Operation Donova: Network of lawyers dismantled for defrauding inheritances of deceased foreigners in Spain
Spanish National Police arrested three people, including two lawyers, accused of swindling inheritances of deceased foreign residents on the Costa del Sol. They seized jewellery, documents and 200,000 euros in cash.
Operation Donova: Network of lawyers dismantled for defrauding inheritances of deceased foreigners in Spain
Spain's National Police dismantled a criminal network dedicated to appropriating inheritances and assets of foreigners who had died on the Costa del Sol. During seven residential searches, officers seized stolen items valued at more than one million euros, including 200,000 euros in cash, jewellery and documents belonging to deceased foreign residents.
According to the portal Sur, citing police sources, the investigation began following a report from the fraud service of a Spanish bank. They detected numerous withdrawals made from the account of a deceased British person at various locations across Spain. Investigators discovered that a lawyer from Nerja was accessing the account through a forged power of attorney.
The three arrested individuals—including two solicitors—face accusations of fraud, falsification of documents, misappropriation and money laundering. The alleged swindlers also forged a will to take possession of the legacy of an unmarried woman who was dependent on her neighbours. To justify the inheritance, the lawyers invented a supposed romantic relationship between the deceased woman and the dead British man. In a document allegedly handwritten, she named him as heir. Since the accused already controlled the man's account, the money ended up in their own pockets.
Finally, investigators located the true heir of the woman: a son residing in Switzerland. The fake lawyers had previously contacted him requesting that he sign a power of attorney to manage the inheritance. The son agreed, but never received the money. He therefore filed a complaint in Switzerland, although it is unclear in which canton.
The Civil Guard is now investigating whether there are more victims of the gang. The case reveals risks similar to those of advance-fee fraud, which the BACS (Federal Cyber Security Office of Switzerland) warns about on its website. In that scheme, victims receive promises of large sums in exchange for paying supposed prior fees or taxes. Although in this operation the Swiss son did not pay any money, his signature on the power of attorney allowed the swindlers to carry out the fraud.
Source: Blick
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)