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Spanish Police Tighten Net on Lottery and ‘Hijo en Apuros’ Scams With New Arrests and Seizures

Investigators describe coordinated groups that recruit money mules, targeting elderly victims.

Overview

  • Guardia Civil detained two men in Madrid and Guadalajara over a €50,000 tocomocho against an 85-year-old in Burgos’s Arlanza, and a third person tied to the getaway vehicle was presented to court.
  • Policía Nacional in Valladolid identified two women for a Feb. 26 tocomocho that cost a 77-year-old €4,000, citing long criminal histories and alleged membership in a criminal group.
  • A separate probe led to the arrest of a woman in Riudoms accused of recruiting money mules for ‘hijo en apuros’ impersonation scams, with €3,400 in cash, phones and numerous SIM cards seized.
  • Police report victims across Spain in the ‘hijo en apuros’ scheme with losses approaching €100,000, and say the operation remains open.
  • Investigators detail a tocomocho script using falsified prize lists, staged verification calls and assigned roles to coerce seniors into withdrawing cash.