Dismantled a network of scammers who profited from blocking immigration appointments

May 16, 2023 - PRLog -- The National Police have managed to dismantle an organization composed of lawyers and managers who used a sophisticated computer system to block immigration appointments and resell them at high prices. This scam has affected numerous victims throughout the country, who were forced to pay sums of money ranging from 30 to 200 euros to request an appointment that should actually be free.

A fraudulent business that forced users to pay for a free procedure

The National Police have managed to dismantle an organization composed of lawyers and managers who used a sophisticated computer system to block immigration appointments and resell them at high prices. This scam has affected numerous victims throughout the country, who were forced to pay sums of money ranging from 30 to 200 euros to request an appointment that should actually be free.

Following a thorough investigation carried out by the Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade of Valencia, in collaboration with the Central Cybercrime Unit of the General Police Headquarters, a total of 69 people have been arrested in different provinces of Spain. The arrests have taken place in Madrid, Albacete, Alicante, Almería, Badajoz, Barcelona, Vizcaya, Burgos, Cádiz, Córdoba, Baleares, Marbella, Murcia, Tarragona, Tenerife, Toledo, and Valencia. These individuals are accused of belonging to a criminal organization and committing computer crimes.

In addition, 25 other people in the provinces of Madrid and Cádiz are under investigation, who may also be involved in this fraudulent network.

The operation of this criminal gang was based on the use of a sophisticated computer "bot" that blocked users' access to the public immigration appointment system, which should be freely accessible and without any cost. The "bot" obtained all the available appointments, an essential procedure for carrying out legal procedures related to immigration in Spain. The scammers had a special license to use this illegal program and, through a spreadsheet, recorded the data of the final applicants for the appointments.

This despicable criminal activity has affected numerous people who were in a vulnerable situation and who, in good faith, sought to comply with the legal requirements to regularize their immigration status in the country. By blocking access to the appointment system and reselling them at exorbitant prices, these scammers took advantage of the need and desperation of the affected individuals.

More content in (Spanish Language): https://www.legify.es/legify-news