The Civil Guard has detained three people on charges of fraud connected to a vacation rental listing in Torrevieja, including ongoing fraud and participation in a criminal organization.
During February and March, authorities noted a rise in complaints about scams tied to properties advertised in the seaside town. To understand the surge and identify the perpetrators, the Investigation Zone, the district’s main police station, launched the Mesekito operation.
In the early phase, investigators examined the scam pattern used by alleged offenders, which matched the method described in most cases reviewed. The suspects posted properties on real estate platforms, requested payments by bank transfer or cash, and offered rentals they did not own.
After payments were received, the scammers vanished, failing to deliver the promised property or to return the funds. They also impersonated legitimate real estate agents to gain victims’ trust.
The investigative team conducted a thorough examination of the bank accounts involved in the crimes, enabling the identification of the gang members. The group included two men and a woman, all Spanish nationals, aged between 42 and 63, with some having prior records of similar offenses.
On 23 May, after confirming their involvement in some of the cases under review, three simultaneous raids were carried out at residences in Torrevieja with support from the Alicante Command’s Citizen Security Unit (Usecic).
Authorities recovered more than 10,000 euros in cash as part of the operation.
During the operation, bank documents, records linked to fraudulent real estate companies, transfer receipts, mobile devices, cash exceeding 10,000 euros, vehicles, eight properties, a retirement plan, and 16 bank accounts used by the gang were seized.
The suspects were arrested at the scene and transferred to the Investigation Court No. 2 of the Torrevieja Judicial District, where they were remanded in custody.
Injunction from Germany
Following these actions, the operation continued and, in July, the Freiburg State Prosecutor’s Office in Germany issued a European order for fraud related to the dispersed gang, resulting in a 4,000 euro charge involving a German couple.
In total, 29 offenses have been cleared, with victims in Germany, Algeria, Colombia, Ecuador, Poland, Ukraine, Spain, and other locations. While the case remains open and further documents are being reviewed, authorities have not ruled out additional arrests or victims as the inquiry proceeds.
Authorities emphasize the importance of vigilance when using online rental platforms. They advise verifying the existence of a listed property before payment, being cautious of unusually attractive offers, and gathering as much information as possible about the advertiser and the platform before proceeding with any transaction.