A family gang from Torrevieja is in police custody. They rented an apartment for a week to defraud eight people

They thought they’d found their dream home on the Costa Blanca. They saw the property with their own eyes, shook hands with the supposed owner, and paid a deposit. Moments later, they were left without a roof over their heads and penniless. In Torrevieja, a ruthless gang led by a mother and her two adult children was broken up.

The Guardia Civil put an end to this brazen scheme as part of an operation codenamed “Velanidia.” Officers from the Torrevieja station arrested a 53-year-old woman, her 24-year-old daughter, and her 25-year-old son. The family trio had set up a scam targeting the most vulnerable—people on a tight budget who were desperately looking for long-term housing on the Spanish coast.

They rented the space for a few days to make a fortune

The scam was meticulously planned down to the smallest detail and caught even those who considered themselves cautious off guard. The family, originally from Villarrobledo in the province of Albacete, traveled to Torrevieja and rented an apartment for just one week—most likely on a short-term rental basis.

Shortly thereafter, extremely attractive long-term rental offers began appearing on popular social media platforms. Desperate renters immediately took the bait.

The suspects weren’t afraid of face-to-face meetings. The woman personally showed interested parties around the apartment, inspiring complete trust. The illusion of security was absolute: the apartment existed, the keys were in their hands, and the paperwork seemed like a mere formality. There was only one condition: payment of the first month’s rent or a security deposit, preferably in cash on the spot.

As soon as the bills ended up in the scammer’s pocket, contact was immediately cut off. The phone went silent, the online profile disappeared, and the would-be tenants realized they were left empty-handed at the door of an apartment to which the “landlady” had no rights whatsoever.

Stolen Identity and a Police Raid

The case proved to be exceptionally difficult for investigators. The main suspect was using an ID card stolen from another woman who bore a striking resemblance to her. However, the Guardia Civil managed to unravel the network of connections and traced the group’s base of operations all the way to Villarrobledo.

During a search of their home, officers seized forged documents. All three were charged with at least eight counts of fraud, identity theft, document forgery, and participation in an organized criminal group. A court in Torrevieja ordered them to be placed under supervision—they will await trial while remaining free on bail.

Watch out for the Costa Blanca! Just seeing the apartment isn't enough

This story should serve as a warning to anyone looking for a place to rent in Torrevieja, Alicante, or the surrounding area. Many tenants believe they’re avoiding risk by rejecting offers that require remote payment and insisting on viewing the property in person. The case of this gang proves that scammers have no problem investing in a short-term tourist rental lasting just a few days in order to pocket thousands of euros in security deposits from several people in a single weekend.

Before you give anyone even a single euro, apply the principle of absolute distrust:

• Request a document confirming ownership of the property: Every legitimate owner in Spain has a document from the property registry (Nota Simple), which can be verified online in just a few minutes. If you’re renting through an agency, check its registration number (in Valencia, the official RAICV real estate agent registry has been in effect since 2023).
• Verify identity with an ID document: Check the ID (national ID card or passport) of the person claiming to be the owner and make sure the information matches that in the property registry and on the contract.
• Never pay cash in person without a receipt: All payments for the security deposit (fianza) and rent should be made by bank transfer to an account held directly by the owner listed in the lease agreement, with a specific transfer description.
• Time pressure is a red flag: Statements like “I have five other people interested today—first come, first served” are a classic social engineering tactic designed to lull you into a false sense of security.

If you have any suspicions about the legality of an offer, the Guardia Civil urges you to call the emergency number 062, report it to the nearest police station, or use the official Spanish safety app, AlertCops.