A criminal group has been arrested for defrauding 500,000 euros through a hitman scam. They threatened their victims with death or physical harm using videos in which they impersonated hitmen and displayed firearms.
The perpetrators obtained their victims’ personal details and phone numbers from adult websites. So far, 300 victims have been identified, and 19 people have been arrested and investigated.
On March 15, 2025, the Guardia Civil, as part of the Mamol TF operation, arrested and investigated 19 individuals from the A Coruña province, who were part of a criminal organization that extorted victims after they accessed adult content websites. The authorities have located over 300 affected individuals, who were defrauded of a total of 500,000 euros.
The investigation began over a year ago after victims filed complaints at the Guardia Civil offices in Tenerife. According to these complaints, victims began receiving serious threats via text messages after entering their phone numbers and personal information on adult websites.
These threats were accompanied by videos showing physical assaults on other individuals, where the extortionists brandished firearms and demanded money to prevent the victims from suffering similar attacks.
This type of scam is known as the “hitman scam.” In this scheme, criminals post fake advertisements on adult service websites. Once a victim engages with the service, they receive threats from a supposed hitman, demanding a certain sum of money under the threat of harm.
Out of fear, victims sometimes pay, but the extortionists continue to pressure them for more money. Through various digital analyses, the investigators discovered that the criminals had carried out over 370 criminal acts with this method, defrauding 500,000 euros and sending 180,000 euros to the Dominican Republic through different companies.
The judicial authorities have ordered the provisional detention of three of the arrested individuals.
The operation was carried out by the Computer and Technological Crime Investigation Teams (EDITE) of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife and A Coruña Judicial Police, coordinated by the A Coruña Court of Instruction No. 3 and the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office’s Cybercrime Division.
For further information, people can contact the Guardia Civil’s communication office in Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the phone numbers 696943009 or 922648500, extension 1620425 and 1620608.
Tips to avoid this scam:
- Do not give in to blackmail: avoid making any payments. The criminals aim to get money by exploiting fear created by a fictitious situation.
- Confirm the authenticity of the situation: If you receive threats via email, text messages, or phone calls, carefully verify the situation’s legitimacy. It’s likely to be a scam, especially if the information is vague or lacks concrete evidence.
- Keep evidence: Save all messages, emails, or other forms of communication as proof.
- Notify authorities: Report the incident to the security forces or authorities specialized in cybersecurity and provide all the details and evidence gathered.
- Strengthen your privacy: Secure and reinforce your online accounts. Change your passwords and consider enabling two-factor authentication to protect your personal information.
As recommended by the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE): “If you ever find yourself in such a situation, remember to stay calm, don’t give in to blackmail, and seek help from the authorities to investigate the case and protect yourself. Don’t be swayed by panic or fear of what others might think. Cybercriminals often use situations that target your reputation to pressure you more easily.”
