The Civil Guard has dismantled a cyber fraud network operating in Málaga and other provinces, managing to defraud over one million euros. In this operation, 29 people have been arrested and another 57 are under investigation.
Operation of the scam scheme
The detainees were part of a call center that pretended to be a bank. They used techniques known as "smishing" and "vishing." First, they sent fake SMS messages alerting victims to unusual charges on their bank account, inviting them to call a number to stop the supposed transaction.
In the second phase, victims received a call impersonating the bank manager. Using social engineering and personal information, the fraudsters convinced victims to make transfers to accounts under their control. In this way, they managed to scam 25 people from Huesca, 11 from Zaragoza, and 7 from Teruel.
Intervention and recovery of funds
Agents of the Civil Guard have been able to identify a group of individuals acting as money mules, who received and moved the money obtained illegally. After multiple technical analyses and interventions in various locations, the operation culminated in the recovery of over 256,000 euros and the dismantling of the organisation's money laundering system.
The operation, known as Ibermellow, has its origins in reports received last year in Huesca. In March, a first phase was carried out where members of the network's leadership were arrested and materials used for the scam were seized.
Units from various provinces participated in the operation, including Madrid and Murcia, as well as the Organic Judicial Police Unit and the Arroba Team from Huesca. The proceedings have been handed over to several courts in Huesca and Zaragoza.
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