ARCHIVED - Internet banking scammers arrested in Torrevieja and Almoradi
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Four brothers are suspected of leading a 10-strong 'phishing' and 'smishing' gang operating in the Vega Baja, Alicante province
A 10-member criminal organisation has been shut down and four Moroccan brothers, believed to be ring-leaders, amongst those arrested in Torrevieja and Almoradí over a mass internet banking scam worth around 56,000 euros.
According to the Guardia Civil, the seven men and three women allegedly used 'phishing' and 'smishing' methods to deceive 163 victims in 504 scams and subsequently laundered the illicitly obtained money by acquiring cryptocurrencies, or by diverting certain amounts of money to Morocco.
'Smishing' is the sending of text messages to mobile phones and phishing the sending of mass e-mails to various victims, both including a link directing the potential victim to a page simulating the website of various banks.
In fact, the websites were actually created by the detainees to steal victims' personal data.
Once fraudulently obtained, they asked the banks for new cards in the name of the victims with the aim of linking them to contactless mobile payment services.
Using mobile phones previously acquired, the scammers then made the withdrawals of the swindled money from cash machines located in different locations in the Valencia region, the Region of Murcia and Andalucia.
The four brothers reportedly lived a high standard of living and had no known employment, while a Swedish woman was in charge of providing them with accommodation "in order to make police investigations more difficult".
And according to police sources, the gang cooperated with the manager and workers at a casino in Almoradí, where, for a commission of 15%, they were allowed to extract the money from the victims through the establishment's POS (Point of Sale Terminal).
In a series of property searches, police recovered 17,500 euros in cash, 630 dollars, 17 high-end phones, three cars, a large number of SIM cards, receipts for the purchase of cryptocurrencies, bank cards, documentation proving the sending of money to Morocco, as well as incriminating computer files.
Five Moroccans aged between 23 and 32, a 23-year-old Swedish woman, a 24-year-old Venezuelan, a 48-year-old Spaniard and two Spanish women aged 37 and 22, were arrested.
Whilst the four brothers have been remanded in custody, the rest have been provisionally released on charges of fraud.
The Guardia Civil recommends that when browsing a website that asks for personal data, the first thing to do is to look at the URL in the address bar of the browser, and check that it has the official address of the entity or company. If in doubt contact the bank/company directly.
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