A man was detained in Fuengirola over allegations of impersonating a police officer to extort a woman he met on an adult dating site. A statement from the Provincial Police Station reports that the 49-year-old defendant posed as a public servant and used the ruse of police authority to pressure his victim. He claimed that there were existing complaints against him for fraud and suggested that only by cooperating with him could those issues be resolved. The courts have outlined charges of fraud and usurpation of public functions, and the case has drawn attention to the dangers of online impersonation schemes that mix romance with crime.
The Cyber Crime Group of the Fuengirola Local Police Station led the investigation, which began at the end of April. A 30-year-old woman reported being targeted in a live extortion operation in which the alleged impersonator presented himself as a police officer with an ostensibly legitimate reason to maintain ongoing contact on the dating platform. According to the victim’s account, after several messages were exchanged, the man supplied photos of a badge-like emblem to lend credibility to his assertions. He maintained the pretense of authority, declaring there were two fraud complaints against him and implying serious consequences for the victim if she did not comply with his demands or otherwise cooperate with the supposed investigation. The emotional pressure was used to drive fear and compliance, a classic tactic in online fraud that seeks to exploit trust in law enforcement to manipulate vulnerable individuals.
According to statements from the National Police, the extortionist offered to shield the victim from legal trouble by arranging the nullification of a supposed search and arrest warrant in exchange for an intimate relationship. The offer, paired with the threat of legal repercussions, culminated in the suspect being identified as the individual behind the scheme. He was apprehended, and his statements were collected as part of the ongoing case. He has been released on charges while investigators continue their work, and the matter has been registered with Investigation Court No. 2 of Fuengirola. As the case unfolds, authorities emphasize the importance of reporting any contact that seeks personal information, favors, or intimate arrangements under the guise of official law enforcement activity so that potential victims can obtain protection and the proper scrutiny can be applied to such allegations.