A man has been arrested in Madrid after using counterfeit €50 notes to pay for orders at courier and food companies. The investigation revealed a total of 429 counterfeit notes.
The National Police have arrested a man in Madrid accused of defrauding several courier and home delivery companies using counterfeit €50 notes. The arrest took place on 8 June following an investigation that began in mid-May, when the manager of a courier company filed a complaint. According to the complaint, one of their delivery drivers had received €964 in cash, of which approximately €800 were counterfeit notes, as confirmed when deposited in a bank.
Agents from the Bank of Spain Investigation Brigade and the Fraud Group of the Tetuán Police Station found a total of 374 counterfeit notes during a search of the suspect's home. In total, the investigation has led to the seizure of 429 notes, with an estimated face value of €21,450. This modus operandi not only affected the reporting company; the arrested individual was also linked to three other similar cases occurring in retail establishments and delivery companies, including one located in Alicante.
The method used by the fraudster was always the same: he paid for orders using counterfeit notes that were later detected as such by the shops or banking entities. This type of fraud is not new; according to historical data, scams involving counterfeit currency have significantly increased since the pandemic, prompting authorities to intensify their efforts to combat this crime.
Collaboration between different police forces and financial entities has been key to dismantling this fraudulent network. Investigations continue to determine if there are more individuals involved or if the arrested person acted alone. Experts advise being vigilant for any suspicious transactions and always verifying the authenticity of received money.
For those working in vulnerable sectors such as delivery or retail, it is essential to be informed about how to detect counterfeit notes. There are tools available such as UV markers or mobile applications that can help quickly identify the authenticity of money. Prevention is key to avoiding falling victim to this type of fraud.
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