Spanish police arrest suspected fake salesman in Granada over €350,000 fraud

Investigation launch in Armilla

The Civil Guard launched Operation Larberik in May after officers stationed at the Armilla post in Granada stopped a vehicle during a routine citizen security checkpoint. During the inspection of the car, officers discovered a substantial collection of paperwork inside the trunk, including credit contracts, checkbooks, and commercial invoices bearing personal information of third parties. Subsequent inquiries by investigators with the individuals named in those documents revealed that none of them had authorized the transactions and that all had fallen victim to fraud by the driver. Officers seized all found documentation immediately and opened a broader criminal inquiry to determine the full extent of the scheme.

Modus operandi and home intrusions

Investigators established that the 41-year-old suspect gained access to private residences by presenting himself as an authorized commercial agent representing various commercial firms. The suspect maintained a polite, well-mannered demeanor and wore formal clothing to establish rapport and gain the confidence of the occupants, allowing him to enter properties without encountering resistance. His targets consisted predominantly of elderly individuals and persons living with various physical or cognitive disabilities, many of whom resided alone in their homes. Once inside, the suspect gathered sensitive personal identity details, banking documentation, official pension certificates, and original signatures from the occupants.

Credit fraud and secondary payments

The suspect used the acquired documents and signatures to secure credit agreements, purchase mobile phones, and finance motor vehicles without the knowledge or consent of the victims. In several cases, the suspect signed the financing documents himself, exploiting the vulnerability of the victims and their fear of suffering greater financial penalties to maintain the deception and open additional accounts. On multiple occasions, the suspect returned to the homes of prior victims, asserting that administrative errors had affected their financing arrangements. He persuaded residents to rectify the supposed errors through cash disbursements, electronic bank transfers, or immediate credit card charges made using a portable point-of-sale terminal, causing double economic losses.

Scope across Andalusia and court custody

The investigation by the Civil Guard in Armilla established that more than 40 individuals suffered financial losses across six Andalusian provinces: Almería, Jaén, Granada, Sevilla, Málaga, and Córdoba. Total fraud across the network is estimated to exceed 350,000 euros. Investigators confirmed that the suspect used the fraudulent contracts to obtain two high-end mobile smartphones, two high-displacement motorcycles, and one passenger car. Several of the financed vehicles were subsequently resold to third-party buyers, resulting in at least one buyer being placed under judicial investigation. Following the arrest in Granada, the suspect appeared before the Granada Duty Court, which ordered his remand into provisional imprisonment on charges of continued fraud, identity theft, and the falsification of public and private documents.