The National Police have successfully uncovered a “romance scam”, arresting five people involved in defrauding over €300,000 from a 70-year-old man in the Canary Islands.
The victim, living in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, was led to believe he was in a relationship with an American Naval sergeant on a mission in Baghdad, whom he met online. He ended up transferring €318,500 to accounts linked to a criminal network.
The investigation revealed an extensive international scam network, involving individuals and companies from various countries, money mules, and bank accounts used for multiple frauds.
Arrests were made in Málaga, La Coruña, Soria, and Madrid, while more suspects were identified in Sierra Leone, Kenya, and the Seychelles. The Málaga Provincial Police's Cybercrime Section highlighted this case as one of the most significant in recent years.
The investigation began with a separate fraud attempt involving a Costa del Sol entrepreneur, who reported a scam email impersonating a supplier, asking for payments totalling €8,568. This led to a broader investigation into a network of financial mules engaged in various scams and money laundering activities.
While analysing suspicious bank transactions, police uncovered a €31,000 transfer suggesting a romance scam and traced this to the vulnerable 70-year-old man.
He had been communicating with a woman posing as a US Naval sergeant on a mission in Baghdad. She requested money under the pretence of visiting him soon among other excuses.
Initially, the victim was in denial about the scam. However, after some time, he realised the deception and filed a police report in Fuerteventura's capital, for a total amount lost of €318,573.
Investigators found 14 transfers to eight bank accounts, seven with Spanish IBANs and one in the US. Authorities quickly moved to freeze and block these accounts, recovering €52,018.
Further investigation revealed extensive financial activity in the suspect accounts. Collaborating with Portuguese and Belgian authorities, police identified a mule recruiter who enlisted a Málaga resident. This person was arrested for holding an account where the victim had transferred the €31,000 to.
In the next phase, with suspects outside Málaga, police from Madrid arrested two more people. La Coruña authorities apprehended another two, who were placed in provisional custody by court order.
This investigation dismantled the international fraud network, preventing further exploitation. The case is currently being handled by the Málaga Court of Instruction No. 11.
