A mother and her two children have been arrested by the Guardia Civil following a series of rental scams in Torrevieja that left victims without a place to live and stripped of their savings. Those targeted had found a property, visited it in person, and handed over the funds to secure the lease, only for the contact person to stop responding entirely. Many of those affected had limited financial resources, meaning the loss of the money left them in an especially vulnerable situation, without accommodation and without the savings intended to secure it.
The investigation, named Operation Velanidia, resulted in the three arrested individuals being charged with eight counts of fraud, alongside identity theft, forgery of documents, and membership of a criminal organisation, according to the armed institute. The detainees include two women aged 53 and 24, and a 25-year-old man. The arrests took place in Villarrobledo (Albacete), where investigators located the group’s hub of operations.
Officers from the Main Station of Torrevieja detected a rise in reports of real estate fraud while analyzing crimes committed within their jurisdiction. The victims’ accounts shared a common pattern: individuals seeking a home made contact through a well-known social network with a woman offering a rental property in the municipality.
The contact was not restricted to an advertisement or an online conversation. According to the complaints, the woman showed the property in person and subsequently collected the first month’s rent or deposit. Once the money was received, she vanished and ceased all communication. Identifying the main suspect proved challenging, as she presented herself using an identity document stolen from another woman who shared a similar physical appearance. Despite this, investigators managed to identify her and proceed with the case.
Inquiries led officers to Villarrobledo, where the group operated in a coordinated manner. In addition to the three arrests, a search of a residence was conducted, yielding a significant amount of falsified documentation. The suspects were brought before the Instruction Section of the Instance Tribunal of Torrevieja, where judicial authorities granted them conditional release while investigation into the alleged offences continues.
Following the operation, the Guardia Civil advises exercising extreme caution when searching for accommodation online. Recommendations include being wary of requests for advance payments or cash transfers prior to signing a contract, verifying the identity of the landlord and property ownership, and keeping documented proof of any funds handed over. Suspected scams can be reported at the nearest station or via phone on 062 and the AlertCops application.
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