A web of deceit affecting the most vulnerable
The National Police has successfully dismantled a dangerous network of fraudsters specifically targeting elderly individuals in vulnerable situations. This criminal group operated mainly in Madrid, Alicante, and Murcia, where it is estimated they committed at least 13 fraud offences, affecting victims aged between 85 and 100 years.
The modus operandi of the alleged fraudster was particularly insidious. They used phone calls from hidden numbers, posing as a fake doctor. In these conversations, they informed the victims about a supposed medical emergency involving a close family member. The emotional intensity of these calls was designed to provoke a heightened state of anxiety and fear, facilitating manipulation.
During the communications, the fraudster claimed that an urgent intervention was necessary, requiring the placement of “gold nails,” insinuating that if action was not taken quickly, the patient could die or suffer serious consequences. To increase psychological pressure, they even interspersed heart-wrenching audio of a man crying and asking for help.
A key tactic of the fraudster was to keep the victims on the phone for long periods, thus preventing any possibility of verifying the information with other family members. In some cases, the calls lasted up to five hours, during which the criminal occupied the phone line to avoid any external communication.
Once the victims were convinced, they were instructed on how to deliver their money and jewellery: they had to place these items in a plastic bag and throw them out of the window for supposed members of the “medical team” to collect. Occasionally, the fraudsters arrived at the home completely covered to directly take the bags.
The case was uncovered thanks to the report of a woman who received an alarming call assuring her that her daughter had suffered a serious accident and was being treated at the Hospital de Toledo. Following this initial report, the National Police implemented an operation that culminated in the arrest of the suspect while attempting to escape on an electric scooter.
At the time of his arrest, officers found stolen jewellery, mobile phones used in the frauds, and other incriminating items at his home. The investigation remains open as efforts continue to identify more potential victims and clarify all crimes related to this criminal network.
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