The investigation, assigned to the cybercrime group of the Provincial Judicial Police Brigade of Valencia, began in June 2025 after several complaints alerted to this type of deception. The inquiries have allowed for the identification and location of the suspects, residents in the city and province of Valencia.
Thanks to swift police action, agents managed to block fraudulent transfers totaling 18,924 euros, which have been returned to the victims.
“"The scammers contacted victims through instant messaging applications, impersonating their children. Under the pretext of an emergency, they requested money from an unknown number, claiming they were writing from a friend's phone and needed to make an immediate deposit to acquire a new device."
Once the victim made the first payment, the perpetrators continued the deception with new requests for money. The amounts were transferred to bank accounts in the name of third parties, known as “mules,” who were responsible for receiving and withdrawing the funds, making it difficult to trace the money.
During the investigation, eight people who acted as recruiters for these “mules” were also arrested. They were offered money or false job offers to collaborate with the organization.
The National Police warn that any recruitment attempt should be reported as soon as possible, as collaborating with these networks can lead to criminal liability if one participates in the movement of money.
