Real estate and rental fraud investigations in Spain

The Guardia Civil has launched investigations into separate real estate and vacation rental fraud schemes in Spain.

In mid-September, authorities investigated a real estate manager in Tenerife for an alleged 16,000 euro fraud. The suspect reportedly received a deposit for a property in La Guancha through a contract signed after a site visit, but the sale was never completed and the funds were transferred to the manager’s personal bank account.

By late September, a cybercrime unit identified an organized operation involving 11 individuals across Tenerife and Salamanca. This group allegedly used social engineering, fake advertisements, and a fraudulent website mimicking a legitimate property management company to deceive victims. The suspects reportedly used stolen identities to register bank accounts and communication lines to avoid detection. The investigation follows reports from victims who were unable to access properties after paying reservation fees and deposits.

In late September, additional rental-related fraud was reported in Ourense, where a man received a suspended prison sentence for a rental scam. Law enforcement agencies, including the Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional, continue to process various cases involving identity usurpation and economic fraud across the country. Recent reports from Mossos d'Esquadra and the Guardia Civil confirm ongoing efforts to address these and other criminal activities, including the previously identified Tenerife-based vacation rental scam involving eleven individuals using fake websites and social engineering.