Watch out for this car sale scam in Spain: 175 victims, €380K lost

If an online car deal looks too good, it’s probably true.

This is the lesson that at least 175 Spanish citizens have learned after they fell victim to an organised scam which promised them cheap second-hand cars, but then took their money.

Spanish police have dismantled an entire criminal network operating a phony car sales operation that looked like a 24/7 contact centre.

Twelve people, including the leaders of the ring, have been arrested in Madrid. Officers seized over €73,000 in cash, fake weapons, dozens of phones, and even luxury goods bought with the stolen money.

24/24 – A scam that never sleeps

It wasn’t just your typical fraudster at a keyboard. The group worked around the clock in shifts, and used 69 phone lines to answer calls from potential car buyers.

It looked real from the outside: contracts, quick responses and even multiple “staffs” calling you at different numbers.

It was all a fake.

How the scam worked

Ads for bargain cars were placed on popular second hand platforms using real photos of vehicles without their owners being aware.

After a buyer expressed interest, they were asked to move the conversation onto a messaging application (often WhatsApp). Scammers ask for the deposit to reserve the car and the photo of buyer’s ID. They claim that this is to “prepare sales contract.”

To make the scam feel more legit, victims were sent documents — like copies of supposed ID cards or contracts — all of which were just recycled from earlier victims.

If someone became suspicious, what would you do? They didn’t stop. Some scammers even threatened to commit fraud by using the victim’s stolen ID.

You can get 60 bank accounts and electronics.

The Spanish Police discovered a pyramidal structure, where eight people were at the top, and a layer of people helped to collect the funds.

To hide their money trail, they used over 60 bank accounts and purchased luxury watches, electronic devices, and gold.

On May 20, police raided 13 properties in Madrid (in Alcala de Henares, Torrejon de Ardoz, Anchuelo, and Cobeña), arresting 12 suspects and uncovering a small fortune in electronics, vehicles, and fake weapons.

So far, €380,000 in damages has been confirmed, but the number could rise as the investigation is still ongoing.

What to watch out for

This scam worked because it sounded and looked legit, and the prices were low enough to get people interested in acting fast.

Here are some red flags you should keep in mind before buying a vehicle (or pretty much anything) online.

• Ask why it is so cheap. Unrealistically low price tags are a major red flag.
• Never pay for a vehicle in advance.
• Share your ID photo only after you have confirmed who you are dealing.
• Beware switching to private messaging applications, especially if the apps avoid official platforms.
• Check the ownership of a vehicle at least twice (ask the owner for the original paperwork and verify the registration).

The victims thought they were just buying a used car — instead, they walked straight into a scam that was built to look professional and trustworthy.

Unfortunately, scammers are becoming more intelligent. We must remain vigilant and sceptical to stay on top of fraudsters.