Three suspects, including two females aged 42 and 44, and a 43-year-old male, have been detained by the Civil Guard officers from the Americas Team, supported by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Team. They are accused of engaging in an ongoing online scam.
The method of operation, as per the Civil Guard, involved fraudulent practices, specifically in the form of fictitious property rentals in various locations across the Tenerife island. These fraudulent listings were either shared on social media platforms or promoted through intermediaries. Upon establishing communication via instant messaging, the scammers would send images of the property along with fake terms and conditions. After deceiving the victims into making bank transfers, they would cease communication or provide excuses for the delay in property handover, eventually cutting off all contact, as per the Civil Guard.
Authorities have identified 12 criminal incidents, resulting in a cumulative loss of around €15,000 due to the scams. While the bank accounts used for the transfers have been traced, the funds defrauded have not been recovered, the authorities report.
The detained individuals, along with the collected evidence, have been handed over to the Judicial Authority for further proceedings.
The Civil Guard reiterates its advice concerning such types of advertisements:
- Exercise caution with ads offering significantly low sale/rental prices, as they tend to be the most appealing but could be deceptive.
- If dealing with an agency, demand complete contact details (address, phone number, website, etc.). In the case of individual advertisers, request owner information and direct contact details.
- Be suspicious of advertisers unwilling to converse over the phone and providing only an email address.
- Research the advertiser’s details online through search engines. Sometimes, past victims share their experiences of being scammed.
- Avoid making advance payments without guarantees. Many advertisers may ask for such payments for security, but caution is advised.
- Exercise caution with advertisers demanding immediate payments and ensure sufficient assurances are provided before making any bank transfers.
- Maintain a record of all communications and information exchanged with the advertiser, along with their contact details.
- Request a copy of the advertiser’s ID and a concise contract outlining dates, prices, and any initial payments.
