In Alicante, a veteran scammer linked to a widespread fraud network finally faced arrest after a complaint from a Murcia resident. The suspect, who had contacted victims across the country through social media, promised to double their money via investments tied to sports betting and other schemes. The case began when a woman in Alicante reported losing about 18,000 euros and revealed a broader pattern of 16 additional court claims spanning more than a dozen provinces at the time of the arrest.
The man created a polished online persona, presenting himself as a soldier to earn trust. Although he claimed military ties in Ceuta, he had since left service and used daily messages on Instagram to lure people into his schemes, often under the guise of sports betting or high-return investments. Those who believed him found themselves out of pocket as they fell to a range of manipulation techniques.
Police say the suspect lived in several Spanish cities and had been sought by European authorities since May 2022. His locations included Majadahonda, Granada, Getafe, Segovia, Burgos, Puerto Real, Ceuta, Coslada, Zaragoza, Montilla, Barbate, Málaga, Seville and Tarragona.
The operation culminated with authority figures from the Alicante Judicial Police Provincial Brigade’s Economic and Financial Crime Group taking action after the Alicante resident filed a complaint about the 18,000-euro loss within a single month. During their online talks, the suspect convincingly portrayed himself as a trusted figure, even pressing the victim for a personal loan to secure the promised benefits.
Investigators traced the suspect to Ceuta, Madrid, Málaga, San Javier in Murcia, and ultimately Murcia city, where the arrest was executed. He had been staying in a rented room in Murcia when officers intercepted him at midnight last Friday. For several days authorities had shadowed his movements, catching him en route to an ATM where he was expected to withdraw cash gained from his latest scam.
sports betting
The police found that the fraud method had evolved over time. He first introduced himself as a sports betting expert who could double the victims’ money within days, then shifted to posing as an asset investor. In reality, the funds never reached any legitimate investment, with several ATM withdrawals documenting the profits sought by the suspect’s scheme.
The most successful scams relied on building trust over days, weeks, or even months. The perpetrator maintained a social media profile featuring photographs of military service. He used a fake Army soldier card to bolster his credibility, convincing his victims that he posed no risk of illegal activity.
To manage proceeds from the fraud, potentially around 15,000 euros a month, the suspect steered victims to open accounts within a sports betting network. They deposited funds and, at times, surrendered control codes that allowed broad access. This created a web of online accounts controlled by the fraudster on behalf of the victims, enabling a series of illicit transactions and cash withdrawals across Spain’s ATMs.
The arrested individual did not appear to own the fraudulent accounts, leaving victims to suspect that other parties controlled the schemes or that additional victims existed while the detainee operated behind the scenes.
Following the Murcia arrest, authorities searched the rented room and seized 600 euros in cash. He was processed at the police stations and presented before a court, facing 16 indictments for fraud and document falsification. While the court ordered temporary detention, investigators continue to assess the scope of the fraud, as more victims may yet emerge beyond the initial list of those affected.