Sofia police detain eight in attempted real estate fraud

Bulgarian authorities have detained eight individuals following a failed attempt to sell an apartment in central Sofia using forged documents. The property belonged to a Bulgarian woman who passed away in 2008.

Chief Commissioner Nikolay Peltekov of the SDVR reported that the scheme involved a 72-year-old man who allegedly used a falsified, handwritten will to claim ownership. In 2020, the suspect presented this document to a notary in Vratsa, obtaining a notarial act. Using this, he previously sold land in the Kozloduy area and attempted to sell the Sofia apartment on Tsar Asen Street.

The eight detainees, including five men and three women aged between 21 and 72, held various roles in the operation. Some individuals involved have prior criminal records for theft and fraud. Investigations are ongoing to determine if any institutional employees were involved and to examine the activities of the notary office that issued the document.