The Civil Guard of Lanzarote has concluded an investigation into a case of identity theft and money laundering. The alleged perpetrator, a 35-year-old man residing in Alicante, allegedly created an account on a well-known online betting platform using the identity of a third party unrelated to the events, thus obtaining substantial profits.
The investigation began on June 6, 2024, when the victim reported receiving a claim from the Tax Agency for an amount of 12,144.55 euros. This amount corresponded to taxes on profits obtained on a well-known online betting platform, activities that the complainant was unaware of and in which she had not participated in any way.
The Civil Guard Team, specialized in cybercrime, carried out an exhaustive digital investigation, identifying the alleged perpetrator, who is a citizen residing in the town of Alicante.
The agents meticulously analyzed the movements, development locations, and traceability of the operations carried out through the Internet. This work was complemented by the collaboration of various national and international entities and institutions.
The alleged perpetrator allegedly created an account on a well-known online betting platform using the victim's identity. During 2023, he carried out numerous gambling operations, obtaining significant profits. Subsequently, he withdrew the capital obtained through bank accounts under his direct control.
The seriousness of the crime is accentuated by the fact that the investigated party allegedly taxed these profits in the name of the injured party, which led the Tax Agency to demand the payment of taxes in the 2024 income tax return. Once completed, the proceedings have been sent to the Investigating Court on duty in Arrecife.
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of cybercrimes and the importance of the specialized work of units such as the Civil Guard Team in the fight against online crime.
Advice
Due to the high number of victims of this criminal methodology, the Tax Agency has created a specific protocol to report in case of detection, through the income tax return, of amounts generated or owed in respect of "gambling" unrelated to the activity of users.
The Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) belonging to the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, has enabled an email box for people affected by similar events: dgoj.pacs@ordenacionjuego.gob.es.