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Network Used Third-Party Accounts to Hide Fraud Proceeds

The Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network using so-called 'money mules' to obscure the movement of €240,000 stolen through online scams, with ten people arrested across Valladolid and Terrassa (Barcelona) on Tuesday 3rd November 2026. According to a statement released by the Guardia Civil in Valladolid, the network relied on third-party bank accounts, individuals recruited to lend their identities, to receive, transfer, and withdraw funds obtained through digital fraud, making it harder to trace the money to its ultimate beneficiaries. Nine of the arrests took place in the province of Valladolid, where investigators say the core recruitment operation was based, while a tenth suspect was detained in Terrassa, a town in the Barcelona metropolitan area, where cash withdrawals linked to the fraud were carried out.

Scams Included 'Distressed Child' and Phishing Schemes

The fraudsters used a range of online scam methods, including the 'distressed child' scam, where a fraudster impersonates a relative in trouble, and phishing, where victims are tricked into revealing personal or banking details by fake websites or messages. Funds obtained through these scams were deposited into multiple accounts controlled by the network and then withdrawn in cash via intermediaries, deliberately breaking the financial trail.

The total amount defrauded amounts to 240,000.00 euros, a figure that, according to the Guardia Civil, highlights the magnitude and impact of this type of crime on affected individuals.

The Guardia Civil emphasized that the economic damage affected victims across Spain, underlining the nationwide reach of the operation.

Public Urged to Report Suspicious Activity

The Guardia Civil reminded the public that its emergency number, 062, is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for reporting suspicious individuals or vehicles. The force urged citizens to remain vigilant, particularly when approached to use their bank accounts for third-party transactions, which may indicate recruitment as a money mule.

Sources: El Confidencial, web.guardiacivil.es.