Daniel J. Ollero Madrid

Madrid

Updated Tuesday, February 6, 2024-00:03

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Apparently, it was a couple of hairdressers. However, according to the National Police, they were the criminal minds behind an organization dedicated to stealing and usurping the identities of third parties to profit through online betting. An organization whose downfall began when

the Tax Agency claimed 900 euros in taxes from a woman for alleged gambling profits. However, she did not bet

.

This complaint was the starting signal for an investigation that found a network of fraudsters that, according to police sources, had

more than 200 victims and more than four million euros in profits

in just one year through the money laundering.

The hairdressing couple, who operated in Madrid, used their business facade, with beauty businesses and real estate investments, as a cover to carry out

one of the most sophisticated frauds in recent years

.

"The rest of the suspects were bank mules who were in charge of opening accounts and making capital transfers" among themselves,

managing up to 776 bank accounts

, police sources explain.

The

modus operandi

of the network consisted of the

usurpation of third party identities

to place

bets on various internet platforms

. The most common bets to make money were horse races and soccer matches, both in

the Spanish league and in foreign competitions

.

Once they had managed to make money by betting in other people's names, the network used an infrastructure with shell companies and hundreds of bank accounts to

hide the trail of money and make it difficult to trace

.

Throughout the country, agents collected testimonies from hundreds of people who had been victims of this network of scammers. In most cases,

the Tax Agency contacted them demanding payment of 19% of the alleged profits

from sports betting, which were in their name. Those affected, bewildered by the tax claims, denied any participation in betting.

The police proceedings finally led to the arrest of six individuals:

the couple of ringleaders, two more in Madrid capital

, another in Quijorna (Community of Madrid) and two more in Logroño.

In addition to dismantling the financial network, entry and search warrants have been carried out on different properties and bank accounts, vehicles and other luxury items allegedly acquired by this method to obtain illegal profits have been seized. In total, three searches were carried out and 31 bank accounts,

21 real estate valued at 3.3 million euros

were intervened, blocked and seized

, many of them in Madrid and the Costa del Sol, and five high-end vehicles. , telephone and computer devices and 9,200 euros in cash.