National police agents arrested 45 individuals in relation to a criminal network that targeted vulnerable elders by impersonating administrative workers. The gang went to great lengths, even installing fake badge plates to earn the victims’ trust, and the total losses exceeded 300,000 euros.
The investigation began in August 2022 after a wave of complaints emerged from across the country. Authorities cross-checked reports with similar patterns of criminal behavior, revealing connections among various cases and, ultimately, a single criminal organization behind them. The cross-reference work helped link disparate incidents and map the operation as a unified scheme rather than isolated acts.
Officials examined the victims’ profiles and found consistent factors. Most victims lived alone, and many had previously purchased items from companies that advertised attractive offers or gifts. In some cases, those targeted heard about opportunities to acquire homes or other goods through agents who appeared legitimate, only to sign contracts that priced items above market value.
In several instances, victims lacked the funds needed to complete purchases. They ended up signing financing agreements with lenders who offered loans repaid through monthly installments at very high interest rates. This pattern created prolonged debt, binding seniors to obligations for years and leaving them financially exposed, as noted by the National Police.
Within this framework, the accused contacted elders by telephone, presenting themselves as officials from courts, the treasury, or the police department. Through these calls, they claimed a crime had been committed by the purchase financing entity and alleged that a favorable court ruling existed in favor of the victim. The supposed verdict supposedly required the financing institution to repay all prior purchases.
To justify collecting sensitive information, the scammers requested bank details under the guise of processing refunds. They claimed the data was needed to transfer money and settle the supposed reimbursements, then used the information to conduct unauthorized transactions with the victims’ accounts.
When suspects could not obtain data by phone, some made home visits to verify that the elder lived alone. Upon arrival, they displayed counterfeit emblem plates to simulate authority and win trust, allowing access to the interior of the property.
From that point, the scheme relied on deception and social engineering to extract bank information. In some cases, the criminals even carried a data device and instructed the victim to enter card details and the PIN, supposedly to deposit compensation funds. After obtaining access to the accounts, the offenders orchestrated large, unauthorized transfers or withdrawals, draining funds from the victims’ bank accounts.
The damage mounted, culminating in a total loss surpassing 300,000 euros. A coordinated police operation eventually dismantled the network and detained the 45 involved members, including top organizers who faced temporary custody.
As part of the crackdown, authorities blocked 85 bank accounts and registered 17 entities within the investigation. The seizure effort also captured 46 mobile devices, five luxury vehicles, 30,000 euros in cash, 30 luxury watches, 97,000 euros in counterfeit notes, and a firearm. The seizures were executed across the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, Toledo, and Madrid, underscoring the breadth of the operation and its reach across multiple jurisdictions.