La Guardia Civil has successfully dismantled an organised criminal group in Torrevieja, focusing on fraud, extortion, and other illegal activities. The operation, named ‘Cricar’, led to the arrest of a twenty-seven-year-old man identified as the organiser, while four additional suspects were also investigated. The group had been engaging in deceitful practices, resulting in financial losses amounting to eight thousand two hundred euros.

The investigation was initiated on the tenth of December two thousand twenty-four, following a report of potential embezzlement. Investigators uncovered a structured operation where one individual would gain the victim’s trust by pretending to be financially sound and showing fake transfer receipts. These individuals obtained continuous monetary transfers under various pretexts, using threats against the victims and their families to ensure compliance.

Authorities gathered significant evidence, identifying the suspects and understanding their roles in the scheme. The primary suspect was taken into custody and later released by the local court, whilst the other four involved, which included three men aged between twenty-four and forty-three and a twenty-seven-year-old woman, are now under investigation. They are charged with varying degrees of involvement in fraud, extortion, threats, embezzlement, and belonging to a criminal organisation.

In response to such crimes, the Guardia Civil advises the public to follow important precautions to avoid falling victim to similar scams, such as not sending advance payments under pressure, verifying payment documents, and never sharing personal financial information over the phone or online without official verification.