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Fifty people from an alleged criminal network have been arrested for defrauding more than 400 people online

The Civil Guard has searched three homes in Bilbao, Barakaldo and Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) and seized material related to the crimes investigated. 

The Civil Guard has dismantled an alleged international criminal organization based in the Spanish State that was engaged in online fraud, identity theft, forgery of documents and money-laundering,which, according to sources, had a profit of more than 320,000 euros and caused damage to telephone companies of another 40,000 euros.

As reported by the Armed Institute in a statement, the network had members based in several provinces of the Spanish State and direct contacts in Nigeria to send some of the profits there.

They have explained that criminal activity began with the usurpation of the identities of third parties whose data was used to fraudulently contract prepaid telephone lines and other telecommunications services.

These lines were used to interact with victims using online trading platforms, simulating fair trading operations. After being persuaded, victims made payments through Bizum, bank transfers or sending electronic products, but never reached their actual destination.

In cases where the products were received, the members of the organization present in Spain sent them to controlled addresses and other members recognized them as legitimate recipients, after which the effects were sold in second-hand sales establishments.

More than 400 victims in Spain, Italy and France

During the operation, the Civil Guard searched three homes in Bilbao, Barakaldo and Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) and seized material related to the crimes under investigation, including more than 150 prepaid SIM cards, mobile phones, televisions, IDs, fraudulent telephone contracts, money cards, money-laundering documentation and a cryptocurrency transmission device.

In addition, as a result of the investigation, seven persons have been investigated and 100 others identified as alleged perpetrators of continuing fraud, usurpation of civil status, documentary falsehood, money-laundering and membership of a criminal organization.

34 members based in Nigeria and more than 400 victims from all provinces of Spain, including Italy and France, have been identified.

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