Argentine serial fraudster arrested in Málaga: travelled with cloned cards
The "Sapo", 52, was arrested in Málaga after being tracked by the City Police via social media. He faces extradition to Argentina.
"Sapo" captured in Málaga, serial fraudster fled from Argentina
A 52-year-old man identified by authorities as the "Sapo" was detained in Málaga, Spain, accused of committing repeated fraud through the use of third-party credit cards that were cloned or duplicated. According to sanjuan8.com, the detainee purchased tourist packages using those cards and resold them through a travel agency.
The investigation was initiated on 27 May by the Specialised Unit for Complex Criminal Investigation (UFECRI), headed by prosecutor José María Campagnoli, at the request of the National Court in Criminal and Correctional Matters 9, conducted by judge Martín Sebastián Peluso. Both instances assigned the search to the City Police's Fugitives and Captures Division.
Detectives tracked the suspect's Facebook profile and requested that the service provider determine the location of the connections. The data confirmed that access attempts were being registered from Málaga, indicating that the man had fled to Spain as a new fraud case against him advanced in Argentina.
With that information, Argentine Justice processed an international arrest warrant through Interpol. The City Police established direct contact with the Málaga Police and maintained ongoing coordination with Spanish officers. Staff from Málaga's Investigation and Protection Group (GIP) finally intercepted the "Sapo" while he was driving a Jeep Renegade and made the arrest.
The man was held in local police facilities and extradition proceedings to Argentina were initiated.
This is not the first time the accused has faced Justice. In 2016 he was sentenced by Chubut courts to three years of effective prison time for criminal association and fraud, after using a ship captain's credit card data to purchase tickets worth $100,000. Before that conviction, he had made approximately 15 foreign trips and posted photographs alongside public figures.
In 2018, during conditional release, he travelled to Russia to attend the Football World Cup in violation of the travel ban imposed by Chubut Justice. He was detained on that occasion, though he recovered his freedom shortly afterwards.
The "Sapo's" social media accounts showed, according to the investigation, a life of luxury: a mansion, high-end vehicles and trips to destinations such as China and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Google News PR — San Juan