Increase in complaints
In a coordinated crackdown, the Civil Guard’s Technological Crime Team (EDITE) and the Alicante Judicial Police’s Organic Unit began investigations after a noticeable rise in reports from hoteliers. The emphasis centered on a fraudulent operation that exploited power outage fears to extort payments.
Victims were spread across several municipalities in Alicante, including La Vila Joiosa, Altea, El Campello, Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Calp, and Pilar de la Horadada. During the initial phase, investigators identified a recurring pattern as 26 complaints from Alicante hoteliers formed the basis of the case. Subsequently, victims from Granada, Jaén, Madrid, and Murcia joined, expanding the scope of the investigation.
One photograph shows a detainee during the early stages of this operation. The EDITE team, with support from the Forensic Police District Team in Sant Joan d’Alacant and the Investigation Area of the Civil Guard Main Station in San Vicente del Raspeig, expanded their inquiry by examining more than 50 bank accounts and a variety of financial documents.
The organization was found to be divided into three distinct groups. One cluster included staff from a telephone booth located in San Martín de la Vega in Madrid, which supplied phone cards used to impersonate fictitious customers. A second segment, based in Ciempozuelos (Madrid), targeted specific hoteliers. The final segment managed the transfer of funds obtained through the scheme, converting the money into cash with the help of money mules and fraudulent betting offices.
In the course of the operation, five suspects were arrested in Pinto and Rivas-Vaciamadrid on August 9 in the first phase. A second wave of arrests occurred on November 30, with entries and searches conducted in Madrid. Authorities recovered mobile devices, SIM cards, and approximately 1.5 kilograms of cannabis resin during these actions.
Crimes charged
The ten individuals detained include two women aged 19 and eight men aged 22 to 39, representing diverse nationalities that include Spanish, Cuban, Romanian, and Moroccan origins. They face charges consistent with their roles in the scheme, including fraud, money laundering, membership in a criminal organization, threats, drug trafficking, and embezzlement. The La Vila Joiosa court, acting as the instructing authority, determined that one of the primary perpetrators should be remanded in custody.
The Civil Guard, as part of the Safe Trading Plan, advises hoteliers and the general public not to make payments in reaction to suspected scams of this kind. Legitimate electricity providers do not demand payment through phone calls or instant transfers. If there is any doubt, contact the electricity company using the number printed on the invoice rather than relying on information obtained by phone. Always confirm through official channels before taking action.
Attribution: Civil Guard report on fraudulent power outage scams.