The operation, named Minority Report, concluded with the arrest of thirteen individuals, eleven men and two women, nine of whom had prior criminal records. One of the ringleaders is already in prison. The investigation revealed that the network operated with a well-defined structure, where each member had a specific role.
The starting point of the scam was a mobile phone store in a large shopping center in Granada. An employee of the establishment used her position to obtain copies of the identity documents of future victims. With this information, other members of the organization acquired prepaid SIM cards, which they then used to apply for consumer loans from financial entities specializing in quick loan approvals.
The funds obtained were used to purchase a wide range of products, such as mobile phones, tablets, consoles, high-end electric scooters, computers, televisions, and even a mini-motorcycle. A gang member, who worked for a parcel delivery company, diverted packages to addresses controlled by the organization. This 'chain identity laundering' method allowed the fraudsters to acquire goods without raising suspicion, as the loans were signed with maturity periods of one to two years, delaying the detection of the fraud by the victims. In fact, the National Police estimates that 95% of those defrauded were unaware they were victims of a scam.
The criminal organization used these loans to acquire all kinds of products such as mobile phones, tablets, consoles, high-end electric scooters, computers, televisions, or even a mini-motorcycle.
Over time, the network expanded its fraudulent activities to aesthetic treatments, using the loans to finance hair implants, facial rejuvenation treatments, and breast augmentations. The acquired products were later sold at lower prices in the market to obtain cash and launder it. The organization sought establishments with lax financing conditions, exploiting them until they modified their policies.
The investigation began last September when a citizen alerted authorities after being denied a loan for appearing on a defaulters' list, despite having no debts or having lost their ID. The victim recalled having handed over their document at the aforementioned phone store. Following this statement and other similar complaints, the National Police carried out two home searches, seizing fraudulently acquired items, 260 marijuana plants, 250 prepaid SIM cards, and several identity documents.
After the arrest of one of the main suspects, two mobile phones were seized containing over a thousand photographs of identity documents, 150 images of third-party bank cards, and nearly 300 screenshots of orders placed in various online stores. The police investigation remains open, and the discovery of new victims is possible. The police intervention has been crucial for the more than 300 affected individuals to cancel the fraudulent loans and avoid financial harm.




