Translated text from Spanish to English:
Agents of the National Police have arrested 84 people in a macrooperación developed in Spain against a specialized scams, mainly through the method known as “Nigerian letters” network and the subsequent laundering of the proceeds obtained. The organization would have blanched at least 11,547,000 euros from these scams, although the volume of cash handled by arrested during the period analyzed more than 20.6 million euros. The network managed various booths dismantled or payment institutions, through which he received the money sent by foreign citizens, victims of “Nigerian letters”, then send it to Nigeria through entities. The overall volume of funds managed from these entities investigated payment exceeds 120 million.
The organization was mainly composed of citizens of Nigerian origin, nearly 80% of those arrested are from this country, while their victims were foreign citizens, mostly from the U.S., Canada and Germany. So far there have been a total of 4,593 victims who have reported this fraud, although there may be a greater number of people who have been scammed and failure to report the facts.
Over 200 booths investigated
The investigation began in October 2012 to detect the existence of a criminal organization dedicated to the laundering of proceeds of scams would be sitting across the Spanish geography and consisted mostly of African citizens.
The agents focused on the investigation of the local payment and money transfers, also known as call centers, from which the network performing receiving and sending money. This income came from foreign nationals victims of various forms of scams, mainly known as “Nigerian letters”. Scholars have investigated 203 booths that from January 2011 to December 2012, have been key players in receiving large sums of money sent by victims around the world to Spain and later delivery laundering countries West Africa, mainly Nigeria.
Fake passports with photos of politicians and celebrities
The organization employed numerous false to collect the money sent by victims to the parlors of the network and then send it to Nigeria documentation. The officers intervened passports made with photographs of famous guests, including politicians, athletes, actors or TV presenters.
To date, it has proven a total 11,547,129 euros in the period investigated fraud, money has been received in the parlors of investigation based on complaints received from different agencies and international organizations such as the American agency FTC ( Federal Trade Commission), fellow American Crime Complaint Center or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police via the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre.
84 arrested, 51 records and asset investigation
Operating income has been achieved so far, the arrest of 84 members of the criminal organization: 34 people in Madrid, Valencia 18, 12 in Málaga, Sevilla 9, 3 in Almería, other 3 in Alicante, 2 Castellón, one in Aranda de Duero (Burgos), another in Sabadell (Barcelona) and one in Zaragoza.
In addition, there have been 51 records: 16 in different localities of the Community of Madrid (2 in Móstoles, Fuenlabrada 2, 4 in Parla, Alcorcón 1 in 5 in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 2 capital), another 6 in Valencia ; 8 in Málaga; 16 in Seville; 3 in Alicante; Promote Almeria and one in Barcelona. Such records officers intervened 56,000 in cash, 50 computers, 27 mobile phones and numerous forged passports and identity.
In parallel, the Heritage Research Group of Central UDEF analyzed the real estate assets of the dismantled network and ordered 98 vehicles blocking (valued at 1.127.00 euros), 73 properties (worth 9.846 million euros) and over fifty accounts.
The operation was conducted by the Central UDEF General Judicial Police and the Police Headquarters in Madrid, along with agents of Supreme Headquarters Valencia, West Andalusia, Catalonia, Aragón and Andalucía Oriental, and effective police stations Provincial de Alicante, Almería, Castellón and Local station Aranda de Duero.
