Overview
- The Guardia Civil detained three men and one woman accused of running fake crypto investments that took more than €400,000.
- A court in Getxo placed the alleged boss in pre-trial detention, and he has a record tied to prior investment activity.
- Investigators say the swindle used “pig butchering” tactics that groom targets online before pushing them to sham trading platforms.
- The group allegedly rigged smart contracts so victims unknowingly granted permissions that let thieves empty their crypto wallets.
- Police report a laundering network with more than 140 bank accounts and shell firms, and a Vitoria search yielded dozens of bank cards, crypto wallets and a vehicle.