After the death from a heart attack, funds vanished from several bank accounts for months. It was only later that the deceased’s siblings uncovered patterns that went far beyond simple disappearances. About 70,000 euros were involved as arrangements for distributing the inheritance were being arranged. Police in Alicante reported three people were detained on suspicion of fraud. Investigators prepared to seize the deceased’s mobile phone and documents. The Provincial Police Department noted that multiple transfers can occur from a single account, with several transfers falsely labeled as donations to a Food Bank. One transfer linked to an association that provides food to those in need was found to be a cover. The real aim was to finance the purchase of a car.
National Police agents detained three suspects in Alicante, two women and a man, on fraud allegations. They allegedly carried out numerous transfers from the deceased’s bank account into their own accounts, and nearly 72,000 euros were seized.
The investigation began after a complaint from a person who reported his brother’s death. He described unusual movements in the decedent’s bank account with no clear explanation and noted that the brother had died at the scene in October 2022. From October 2022 to March 2023 these movements occurred while the deceased’s siblings were gathering to manage inheritance rights.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Unit (UDEF) of the Alicante Provincial Police launched the inquiry to identify who accessed the decedent’s bank account and who carried out unauthorized actions.
Relatives provided documents showing a sequence of transfers from the deceased’s mobile banking app to a non-family account, totaling 4,500 euros in various payments and 3,280 euros in others. Nine transfers to the same account amounted to 63,800 euros. The transfer narrative listed as “Food Bank” aggregated all funds sent from the deceased’s account to unknown accounts, reaching a total of 71,580 euros.
After the transactions, investigators verified that the account receiving the bulk of the money was held in the name of a minor. Through persistent work, officers uncovered that the minor’s mother carried out several transfers from her daughter’s account to two other accounts under her name, using the mobile app to move funds and cover bills. In total, 36 cash withdrawals were made, totaling 46,290 euros.
Food Bank
During the inquiry, investigators confirmed that one transfer referenced by the decedent’s account was used to purchase a car. The investigation showed that the phrase “Food Bank” was employed to camouflage transfers to a different bank account, aligning with the narrative pushed by a charity manager who donates food to those in need. This allowed the fraudulent activity to appear legitimate to some observers.
Eventually, authorities established the connection between the deceased and the other two suspects. One of them was the person responsible for seizing the mobile phone and personal documents. After the heart attack, discussions took place about how to transfer and reimburse funds, followed by a plan to move funds from the decedent’s account to the minor’s account.
Authorities confirmed the identities of the three individuals detained for alleged fraud. Two women were among the suspects, along with a man aged 52 and another in his late 40s. All three were nationals of Spain. They were released after giving statements, with a pending request from the Alicante prosecutor’s office.