The National Police has arrested in Palencia a 35-year-old man accused of orchestrating a scam that would have deceived at least eight people, offering them supposed discounts on trips to Ibiza and other destinations.
The fraud would exceed 12,000 euros and also included the sale of products at reduced prices on platforms such as Booking, Amazon and Shein.
A fake middleman who charged in advance
The detainee posed as a reservation manager, claiming to get exclusive rates on hotels and travel packages to destinations such as Ibiza, Benidorm, Mykonos or New York. It also offered electronic devices, such as iPhones, at significantly discounted prices.
To carry out the scam, he asked his victims for bank transfers or Bizum payments as an advance. However, once the money was received, he stopped responding to the victims or made excuses for not returning it.
The first cases were reported in Madrid, when several victims realized that, after weeks of waiting, their reservations never materialized.
Investigation and arrest in Palencia
The National Police, after receiving the complaints and tracking the suspect’s movements, managed to identify and arrest him in the capital of Palencia. According to police sources, the arrested man had no previous record.
After making a statement to the authorities, he was released pending further investigation.
Recommendations to avoid fraud
The National Police warn about the risk of falling into this type of scams and recommend citizens to take extreme precautions when contracting online services. They insist on the importance of verifying the authenticity of intermediaries, being wary of excessively advantageous offers and avoiding advance payments without guarantees.
