In Malaga, a national police operation targeted a criminal network accused of fraud, document forgery, and money laundering linked to individuals described as participants in a so-called love scam. The network is alleged to have used fake online profiles to earn money from victims by exploiting emotional connections, with the total amount involving scams surpassing one million euros. Eighteen suspects have been detained as part of the investigation into this group.
Those taken into custody are under investigation for alleged offenses against property and document falsification. Authorities report that during searches at residences and workplaces connected to the suspects, officers seized electronic devices, mobile phones, a wide array of documents, and approximately 36,000 euros in cash.
Police records indicate that the investigation drew on ninety complaints, with sixty of these cases nationwide. The operation, named Malmos, began earlier in the year after an initial fraud report reached the National Police from Móstoles, a city near Madrid. The early steps focused on identifying the people responsible for the crimes, with a bank account opened in Malaga serving as a key pivot point for the inquiry.
Investigators from the East District Police Station in Malaga led the case, noting that the investigation proved particularly challenging due to the large number of victims and the network’s ability to operate across the country. The group is described as an organized crime ring that facilitated scams from multiple locations, enabling offenders to extend their reach far beyond a single city.
The criminal operation specialized in deception through the love scam. Perpetrators sought to establish trust with victims by assuming false identities and employing a range of ruses that culminated in romantic or high-society personas. They targeted individuals on popular social networks, orchestrating schemes in which trust was earned before presenting various excuses to extract funds.
Once trust was established, the suspects deployed convincing scenarios such as a promised gift held at customs or managed by a shipping company. Victims were asked to remit substantial payments to facilitate releases or clear imagined charges, and some endured threats if they failed to comply. The National Police described these tactics as creating deep fear in victims, prompting payments of disproportionate sums to settle the fictitious issues.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance and follow-ups, leading to the identification of additional members, the discovery of properties used for operations, and the seizure of items that supported the criminal activities. Among the seized materials were counterfeit passports, numerous electronic devices, and a sum of 36,000 euros.
As the operation progressed, authorities executed arrests and unsealed records at multiple sites connected to the case. The coordination involved complex procedures and multiple transactions that occurred simultaneously across residential and commercial spaces linked to the network. The overall effort aimed to dismantle the structure and disrupt its capacity to recruit victims and move illicit proceeds.
The Malmos operation has been a significant effort in the fight against cybercrime and online fraud. It culminated in the dissolution of the criminal organization and the arrest of eighteen individuals. Investigators also clarified sixty of the ninety reported frauds, highlighting the scale of the activity and the breadth of the network’s reach across different regions.
Several divisions within the police force contributed to the operation, including units from the General Directorate of Security and the Judicial Police Group of the Eastern District. The investigation also involved personnel focusing on money laundering, cybercrime, and border security, with cooperation from teams across the North, Central, and West Regions to ensure comprehensive coverage and accountability.
Cited authorities emphasize the importance of ongoing vigilance and robust investigative work to deter such scams in the digital era. The Malmos operation stands as a warning about how easily online relationships can be exploited for financial crime, and it underscores the need for public awareness and rapid reporting when suspicious online conduct is detected. [Citation: Malaga Police Command]