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The National Police have dismantled a criminal gang in Benidorm involved in document forgery, money laundering, and property-related crimes. The operation led to the arrest of 15 individuals and the recovery of 437 stolen mobile phones.
The ringleader, a Pakistani national, orchestrated document falsification, the unlocking of high-end phones, and visa procurement for foreign nationals. He used a fraudulent call centre service to obtain data for unlocking devices and accessing victims’ bank passwords. Over a month and a half, the gang recorded 784 interactions with this illicit service.
The investigation began following complaints in Madrid’s Hortaleza district, leading authorities to link a SIM card to 140 stolen phones. The gang stored and sold stolen devices through multiple phone shops in Benidorm, using homes as processing and storage centres to evade detection.
The operation involved six searches across two homes and four commercial establishments, resulting in the seizure of laptops, hard drives, identity documents, foreign currency, and thousands of euros in cash. The arrested individuals, aged between 19 and 61, were of Spanish, Pakistani, and Russian nationalities, with some having prior criminal records.
Call Centre Scams and Large-Scale Fraud
Authorities warn that criminal networks exploit call centres to conduct large-scale fraud, impersonating banks and phone companies to deceive victims into revealing sensitive data. These scams, backed by professional scripts and fake caller IDs, allow criminals to access bank accounts, unlock stolen phones, and commit financial fraud while remaining largely anonymous. The investigation remains ongoing.
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