The manager of a travel agency in Salamanca has been arrested by the National Police as the suspected perpetrator of a continuous fraud scheme that has caused financial losses exceeding 40,000€. Police investigations have so far identified around 80 victims, including individuals and members of various associations who booked trips and accommodation that were never actually secured.
The arrest, confirmed by the National Police on 9th October, follows numerous complaints from customers who had been paying towards their holidays for months, only to discover the agency had failed to finalise the bookings. The business had ceased trading and remained closed when officers made enquiries to locate the individual, who was subsequently taken into custody and brought before the courts in Salamanca.
One case that triggered the investigation involved a pensioners’ association whose chairperson booked a trip for more than 60 people back in February. The group was scheduled to spend a week on the coast in September, but after making several payments over subsequent months, complications emerged.
As the departure date drew near, the chairperson attempted to contact the agency manager without success. Receiving no response, she contacted the hotel directly, only to discover that no paid booking existed for the association or its members.
The initial complaint was lodged with police in Ávila before being transferred to Salamanca, where the travel agency was situated. Numerous individual complaints soon followed, describing matching circumstances. Some victims had paid over 1,000€ for accommodation, only to arrive at their destinations and find the agency had never transferred the funds.
Among those affected are members of six Salamanca associations who planned to travel to Benidorm in September. Many had saved for months to cover the holiday cost of 775€ per person.
The disappointment proved particularly severe for those who were forced to cancel on their scheduled departure date after packing their bags. Several couples had made considerable financial sacrifices to afford the break, only to be left without a holiday and unable, so far, to recover their money.
The six associations have taken legal action in an effort to reclaim the funds paid by their members. Although legal proceedings remain ongoing without a final resolution on reimbursement, victims report receiving messages of support.
Despite the distress, representatives noted the understanding shown by the elderly individuals affected. Meanwhile, police inquiries led to the location and arrest of the agency manager on suspicion of continuous fraud, with the case now referred to the judiciary. The National Police confirm total losses exceed 40,000€ across roughly 80 identified victims, a total that could rise as investigations proceed.
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