They contacted each other through social networks and never got to know each other personally.
A man was arrested as the alleged perpetrator of the crime of fraud in Caravaca de la Cruz in the ‘Doctor Fail’ operation, an investigation aimed at identifying an alleged online scammer who, using the method known as ‘romance scam’, managed to get his victim to send 20,000 euros, believing to maintain a sentimental relationship with him. The investigation remains open as it is assumed that there is another victim of the arrested person, a 34-year-old man of Nigerian nationality.
The operation began last June, when a neighbor from the Northwest region reported to the Civil Guard that she had been the victim of a scam committed by a person she had met through social networks. Apparently, the complainant maintained contact with an individual who claimed to be a prestigious doctor of South American origin and through chats, messages and other digital correspondence, they established a friendship that was consolidated in a short time in an alleged sentimental relationship.
Her interlocutor, with different excuses, convinced her to send him money that, in different transactions, reached a total of 20,000 euros, although they never had a telephone or face-to-face conversation.
Investigators from the @ teams, in charge of reinforcing the cybercrime response, in collaboration with agents from the Moratalla Post, began the first investigations by compiling the information that had reached the victim through different digital channels, which made it possible to determine that it could be the well-known ‘romance scam’ method.
It is a criminal method that begins with the creation of false profiles on social networks or dating applications. To capture their victims and cover up their true identity, they pass themselves off as prestigious professionals residing outside of Spain. After a period of time in which they gain their trust, in some cases making them believe that they have a sentimental relationship, they suggest certain economic needs that are financed by them.
The numerous investigations led the investigators to Lorca, where it was suspected that the alleged scammer could reside and indeed, in collaboration with the Local Police of the municipality of Lorca, his place of residence was located. The suspect hastily left the town to take refuge in a municipality in Alicante, although he was finally located and arrested.
The analysis of the information obtained in the investigation phase, including references to bank accounts of other people, keeps the investigation open while waiting to determine the identity of its owners who, with the same criminal method, could join the a list of women victims of the scam attributed to the now detainee. The arrested person and the proceedings carried out have been made available to the Investigating Court of Caravaca de la Cruz.