Sagunto Civil Guard dismantles impersonation gang linked to widespread identity fraud and fake loans

Sagunto Civil Guard Uncovers Impersonation Network Across Spain

In Valencia, Civil Guard agents dismantled a well-organized gang that specialized in changing the identities of victims, then used those stolen details to make online purchases and apply for loans in the victims’ names.

The operation, named Ponos, led to the arrest of 13 suspects. Authorities say the network was linked to at least 629 criminal acts, affecting around 209 victims. The group recruited staff from various firms, capitalizing on their trusted access to personal documents and customer records. They exploited this insider access to forge payrolls and create false credentials to secure credit, subsequently using the funds to acquire goods they intended to resell.

The Civil Guard reports the gang used impersonation to solicit quick loans and to purchase items that would later be sold on secondary markets.

Detainees, aged between 19 and 59, face multiple charges, including fraud, document falsification, identity theft, disclosure of secrets, embezzlement, drug-related offenses, and membership in a criminal organization. Several leaders have been remanded in custody.

The crackdown has touched numerous parts of Spain. Regions listed by the Armed Institute include Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, Canary Islands, Madrid, Ciudad Real, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Granada, Córdoba, Segovia, Cuenca, Murcia, Gijón, Zaragoza, Teruel, Navarra, the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Lleida, Seville, Bizkaia, A Coruña, Cantabria, and Albacete.

Seven house-to-house raids

Investigators executed seven registrations and searched homes in Valencian and Catalan towns such as Xàtiva, Benetússer, Quart de Poblet, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Pere Molanta, and the city of Valencia.

During the inquiry, Civil Guard officers encountered numerous fraud complaints consistent with a shared modus operandi among the defendants.

Identity theft and the purchase of financed goods

The suspects obtained photos of victims’ national IDs, then impersonated those individuals to complete online purchases or secure loans. These goods were paid for by the fraudulent accounts and later sold through apps and markets for second-hand items after delivery.

Given the observed uniformity of the crimes, authorities launched a broader probe to identify all participants and map the operation’s reach.

Investigators confirmed payroll frauds and other personal document forgeries used to open bank accounts and establish phone lines. Banks and telecom providers were exploited, enabling debt creation that reportedly exceeded one million euros.

A review of payroll records and personal data allowed authorities to identify more victims than initially believed.

The organization recruited sales staff with access to clients’ personal information

In many cases, victims were unaware of the debts they allegedly incurred until contacted by collection agencies or notified by unpaid registry entries. Some individuals discovered their names on the Unpaid Acceptance Registry and had to prove they were victims of a scam rather than applicants for loans or purchases.

Regional cells and operational infiltration

The investigation confirmed the existence of regional cells in places like Huelva, Valencia, Tarragona, and Barcelona. These squads recruited workers in strategic roles to obtain the required documents from victims and commit crimes.

In total, nearly one hundred Civil Guard officers conducted records in the Valencian Community and Catalonia, seizing documents related to the crimes and reclaiming goods tied to the fraudulent loans. Many items were of high value and moved quickly on the market.

The seizure included televisions, a DJ mixer valued at more than four thousand euros, laptops, smartphones, photography equipment, and high-end bicycles. The scale of the operation meant a substantial number of assets were recovered.

Authorities also seized narcotics, including ten kilograms of marijuana and multiple doses of cocaine, along with paraphernalia.

It was noted that the heads of regional cells coordinated across autonomous communities, complicating police work and enabling ongoing criminal activity.

The organization maintained fluid housing arrangements, sent money abroad, and used more than 700 phone lines to coordinate actions.

At least one top executive faced 23 judicial seizures across various courts in Spain. Another member, who falsified medical prescriptions to obtain prescription drugs, attempted to evade capture by hiding in an abandoned social center, but was eventually apprehended in a stolen vehicle in 2022.

The case highlights how identity theft and document fraud can fuel a wide network of crime, spanning different regions and touching many ordinary people who never expected to be drawn into fraud schemes. The Civil Guard emphasizes that the investigation remains active as they pursue additional lines of inquiry and potential associates.

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