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National Police officers carried out stops and searches as part of the first phase of an operation starting in 2022 to dismantle a criminal organization based in the south of Tenerife.
Victor Zames (Iestafeta) reports this from Spain.
Police have arrested 33 alleged members of an organization that systematically defrauded elderly foreign tourists on holiday in various municipalities in the south of the island, mainly Adeje and Arona.
1,805 victims have already been identified from countries such as the UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Estonia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Latvia and Hungary.
According to preliminary estimates, the total economic damage caused so far amounts to more than four million euros: a million euros in cash were seized, capital in excess of a million euros was blocked in more than 300 bank accounts, 42 real estate properties were identified, numerous jewelry items were requisitioned and 17 luxury cars.
In short, the scheme worked like this: elderly tourists were lured with gadgets at a very low price, they found out where the tourists were staying and when they were returning to their countries, they promised to install new programs and games on the purchased gadgets and return the gadget before leaving.
Having made sure that the tourist had left the country, they began to withdraw funds from his credit cards through POS terminals of a complex network of shops located in the south of Tenerife.
The organizers - five men - were placed in pre-trial detention in a pre-trial detention center after their arrest; the investigation continues.
Victor Zames (Iestafeta) reports this from Spain.
Police have arrested 33 alleged members of an organization that systematically defrauded elderly foreign tourists on holiday in various municipalities in the south of the island, mainly Adeje and Arona.
1,805 victims have already been identified from countries such as the UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Estonia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Latvia and Hungary.
According to preliminary estimates, the total economic damage caused so far amounts to more than four million euros: a million euros in cash were seized, capital in excess of a million euros was blocked in more than 300 bank accounts, 42 real estate properties were identified, numerous jewelry items were requisitioned and 17 luxury cars.
In short, the scheme worked like this: elderly tourists were lured with gadgets at a very low price, they found out where the tourists were staying and when they were returning to their countries, they promised to install new programs and games on the purchased gadgets and return the gadget before leaving.
Having made sure that the tourist had left the country, they began to withdraw funds from his credit cards through POS terminals of a complex network of shops located in the south of Tenerife.
The organizers - five men - were placed in pre-trial detention in a pre-trial detention center after their arrest; the investigation continues.
