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The Guardia Civil has taken down a criminal gang that scammed more than 120 people through fake online pet ads. The operation, called ‘Magna-Vallis,’ uncovered a network that tricked people into paying for pets that didn’t exist.
Three members of the gang, all from the same family, also controlled an 80-year-old man, keeping him away from his family and forcing him to beg. They even used him to open multiple bank accounts that helped carry out the scams.
Murcia was one of the provinces hit, along with Tenerife, Las Palmas, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz, Alicante, Almería, the Balearic Islands, and many more. In total, authorities identified 121 fraud victims and ten cases of identity theft connected to the gang.
The investigation started after a complaint last February from someone who paid €280 for a puppy advertised online, but never got the animal. The scammers asked for payments in stages, under all sorts of excuses like vaccines, transport, microchips, or cages, using Bizum or bank transfers. They also used multiple phone lines, bank accounts, and fake or stolen IDs to carry out their scheme, and even laundered the money in small chunks using a method called ‘smurfing.’
The Guardia Civil blocked 57 bank accounts and 23 phone lines linked to the gang. The fraud is thought to total more than €36,000. Investigators also found that part of the stolen money, along with improperly claimed social benefits, was invested in cryptocurrencies worth over €55,000. The total value of misused social benefits could be more than €560,000.
Those arrested face charges including continued fraud, money laundering, identity theft, being part of a criminal group, human trafficking, and abuse without injury.
The Guardia Civil reminds everyone that buying pets online is legal as long as it’s through authorised breeders or centres. Their advice: be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, urgent delivery demands, or paying in advance. Always check the breeder’s documents, the pet’s health records, and the microchip before sending any money.
Images: interior.gob.es
Open for business as usual. Training advice, classes, grooming services still given. Collection and delivery service available.
Do you need your dog exercised? Large exercise paddock complete with pick up and drop off if required.
Mountain View Kennels is an established family-run business in the countryside just outside Fuente Álamo, and is a fully Registered Zoological Nucleus kennels and cattery for pets operating in the south-west of Murcia since 2005.
In addition, owner Gill Lovegrove 
is a specialist dog trainer and behaviourist, and offers her services either on the premises or through home visits to all owners of troublesome pets.
The key to the success of Mountain View Kennels is that each boarder is viewed as another family pet in the extensive grounds and pens: dogs are not only housed and fed, they are also walked, and offered cuddles, toys and the chance to play. During the day they are free to roam around the eight main play areas equipped with trees, tunnels, toys and shelters, but they always have the option of returning to their own large play area or kennel.
In total there are 20 individual kennels, all fully tiled and with large runs, and each is spacious enough for four large dogs (or a family group) if required although they are also available to individual pets: dogs belonging to different owners are not housed together.
At the disposal of cats are eight individual catteries offering upstairs and downstairs accommodation and outside runs.
The food they are given is all of high quality, but special dietary needs can also be catered for and Mountain View are happy to administer any medication which might be needed. It is essential for all pets to be fully vaccinated on arrival at the clinic (as well as wormed and protected against fleas), and vaccination records are kept on the premises during the pets’ stay, not only in case there is an inspection but also in case the need for veterinary treatment arises (two local vets in Fuente Álamo are on 24—hour call).
In order to make life as easy as possible for owners as they plan a trip away, the Mountain View Kennels and Cattery is only 10 minutes from Region of Murcia International Airport in Corvera.
Gill and the rest of the staff are very knowledgeable about all breeds of dog, and work tirelessly with local charities and animal foundations to help treat, care for and re-house lost and abandoned dogs. This caring attitude is one of the reasons for prices being kept as competitive as possible, including as they do two meals a day and not specifying any minimum or maximum length of stay.
Training services are also offered. Put all of these ingredients together, along with the reassurance given by the fully legal and licensed status of the company, and the result is a successful business which is built on reputation and customers who repeat year after year, fully satisfied with the complete, professional and caring service provided. Testimony to this is that the boarders at the kennels are not only from the area close to Fuente Álamo but also from places such as Alhama, Librilla, Caravaca de la Cruz, Mula, Bullas and La Azohía!
