Marbella property scam leaves victim €150,000 out of pocket – Costa News Spain

A slick new property scam sweeping Spain has already stung a Marbella seller for a whopping €150,000, prompting La Policía Nacional An urgent warning is a public announcement.

The fraudsters, operating under a scheme known as a ‘Rip Deal’, have been targeting property owners and sellers of high-value items. The con? The con? Swapping real money for fake notes that are so convincing, they can fool even the sharpest of eyes.

The scam unfolds

The latest victim was selling a rural estate in Marbella when they were bombarded with calls from various phone numbers – most with Italian prefixes. The so-called ‘buyers’ seemed professional, wealthy, and genuinely interested in sealing the deal.

The crooks gained the trust of the seller over a series of meetings. This set the stage for the high-stakes transfer in a luxurious Marbella restaurant. At the final meeting, one of the conmen offered a tempting deal: €500,000 in cash plus an additional €165,000 in €200 banknotes. But there was a catch – they wanted €150,000 back in smaller bills of €50 and €20.

Unknowingly, the seller paid real money in exchange For a pile of fake banknotes that were expertly made. The criminals had already vanished by the time the police realised.

The scammers playbook

The authorities have analyzed how criminals operate.

The Approach – The scammers Make contact with They pose as serious purchasers with impressive background. They create credibility by using fake identities or fabricated career histories.

Phase Two: Building Trust – The criminals arrange multiple meetings and communicate frequently, gradually making the seller comfortable with The idea of Doing Business with Them

The Switch – At the final meeting, they pull off the swap – offering large sums of counterfeit cash while walking away with the victim’s real money.

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