A 21-year-old man was detained by the Civil Guard on allegations of committing 15 fraud offenses, carried out through a popular social network. The suspect resided in the provinces where his victims were located, including Alicante, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, La Rioja, Toledo, Jaén, and Seville. He was brought before Instruction Court No. 2 in Villena for processing.
In late September, officers in Villena received a tip about a fraud case in Santa Pola and traced the activity to a residence in Villena. Subsequent review revealed that the incident was not isolated. As a result, authorities launched operation Gethsemani to thoroughly map the facts and connect related acts.
The alleged culprit advertised through a well-known social network, attracting buyers with items priced well below market value. Police sources indicate that after contacting victims using a fraudulent profile, the suspect provided plausible information to facilitate payment, and once the money was received, he vanished without delivering the promised goods.
Investigation
In the initial phase, investigators examined similar cases across multiple peninsula provinces. They determined that 12 of the finalized commercial agreements involved the sale of oil, while three additional deals followed a similar pattern. The alleged offender also marketed mopeds and quad bikes using the same method of operation. In total, fifteen frauds were recorded, resulting in approximately 2,856 euros in losses.
As the inquiry progressed, authorities identified the perpetrator as the individual who controlled the accounts used to collect payments as well as the phone line used to receive funds through Bizum. By late November, investigators leveraged the operation to pinpoint the suspect’s location. It emerged that the offender was a 21-year-old resident of Villena.
The detainee faces trial on 15 counts of fraud in Instruction Court No. 2 of Villena. After the arrest, precautionary measures were implemented, and the suspect was released under conditions while the legal process moves forward.