Victims Targeted with False Emergency Stories

At least eight people have been defrauded by a man who approached them on the street near Barcelona-Sants station and in the Eixample district, according to the Mossos d'Esquadra. The suspect, a 20-year-old whose identity has not been released, is accused of gaining victims’ trust by claiming to be in urgent need of money due to lost documents, robbery, or an emergency requiring travel back to his home country. He promised to repay the cash via bank transfer and showed fake payment receipts or banking apps on his mobile phone to appear credible.

Victims withdrew money from ATMs believing they would be reimbursed, only to find the transfers never arrived.

The scam took place between September 2025 and August 2026. The total fraud amounts to nearly €13,000, though police believe the figure could rise as more victims may come forward.

The suspect was arrested by the Mossos d'Esquadra and appeared before a judge on 28 August. He faces charges of alleged fraud and robbery with violence, after one victim reported being intimidated into handing over money. Police are urging anyone who may have been affected to report the incident at any Mossos d'Esquadra police station, which operate 24 hours a day. Reports can also be initiated online for non-violent crimes via the Mossos d'Esquadra crime reporting portal, though a follow-up visit to a station is required within 72 hours to complete the process. The investigation remains open, and authorities are reviewing whether additional unreported cases are linked to the same individual.

Primary sources: Dep. Interior Generalitat Catalunya. Reported by beteve.cat, elperiodico.com, en.ara.cat, betevé.