo, no). It still has about 30% in the interior finishes. They are the compartments made. They must be finished: tiles, faience, parquet.” Prices start from 110,000 euros plus VAT, the consultant said.

Agent Certion claims that he has already sold 40% of the apartments, ie several hundred, although the buildings are in the project stage. The transactions were made based on the promise of future real estate developments.

The Galileo block is located in Olimp, in Comorova Forest, in an area with few buildings. The trees on some land were cut, but nothing was built.

Officially, Certion did not answer the question about the total number of apartments sold in the seven projects.

“Everything has turned into a real estate sting”

Snoop identified 80 people affected by the Certion group and spoke with 19 from the country. Many have not intended to do business and rent studios and apartments. They wanted to leave their children's legacy or have a large space for their family.

The given advances are between 30% and 100%. For some it was the money raised up to 35-40 years “with sacrifices”, for others the economies up to 60-70 years.

At least one million euros have to recover the damages, in total, according to the information and documents to which SNOOOP had access. When they saw that the blocks did not rise, they asked for their advance back, but, they say, Certion representatives did not answer the phone and emails.

The comments are now closed on the Facebook Certion page. Google reviews have been deleted recently.

What do people say:

• Cosmin: “I took (studio, no) for my little girl. I went more on confidence and look what I did. The biggest mistake in my life.” (Lago Neptun block)
• Maria: “I gave what I gathered all my life. (Galileo and Pharos blocks from Olimp)
• Larisa: “Initially they said I would give my money, then let them sell the apartment I bought. After I gave my consent, nothing happened.” (Lago Neptun block)

• Andi: “I bought the apartment on the company in the idea of ​​sending my employees and collaborators, to do team building.” (Block Solantis Neptun)
• Iulian: “I went to the limit when I bought. It was all my money, 25,000 euros.” (Lago Neptun block)
• Anonymous: “I said we want our money back. They didn't answer us with the months on the phone” (Jakob Sonne, Poiana Brașov)
• Dinu: “I thought I would value my money, when everything turned into a real estate sting.” (Lago Neptun block)

Buyers have agreed to speak only using the first name to protect their relatives, so that other relatives or colleagues do not find out from the press about their situation or to avoid a public conflict.

Read on to Snoop how Certion arrived in possession of the lands, what influencers paid to promote real estate and what the company of people who ask for their money answered.