Barcelona Police Arrest Repeat Offender for Allegedly Selling Fake Residency Appointments to Immigrants
Posing as an Agent, Setting a Trap on Social Media
According to police, the 32-year-old Spanish man presented himself on social media as the head of a professional administrative agency, claiming to have special access to obtain and sell official appointment slots (Cita previa) for legal residency renewals. By posting ads with a WhatsApp contact number, he specifically targeted anxious immigrant communities struggling with the high demand and limited availability of official appointments, luring them into his scheme.
A Meticulously Designed Scam Process
The suspect priced each fake appointment service at €67.50. Once a victim contacted him, they were instructed to transfer the payment to his designated bank account. After payment, the victim would receive a meticulously forged appointment confirmation document. In some cases, to extort more money, the suspect would falsely claim “an issue with the bank transfer, the payment didn’t go through,” tricking victims into paying a second time.
Delay Tactics with Fake Proof, Then Disappearance
When victims went to the immigration office with the fake document and were told their appointment was invalid, they would immediately contact the suspect to demand a refund. The man would then send a fake bank transfer screenshot as “proof,” claiming a refund had been issued, to delay and pacify the victim. However, the victims never actually received any money back, and the suspect would subsequently cut off all communication and disappear.
Police Identify Suspect, Uncovering His Criminal History
Investigators from the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) successfully identified the suspect by cross-referencing and tracking the phone number and bank account he used for receiving payments. Further investigation revealed that the man not only had multiple prior offenses but was also wanted nationwide in Spain for fraud and other crimes. He has now been arrested in Barcelona and will face dual charges of fraud (estafa) and document forgery (falsedad documental).
