Call blocked: hard and fast action against 54 Spanish phone fraudsters

On an action day conducted across the Iberian Peninsula on 4 June 2024, Spanish and Portuguese law enforcement arrested 54 people responsible for crimes against elderly citizens. Using a blend of fraudulent phone calls and social engineering, the criminals are responsible for EUR 2 500 000 in losses. 

Some of the at least 84 confirmed victims lost their life savings when the criminals coerced them into handing over their money at their doorsteps. Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Portuguese Judicial Police (Policía Judiciária) conducted 19 raids, seizing important digital and physical evidence of the crimes. One of the main targets was caught red-handed and arrested; when police entered the house, he was sitting in front of his computer with the bank details of one of his victims up on the screen. In addition to collecting computers, laptops, mobile phones, SIM cards and freezing bank accounts, officers on the scene also found cannabis and cocaine in the searched premises.

Initial vishing led to pressure tactics at victims’ doorsteps

Using a proven modus operandi and dividing the work between specialised members, the criminal network systematically targeted elderly Spanish citizens. Posing as a bank employee, a criminal would contact the victim and convince them there was a problem with his or her bank account. Referred to as ‘vishing’, a portmanteau of ‘voice’ and ‘phishing’, this criminal tactic is typically conducted over the phone.

Having extracted some basic information, the impersonator shared it with other members of the criminal network, who would appear at the victims’ doorsteps. Pressuring the victims with scare tactics and social engineering, the fraudsters would take possession of payment or credit cards and extract PIN codes and bank details. In some cases, the criminals also forced their way into victims’ homes, stealing cash and valuables such as jewellery. As a final step in this criminal process, the perpetrators used the stolen cards to make ATM withdrawals or expensive purchases, while the bank details were misused for so-called account takeovers.

The funds were deposited into multiple Spanish and Portuguese accounts controlled by the fraudsters, from where they were funnelled into an elaborate money-laundering scheme. An extensive network of money mules overseen by specialist members of the organisation was used to disguise the origin of the illicit funds.

Fast and hard action against the criminal group

Using Europol’s analytical and coordination capabilities, investigators from Spain and Portugal met for operational meetings and worked with Europol experts to draw up an intelligence picture. The criminal network’s structure was unveiled piece by piece, until the decisive blow could be planned and executed. Europol specialists were deployed alongside Spanish law enforcement to provide analytical and forensic support on the action day.

As investigators closed in on the suspects and monitored their conversations, they heard them planning to use severe violence as a last resort to rob the victims. To halt and prevent potentially violent home invasions from occurring, the joint law enforcement effort prioritised the dismantling of this dangerous criminal network. This led to a fast-tracked action day in which the fraudsters across Spain and Portugal were taken down. 40 suspects were taken into custody in Spain, and 3 are being detained in Portugal and are awaiting extradition to Spain.

Participating countries:

• Spain: National Police (Policía Nacional); Mossos d’Esquadra
• Portugal: Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária)