The Guardia Civil has arrested a man from Navalmoral de la Mata in connection with an organized fraud ring that targeted elderly victims across Galicia using the notorious 'timo de la estampita' or 'tocomocho' scam. The suspect is accused of defrauding ten senior citizens, with total losses exceeding €100,000 in cash and jewelry. The arrest represents a significant breakthrough in an investigation that began in July after authorities detected the first case in a Galician municipality.
According to law enforcement officials, the criminal organization employed a sophisticated deception method where perpetrators would convince elderly victims that they possessed winning lottery tickets or large sums of money. The fraudsters then offered the victims the opportunity to keep these supposed winnings in exchange for a smaller payment, effectively tricking them into handing over their own money and valuables. This long-running scam specifically targeted vulnerable senior citizens throughout various Galician communities.
The investigation revealed that the detained individual is allegedly part of a criminal network based in Extremadura that specializes in this type of fraud. Following months of intensive investigation, Guardia Civil officers from the Oleiros station were able to identify multiple suspected members of the organization. While only one arrest has been made so far, authorities indicate the operation remains active with ongoing efforts to locate and detain the remaining members of the criminal group.
Law enforcement officials have charged the detained suspect with fraud and membership in a criminal organization. The Guardia Civil has connected the individual to ten separate fraud cases across different Galician locations, with the provisional tally of stolen assets surpassing €100,000 in combined cash and jewelry. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the entire criminal network responsible for preying on elderly residents throughout the region.
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