A civil guard operation in Spain targets four individuals linked to a fraud scheme involving used-car sales conducted online. The suspects were identified in Madrid, Fuerteventura, Alicante, and involved marital extortion, forged documents, and alleged ties to a criminal network, all connected to a broader case of vehicle fraud.
The judicial process is being conducted by a court in Totana, Murcia, where authorities attribute fifty crimes to the case. The investigation began after a local resident reported suspicious activity, and it remains ongoing while officials assess whether additional victims exist.
The events began late last year when a Totana resident transferred funds to bank accounts in Germany, alleging that a vehicle had been bought by the Civil Guard but never delivered. Investigators found that multiple transfers followed similar patterns, suggesting a coordinated fraud network.
Authorities traced a sizable roster of victims from Totana and Mazarrón in Murcia, as well as from Almeria, Huelva, Alicante, Pontevedra, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura. The scammers lured buyers with markedly low prices on online listings, drawing them into a web of deceptive offers for used cars.
Their tactics included presenting the advertised price as irresistible, sometimes claiming the seller was divorcing or had stopped using the vehicle, which increased the illusion of urgency. Victims who expressed interest were steered toward a so‑called shipping service that supposedly handles the sale, receiving a contact phone number for further steps.
Communication occurred primarily through instant messaging apps, with phone calls discouraged. When documents such as purchase agreements or invoices were requested, the respondents allegedly provided falsified papers and used stolen identities to avoid scrutiny.
The fraud scheme culminated with multiple individuals contributing funds to a German bank account, after which the promised vehicle never arrived and subsequent contact dwindled. In many cases, there was no further interaction, leaving buyers without their purchases or recourse.
The operation exposed a frame that had been dismantled and reassembled under three different names, each one masking the identity of a real company to project legitimacy and lure victims more effectively.
Law enforcement noted that the amounts claimed for the false vehicle purchases varied among victims, ranging from about 4,200 to 6,000 euros. The flow of money traced through German accounts led investigators to additional people in Spain and Poland, revealing a broader international dimension to the scheme.