Over 100 individuals in Spain have been apprehended for allegedly defrauding WhatsApp users of thousands of euros by impersonating distressed relatives.
The arrests, carried out between February and April, targeted a criminal network that illicitly gained nearly a million euros through this scheme.
The accused face charges of fraud, money laundering, and involvement in organized crime.
According to El Pais, victims’ transfers ranged from €800 to €55,000, with at least 238 victims identified in Alicante alone.
The arrests spanned Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Madrid, Malaga, and Valencia.
This operation follows a previous one in January, where 59 individuals were arrested for a similar scam that amassed over €460,000.
In both cases, scammers posed as relatives in dire need, urging victims to send money.
The fraudsters would often claim to have lost their phone or been locked out of their bank account, manipulating victims into sending funds.
Some victims were tricked into revealing two-factor authentication codes, granting scammers access to accounts and enabling them to request money from contacts.
The UK also saw instances of this scam, prompting warnings from authorities.
Nottinghamshire Police noted a surge in reports of criminals attempting to control WhatsApp accounts to exploit contacts.
Action Fraud received 1,235 reports of such scams between February and June 2022, amounting to £1.5 million in losses.
While it’s unclear if the Spanish and UK scams are linked, they highlight the global reach and impact of these fraudulent activities.
Source-BBC
