Alicante police arrest four for rental property fraud ring

The National Police have arrested four individuals in Alicante for their alleged involvement in a criminal network dedicated to rental property scams. The group used fraudulent advertisements on specialized real estate portals, primarily targeting high-demand markets in Madrid and Marbella.

The investigation identified 41 victims across Spain, with total financial losses amounting to 52,968 euros. The suspects, two men and two women aged between 28 and 32, face charges of fraud, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization.

According to police reports, a woman directed the operation. The group recruited individuals through false job offers to act as intermediaries for moving money. To evade detection, they used bank accounts opened by third parties, making it difficult to trace the funds as they moved through various intermediaries before reaching the ringleader.