Portuguese police arrest eight in nationwide crackdown on online classified scam ring

Nationwide operation dismantles fraudulent network

Portugal's Polícia Judiciária completed eight arrests on Monday across multiple municipalities as part of a coordinated action designated Operation ScamWay. The operation targeted an organized criminal ring suspected of defrauding dozens of online sellers out of roughly 80,000 euros over a two-year span. The investigation began in 2024 following numerous complaints from victims and was directed by the Public Prosecution Service through the DIAP of Viana do Castelo. Seven of the suspects face charges that include aggravated fraud, payment device abuse, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy. An eighth suspect, a man, was detained separately during the house searches for possession of a prohibited firearm. The detained individuals, comprising four women and four men aged between 24 and 48, were transferred to judicial authorities on Monday for their initial interrogations.

Modus operandi and vehicle sale frauds

The criminal network located its targets by actively scanning online sale advertisements across internet platforms in Portugal. Core members initiated contact with prospective sellers, pretending to be genuine buyers for diverse merchandise and motor vehicles. While the majority of targeted victims resided in northern Portugal, especially in the Minho region, the perpetrators operated from the central and southern districts of the country. Using digital means to complete fraudulent payment schemes, the group stole varying sums from individual sellers. Braga PJ Director José Monteiro described the financial toll during a press briefing on Monday afternoon.

The victim who had the largest amount stolen lost around 16,000 euros, in the sale of a car.

Internal hierarchy and the use of money mules

Investigators revealed that the seven core suspects maintained strong friendship or family ties, which explained their coordination despite living dispersed across multiple regions. The criminal ring operated with a clear internal hierarchy, assigning distinct tasks among members for catalog searching, initial seller contact, and detailed negotiations. To obscure the money trail, the organization recruited dozens of intermediaries known as money mules. These individuals made their personal bank accounts available to receive stolen transfers, preventing illicit funds from directly entering the accounts of core members.

So that the amounts extorted from the victims do not go directly into the assets of the main offenders.

Search warrants and cross-unit police deployment

The coordinated police actions involved six residential search warrants across the municipalities of Nazaré, Tondela, Évora, Vila Viçosa, and Setúbal. A force of 51 officers from the Judiciary Police took part, drawing personnel from the Braga Criminal Investigation Department, regional directorates from the North, Centre, and South, and local units in Setúbal and Évora. The operation also mobilized experts from the IT and Technological Forensics Unit, alongside officers from the Setúbal Public Security Police and the Special Police Unit. During the raids, authorities seized computer hardware, documentation, valuable objects, firearms, and ammunition. The Judiciary Police stated that inquiries remain ongoing to uncover the full scope of the scheme and identify any additional collaborators.