National Police have arrested a 59-year-old man in Benidorm on suspicion of fraud, misappropriation and falsifying documents after allegedly renting out properties he did not own.

According to the Provincial Police Headquarters, several victims reported paying deposits for long-term or holiday rentals in the Alicante resort, only to discover the properties were not legally available. In one case, a victim paid 650 euros as a deposit for a flat but was later told the owners no longer wished to rent it. The money was never returned.

Investigators also found that a couple had been paying 700 euros a month in cash to rent a flat in the same building where the suspect lived, after the true owner had temporarily handed him the keys. Additional complaints included a holiday rental booking worth 350 euros and the alleged sale of a garage space for 22,000 euros using a falsified contract.

Police say the suspect was identified after gathering evidence from multiple reports. He has appeared before an investigating court in Benidorm. Officers have not ruled out further victims coming forward.