World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
Three family members arrested over suspected rental scams in Torrevieja
Spain’s Civil Guard arrested a mother and her two adult children in Villarrobledo, in Albacete province, over suspected rental scams.
The alleged victims were people looking for homes to rent in Torrevieja, a town in Alicante province.
Investigators began looking into the case after complaints rose about scams following a similar pattern.
The victims reportedly found a rental offer on a social network, viewed the home, then paid a deposit or first month’s rent; the woman then stopped responding, leaving them without the home or their money.
Police say the suspects acted together, and investigators seized falsified documents at a home in Villarrobledo; they are accused of eight counts of fraud, as well as identity theft, document forgery and belonging to a criminal organization.
A judge released all three with charges after they appeared before a court in Torrevieja.
The Guardia Civil arrested three members of a family in Villarrobledo over alleged rental scams involving homes in Torrevieja.
The suspects are two women, aged 53 and 24, and a man, aged 25.
Investigators say victims contacted a woman through a social network, viewed a property and paid a deposit or first month’s rent.
The woman then stopped responding, leaving victims without the home or their money.
The three suspects face allegations including eight counts of fraud, identity usurpation, document forgery and membership in a criminal organisation.
A court released them with charges pending.
- Who
- Two women, aged 53 and 24, and a man, aged 25, described as members of one family.
- What
- They were arrested over alleged rental scams. They face allegations including eight counts of fraud and other offences.
- When
- The arrests were reported on 16 October 2026. The sources do not state when the alleged scams took place.
- Where
- The arrests were made in Villarrobledo, Albacete; the alleged scams involved rentals in Torrevieja, Alicante.
- Why
- Investigators suspect the three acted together in rental scams, in which victims paid a deposit or first month’s rent and then lost contact with the woman offering the property.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Guardia Civil began investigating after reports of real-estate scams with a similar pattern increased.
Officers arrested the three suspects and searched a home in Villarrobledo, seizing falsified documents.
The suspects appeared before a court in Torrevieja, which ordered their release with charges pending.
- Arrests
- Three family members
- Suspects
- Two women, aged 53 and 24; one man, aged 25
- Arrest location
- Villarrobledo, Albacete
- Alleged rental location
- Torrevieja, Alicante
- Alleged fraud charges
- Eight
- Court decision
- Released with charges pending