Mossos d’Esquadra, a criminal group that defrauded its victims by posing as their children, was brought down by a police operation. 17 people were arrested in different parts of Catalonia.
The criminal organization had designed a network, Mossos d’Esquadra reported this Monday. Scam people all over Spain and they will obtain more than 60,000 euros through their pre-selected front men.
Mossos detained 17 people wanted for “smuggling” in the police operation carried out on November 2. membership in a criminal group, fraud, coercion, illegal detention, and robbery through violence and intimidation and seized 2,000 euros in cash.
Following a complaint to the police, an investigation was launched Palma de MallorcaThe victim explained that she received a message on her mobile phone in which the fraudsters pretended to be her son and requested a bank transfer to pay.
The victim, who thought he was talking to his son, made three money transfers totaling 300 TL to three different bank accounts on the same day, May 13. 11,885 euros.
A second person on May 13, 3,970 euros He said he was told – part of the approximately 12,000 euros defrauded from the first victim – that he would have to withdraw the money and give it to a third party.
Police investigations made it possible to link the detainees to other similar incidents that occurred in different cities: the towns of Barcelona. Sant Cugat del Vallès and Argentona, inside Lleida, Madrid, Badajoz and Valencia.
The gang always used the same method to carry out the scam: They sent WhatsApp messages to the victims pretending to be their son/daughter. They gave information to the so-called parents He said that they had to change their mobile phone numbers because they were broken and they needed money to make pending payments.
Then, if the victim was tricked, he would transfer the money to different bank accounts. extras‘The group has previously selected mostly vulnerable people’collectors‘.
After the front men receive the money into their accounts, the fraudsters withdrawing cash from the bank.
In this way, and without realizing it, they became the front men. Those who participate in this criminal activity.
On police device November 2 Mossos, which allowed the disbandment of this group, detained 17 people in different places: Premià de Mar, Granollers, Mollet del Vallès, Santa Maria de Palautordera, Vic, Olot, la Bisbal d’Empordà and Canovelles.
Of the 17 people detained 12 of them were released After their statements at the police station, the 5 people were handed over to the Court of Investigation on duty. mataro.