A nationwide police operation is chasing a 24-year-old man suspected of committing multiple fraud offenses across Spain. Police sources have briefed journalists with a detailed list of victims, highlighting recent targets including a taxi driver and the proprietor of a Burgos call center who was unknowingly used as a conduit for the suspect’s schemes.
The investigation began with the taxi service’s report. A man approached the driver at a station, expressed interest in renting a vehicle, and requested travel from Burgos to Madrid. After the ride was completed, the suspect feigned payment issues and promised to settle the fare by a wire transfer immediately. The taxi driver captured a screenshot on his mobile terminal showing a completed payment, but the transaction reportedly wasn’t finalized until after the vehicle’s use, raising questions about the legitimacy of the payment.—the driver later contacted authorities to file a formal report when the funds did not clear as promised.
In a separate incident, the Burgos call center owner reported that a man bought two mobile terminals worth 570 euros, paying via wire transfer. The payment later proved fraudulent, underscoring a pattern of using legitimate payment tools to fund unlawful activity.
In both cases, investigators found that the physical appearance of the suspect bore striking similarities, suggesting the same individual was behind the scams, though identity confirmation required cross-checks across multiple agencies and records.
Further verification established that the suspect possessed control over the mobile lines through which the fictitious transfers were conducted, linking the financial fraud to the person at the center of these allegations. The details point to a deliberate modus operandi designed to exploit legitimate payment channels while evading immediate detection.
‘modus vivendi’
The individual in question remains at large, with unknown address, and is currently detained or in custody in different jurisdictions as police work to determine ongoing involvement in petty fraud and related offenses. The pattern indicates that fraud has become a recurring way of life for this person, rather than an isolated set of incidents.
Since 2019, the subject has accumulated nearly thirty arrests across various police forces in cities and islands across the national territory, with additional cases recorded by the National Police. A substantial number of complaints have been lodged in multiple courts, some of which remain active, underscoring the breadth of the investigation and the need for continued surveillance and cross-border cooperation.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation remains active, with ongoing efforts to locate and identify the suspect. As more evidence emerges, the case illustrates how fraud networks can operate through legitimate commercial channels, complicating early detection and accountability. The National Police continue to pursue every lead, with collaboration from regional units and relevant financial authorities to unravel the full scope of the offender’s activities and to secure restitution for victims. [Citation: Policía Nacional; official briefings]