An international operation against fraud
The police have dismantled a sophisticated network of fraudsters operating from a call center in Madrid, managing to defraud German citizens of over 1.2 million euros. The operation, which culminated in the arrest of four individuals in the Spanish capital and two more in Germany, reveals an alarming modus operandi focused on deceiving elderly people.
The fraudsters used a technique known as shock call, where they made victims believe that one of their relatives had been involved in a serious accident. The initial call was made by an accomplice posing as a son or grandson, creating an atmosphere of urgency and panic. Subsequently, another member of the group took on the role of a police officer, informing about the imminent arrest of the supposed relative.
The pressure increased with the intervention of a fake prosecutor, who demanded immediate payment of a bail to avoid imprisonment. The amounts requested were around 90,000 euros, and victims were instructed on how to make the payment, either in cash or through jewellery. In some cases, payments were arranged near German courts to lend greater credibility to the scam.
Throughout their criminal activity, the organization managed to identify at least 14 victims, each subjected to this coercive tactic. During searches carried out in both Spain and Germany, authorities confiscated 920 grams of gold and several luxury watches belonging to the detainees.
Following an investigation initiated thanks to information provided by German authorities, a thorough search was conducted of the apartment where the Madrid call center operated. The four arrested have been provisionally imprisoned while awaiting their possible extradition to Germany. In this country, they face serious charges under a penal system that does not add penalties arithmetically but considers the most severe crime as the basis for determining sanctions.
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