Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, said on Sunday that they arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of violent robbery after a luxury-watch and jewellery transaction worth more than US$418,000 in Barcelona's Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district.

The case is a warning for people arranging high-value sales through social media: police said the buyers had travelled from the United Kingdom and were threatened with a knife after making a cryptocurrency payment. The investigation remains open.

Police investigate suspected ‘RIP Deal’ method

According to police information reported on Sunday, the parties met on the afternoon of 14 September after contact through social media. They checked the authenticity of several high-end watches at a specialist watch shop, then made the cryptocurrency payment at a nearby business.

Investigators are examining whether the transaction followed a suspected ‘RIP Deal’ fraud pattern. In this method, people present themselves as wealthy investors or buyers to draw sellers into a high-value transaction, then claim that payment has not arrived.

  • The items involved were luxury watches and a gold chain set with diamonds.
  • Police said the cryptocurrency transfer was blocked with assistance from specialists in the Mossos criminal investigation division.
  • Investigators said the suspects obtained US$1,000 before the transfer was stopped.

Knife threat reported during pursuit

Police said the sellers fled with the valuables after alleging that they had not received the agreed payment. When the victims pursued them through the area, one suspect displayed a knife, according to the police account.

A call to the 112 emergency number brought a Mossos citizen-security patrol to the area. Officers detained one suspect near Plaça de Joaquim Folguera and recovered two luxury watches, police said.

Anyone facing an immediate threat during a transaction should call 112. Mossos are continuing enquiries to establish the origin of the goods, identify any further participants and clarify the circumstances of the case.

Primary sources: govern.cat, dsp.interior.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat, Departament d'Interior. Reported by elconfidencial.com, larazon.es, El Confidencial.