National Police have arrested an employee of a solar installation company in Paterna for defrauding several clients of over €7,500. The man allegedly collected large portions of the installation budgets from victims without completing the work, diverting payments to his personal bank account.
The investigation began following a report at the police station in the central district of Alicante. The complainant explained that he had contracted a photovoltaic installation for €7,000, making an initial down payment of €500 upon signing, plus €2,990 via bank transfer and an additional €500 for the addition of two more solar panels. The employee asked for the final payment to be made via a mobile payment app.
After a start date for the work was confirmed, the installations did not commence. The employee's insistence on the victim completing the full payment before any work had begun raised suspicions. Eventually, the employee stopped responding to calls and messages, by which time the victim had paid a total of €3,990.
Officers linked this case to another report in Alicante, where the same suspect allegedly collected €3,296 from a woman without starting the installation work. A third report in Alicante was also connected, in which the same employee allegedly received €6,790 from another woman. In this last instance, the installation was completed, but a €300 payment for processing a European subsidy was lost as the suspect never filed it and kept the money, again ceasing communication when questioned.
The third victim found online reviews from other individuals who claimed to have been defrauded by the same solar installation company.
Finally, officers located and arrested the man, aged 33, in Paterna, on suspicion of three counts of fraud. Following police procedures, he was released, and all proceedings were sent to the duty investigating court in Alicante.
