A 44-year-old man has admitted to defrauding a woman with multiple sclerosis of more than €70,000 through a romance scam on Tinder, as Metropoliabierta reported. Albert C. made the admission on Monday 2nd November 2026 during a trial at the Barcelona Audiencia, where prosecutors are seeking a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
The fraud occurred between October 2020 and August 2022. The victim, a pharmaceutical company administrator, transferred money for fake business meetings and a false inheritance dispute, and paid for luxury hotels, clothing, and a solo trip to Mallorca. The accused also took her credit card and stole electronics and a motorcycle she had financed.
Albert C., who has prior convictions for similar scams, said he targeted women through dating apps and claimed the victim "fit all the requirements" due to her financial stability and proximity to his home. "I disgust myself," he told Metropoliabierta, adding, "I’ve destroyed her life and my family’s."
The woman, described as empathetic and generous, lost her job due to her illness and depleted her savings from over €50,300 to around €200. Her lawyer said the fraud has left her unable to work. Prosecutors cited the accused’s use of seduction and the victim’s vulnerability due to illness and kindness, rejecting an early confession plea.
Fiscalía is also seeking full restitution, including €1,200 to insurer Axa and a €4,320 fine. Albert C., in pre-trial detention since December 2023, claims he will repay the money through proceeds from a book and series he says have been offered about his crimes.
Sources: Metrópoli.
