Authorities in Alicante have detained two men and a woman on suspicions they formed part of a criminal network that specialized in fraud, using a method known as SIM swapping to duplicate mobile phone SIM cards. The suspects face charges related to a fraud amounting to more than 57,000 euros, allegedly siphoned from a local business in Alicante. Investigators have also identified additional victims in other provinces, and authorities do not rule out further arrests as the inquiry broadens.
The Alicante Provincial Judicial Police Brigade, through its Economic and Financial Crimes Unit (UDEF), launched the probe after a complaint filed by a representative of a family business. The complainant reported a series of fraudulent financial events targeting company accounts and transferring funds to a range of recipient accounts.
Although the total misappropriated sum stood at 57,676 euros, investigators did not stop at tracing the banking movements alone. They extended the review to identify the ultimate beneficiaries of the illicit transfers and the accounts involved in the scheme.
As the financial trails were followed, investigators uncovered that, beyond the Alicante case, additional fraudulent settlements had taken place in other provinces, signaling a broader network and a larger pool of victims across the country.
fake copy
Law enforcement established that the fraudulent activity relied on SIM swapping, a technique in which the perpetrator secretly copies a mobile number from one SIM card to another. This allows unauthorized access to the victim’s digital services and financial profiles without immediate detection.
According to the police, the author presents a false identity to obtain the victim’s SIM information. When the victim loses phone service, the criminals can intercept verification messages and gain entry to digital banking platforms by exploiting SMS-based authentication.
UDEF investigators confirmed three individuals were involved in the operation: two men, aged 31 and 36, of Spanish and Venezuelan nationality, and a 20-year-old Spanish woman. The trio was taken into custody and placed in pre-trial detention as the investigation continues. Security cameras and deposit-related evidence have corroborated their links to the alleged financial gains from the fraudster group.