The Guardia Civil has successfully dismantled 41 organised criminal groups, leading to the arrest of 215 individuals. These groups are accused of defrauding over 200 victims through the pervasive “son in distress” scam, illicitly obtaining more than 1,5 million euros. This fraudulent scheme typically involves impersonating a family member to urgently request money.
Details of the culmination of “Operation Kinderen” were released by the armed institution on Thursday. This extensive investigation, which commenced in 2022, has implicated a total of 342 individuals. Among these, 215 have been arrested for direct involvement, while 127 others remain under investigation, with many possessing previous convictions for similar fraudulent activities. Authorities have identified 216 victims who collectively lost over 1,5 million euros to these scams.
The comprehensive investigation was initiated in 2022, following reports of a victim in Majadahonda being defrauded of approximately 5.000 euros. Subsequent inquiries uncovered the existence of 41 distinct criminal organisations operating independently, yet employing an identical modus operandi. These groups not only targeted victims for fraud but also engaged in sophisticated money laundering operations, meticulously fragmenting and distributing the illicit funds, according to the Guardia Civil.
Each criminal group maintained a hierarchical and organised structure, with specific roles assigned for tasks such as victim data collection, dispatching fraudulent messages, and the rapid “decapitalisation” of funds. To prevent falling victim to the “son in distress” scam, which involves fraudsters posing as a child or other relative to demand urgent money, the Guardia Civil has issued several key pieces of advice.
They urge the public to exercise caution with instant messages from unknown numbers, verify the sender's identity by asking personal questions only the genuine relative would know, and always be suspicious of emergency requests originating from unrecognised contacts. Furthermore, individuals should refrain from transferring money to numbers not already saved in their phone's contacts.