The Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested four people, between the ages of 20 and 68, who are accused of committing a scam that has continued over time that would have allowed them to acquire electronic material worth more than 150,000 euros. The alleged criminals usurped the identity of clients of a telephone company to acquire smart phones or watches. These people were allegedly operating in towns in the Vallès Oriental and Barcelona. There are around 100 people affected.
The arrests have been carried out by agents of the Mossos d’Esquadra of the Nou Barris Investigation Unit, in collaboration with agents of the National Police.
The alleged perpetrators placed more than a hundred orders with which they managed to fraudulently acquire various telephone terminals, smart headphones, smart watches, electric scooters, and other objects. The defrauded objects caused economic damage to the company amounting to more than 150,000 euros, without counting the damage of other orders that finally could not be delivered.
The investigation began as a result of a complaint by the legal representative of a telephone company in which he stated that he had detected irregularities in the commercial activity of buying and selling mobile phones through its online store. Among this irregular activity there were several fraudulent purchases of both mobile terminals and accessories, usurping the identity of different customers without their knowledge or consent.
Agents specialized in cybercrime established a hotline for the recipient of the packages and managed to identify the alleged perpetrator, who was using the data of people close to him. The principal investigated acted jointly with other people, located in various towns in Vallès Oriental and Barcelona.
Finally, the exploitation of the case was carried out, where the four investigated were arrested. An entry and investigation was also carried out, where it was possible to recover some of the fraudulently acquired objects and material to carry out the criminal activity.
On July 21, the detainees were handed over to the Court of First Instance and Instruction of Granollers.
