Arrested leader of "grandchild mafia". Lost Ferrari worth 230,000 euros
A 24-year-old Polish citizen, head of a criminal group known as the "grandchild mafia", was arrested in Barcelona. The man is suspected of coordinating "grandchild scam" fraud across Poland.
Arrested leader of "grandchild mafia". Lost Ferrari worth 230,000 euros
A 24-year-old Polish citizen, regarded as the head of a criminal group referred to as the "grandchild mafia", was arrested on 11 June in Barcelona, Spain – according to Onet, citing a statement from police in Małopolskie Province.
Over the course of several months, the man had been hiding in various European countries, including Hungary. Nevertheless, he continued to direct criminal activity remotely.
Police officers from Małopolska succeeded in locating the suspect thanks to cooperation with Spanish authorities and a liaison officer from the Polish police in Spain. The arrest was made pursuant to a European arrest warrant.
Investigators established that the gang leader led a very ostentatious lifestyle. He stayed in luxury hotels and travelled in expensive cars, including a Ferrari valued at 230,000 euros. The money for these purchases came from fraud proceeds.
The group operated according to an established scheme. Members would call elderly people, posing as relatives (grandchildren) or police officers. They convinced victims that relatives had found themselves in difficult situations – for example, as a result of an accident – and needed urgent cash transfers. In other variants, they impersonated police officers conducting alleged undercover operations.
To date, as part of the investigation conducted by the District Prosecutor's Office in Tarnów, 63 people have been arrested. Of these, 52 are in pre-trial custody.
The suspect remains in custody in Spain and is awaiting a decision regarding extradition to Poland.
Source: Libertatea
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)