Cadiz (EFE)
The woman, a neighbor of Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz), located these types of advertisements on the networks and then contacted people who were looking for housing and offered them one of the same characteristics.
Once they reached an agreement, he requested amounts of between 300 and 900 euros to reserve the apartment and, once the money was obtained, via bank transfer or through a mobile payment platform, he cut off contact with the victims.
The Police estimate that the woman committed 37 scams, with which she obtained 16,000 euros.
Increase in complaints about scams in rental ads
The investigation began after detecting an increase in complaints about scams that had as a common link the appearance of advertisements related to the search for rental flats.
Investigators from the Technological Crimes Group of the Cádiz Provincial Commissioner undertook an investigation with which they identified the alleged perpetrator, who was acting nationwide offering homes in different locations in the country, such as Cádiz, Jerez, Madrid or Málaga, using different identities. .
Some of them were those of people he had defrauded, and whose documentation he used to deceive new victims.
As a result of this scam, the Police advise citizens to be suspicious of rents with prices that are much lower than market prices, never to send photos of the ID, driver’s license or passport by WhatsApp or email to a stranger and try, before pay, have someone you trust see the property or meet with the tenant to prove that the ad is true.
