Fraudsters arrested in Novelda over fake holiday rental scam

The Guardia Civil has arrested one person in Novelda and is investigating two others for their roles in a fraud scheme involving fake holiday rental advertisements. The investigation was spearheaded by the Guardia Civil team based in Callosa de Segura. The operation has clarified crimes committed across several locations and exposed the method used to conceal the illicitly gained funds.

The investigation, conducted under the title “Operation Veldona”, was launched following a series of complaints from individuals who had transferred money to secure holiday homes that did not actually exist.

The perpetrators posted appealing advertisements on various websites, offering properties at competitive prices. Once the victims made contact, the scammers requested advance payments as a reservation deposit. Following the transfer, the perpetrators ceased all communication, leaving the victims without any access to the accommodation.

The subsequent investigation verified that this procedure had been replicated across different provinces, impacting both Alicante and Seville. The total economic loss linked to these crimes amounts to approximately 3,000 euro.

During the inquiry, agents identified three individuals involved in the scheme. One person has been arrested as the alleged perpetrator of fraud, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organisation, while the other two remain under investigation.

These remaining individuals acted as “money mules”, providing their personal bank accounts to receive funds from the scams before transferring the money to the primary offenders, which hampered the ability of investigators to track the illicit funds.

The operation has successfully identified three individuals linked to the events, resulting in the arrest of a 28-year-old man as the primary perpetrator. A 22-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man are also under investigation. To date, five individual fraud cases have been resolved, and further enquiries are ongoing as the case remains open. The proceedings have been submitted to the Investigating Section of the Court of First Instance in Novelda.