In Spain, the host of the YouTube channel Salem Maataoui TV is facing multiple complaints. The most recent was filed on September 26, 2025, in Almería, where a Moroccan national reported being the victim of «fraud» that he says also affected his relatives. Another complainant, who is physically and mentally disabled, claims to have invested over one million euros. The accused, however, denies any wrongdoing. On September 26, Spain's National Police in Almería recorded a complaint filed by a Moroccan national alleging fraud. The complaint adds to a growing list of cases targeting E.M., the host of the YouTube channel Salem Maataoui TV, accused of persuading Moroccans, particularly those in the diaspora, to invest in a project called the «Smart Farm» in Andalusia. The initiative, covering 1,200 hectares and valued at €22 million, promised investment opportunities in real estate, olive cultivation, and livestock farming, with the possibility of acquiring shares in the managing company. «People started sending substantial sums of money according to a minimum investment requirement», explains Mohammed El Moubarik, a journalist following the case on his own YouTube channel. A Complainant and His Family Duped In his complaint, A.S., a resident of Tangier, said he made two payments, €1,500 and €13,500, to the company Holding Eurotramitex SA. Despite having receipts, «no communication was received regarding this investment» up to the date of his filing, A.S. told Yabiladi. «Convinced of the project's potential, presented as a 'smart farm,' I even encouraged my family to invest», he said. «My sister-in-law, who lives in the Netherlands, invested €20,000, and my cousin in Spain invested €10,000. The promoter was very reassuring. He claimed to work with notaries and lawyers and directed us to a website for transfers, promising we'd quickly receive the purchase documents». According to A.S., the transactions were supposed to be finalized by the end of 2024. «To this day, we have not received any of the promised documents», he said. When uncertainty grew, A.S. requested a refund, an option initially guaranteed by the promoter. But by March, he still had not recovered his money. «I then wrote to the Smart Farm website (Granjadigital), demanding a refund within 15 days. E.M. replied the same day, not by email, but via WhatsApp—promising to return my money. These documented exchanges amount to an implicit acknowledgment of his responsibility», A.S. explains. After further follow-ups, A.S. hired a lawyer to file a formal complaint. Meanwhile, his cousin in Spain managed to recover his €10,000. In his statement, reviewed by Yabiladi, A.S. refers to «dozens of people claiming to be victims of the same scheme», while E.M. continues to host his YouTube channel. Over a Million Euros Invested Through Multiple Companies Another complaint, filed on September 12, 2025, in Fuengirola, comes from A.B., a Franco-Moroccan man living with an 80% physical and mental disability. Represented by J.B., who documented his statement by proxy, A.B. claims to have invested over €1 million across several entities linked to E.M. According to the complaint, funds were transferred to multiple companies, including Holding Eurotramitex (€600,000 and €45,000), Agropecuaria Guadalmena (€60,000 and €30,000), Royal Food Import Export 2005 Sociedad (€200,000 and €550,000), and Granjadigital (€36,500, €21,700, and €10,000). The latter's French translation, along with the «smart farm» concept, appears on the bank records as «rmdm smart farm». The «Smart Farm» concept gained significant attention among Moroccans abroad, promoted heavily through Salem Maataoui TV and during meetings of the Moroccan World Renaissance Network (RMDM). J.B., who holds the power of attorney in A.B.'s case, said he also made several transfers at E.M.'s request. «He claimed to be facing financial difficulties and used that to extort large sums», he told Yabiladi. According to J.B., the project was showcased during several RMDM events. The complaints also mention another individual, M.E., alleged to be the real owner of 11 entities, including the one linked to Granjadigital. The Main Accused Denies All Allegations Contacted by Yabiladi, E.M., the host of Salem Maataoui TV, denied all accusations, insisting that his initiative is a legitimate economic project. «There is no trap in investing in a project designed to empower fellow citizens in Europe», he said. «It's inspired by the success of the Chinese community, in an economic and political context that is increasingly hostile to investment in the North and marked by tighter migration policies». E.M. dismissed the fraud accusations as «false». «This is the first serious project undertaken by Moroccans worldwide. Everything was done in compliance with the law, but we know that trust is often difficult between compatriots», he argued. «If some claim to be victims, they have the right to take legal action, but they must provide evidence, as the law punishes unfounded accusations». He also denounced what he described as «malicious maneuvers against the project's success» by «detractors» in Morocco and abroad. «It's the first time I've seen a foreign community in Europe being attacked from its country of origin simply because people want to invest», he protested. E.M. maintained that all investments comply with «current standards, including billing, personnel declarations, and corporate transparency». Meanwhile, A.E., a former associate involved in projects linked to E.M., told Yabiladi that he has filed a separate defamation complaint against him.
