Arrested for defrauding more than 50,000 euros in false rental advertisements in the Canary Islands

National Police agents have dismantled a scheme dedicated to committing internet scams by publishing false rental advertisements. In total, 65 crimes committed over more than a year, between June 2021 and July 2022, have been clarified.

The National Police have arrested the alleged head of the organization, who would have obtained an illicit profit of close to 50,000 euros. The investigation was carried out by agents of the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the Provincial Brigade of Judicial Police of Las Palmas, after detecting numerous complaints filed in different police stations in the Canary Islands that responded to the same modus operandi.

Investigators found that the detainee published advertisements for real properties on well-known internet platforms, offering properties at very attractive prices to attract potential tenants. Once contact was established with the victims, they were pressured to make advance payments as a deposit and first month's rent, alleging high demand for the properties.

To give an appearance of legality to the operation, he sent rental contracts drawn up with the identity of third parties unrelated to the scheme, managing to get the victims to send their personal documentation. Subsequently, this was used to open bank accounts, contract telephone lines, or create fake profiles to continue the criminal activity.

The arrested individual received the money through Bizum payments and transfers to third-party accounts used as intermediaries, thus making identification difficult. During the arrest, agents seized cash and several mobile devices, the analysis of which proved decisive in proving the fraud and clarifying the facts. The investigation remains open as new victims cannot be ruled out.

Safety Tips

The National Police recommend being wary of rental advertisements with excessively low prices or that require advance payments without having previously visited the property. Likewise, they advise always verifying the identity of the landlord and not providing personal documentation without verifying the authenticity of the transaction to avoid possible scams or identity theft.