Spanish authorities dismantled a criminal group that sold fake appointments for immigration procedures

• The arrest of those involved was carried out after several people reported it, which started the investigations.

Spanish police have dismantled a criminal group engaged in fraud by selling fake appointments for immigration procedures, for which they charged between 55 and 100 dollars despite the procedure being free, and which affected more than a hundred people throughout Spain.

Two people have been arrested so far, both Argentine nationals, for alleged crimes of computer damage and fraud, although the investigation is still open and new arrests are not ruled out, according to police sources.

The detainees allegedly blocked the online immigration appointment system for procedures such as applying for international protection or taking fingerprints for identity documents, using a computer bot, hoarding almost all of them to sell them later.

Beginning of the investigation

Authorities said the criminals offered appointments for almost all of Spain’s provinces through an instant messaging app and a well-known social network, and requested payment by bank transfer of between 50 and 90 euros per appointment.

The investigation was initiated following several complaints from foreign citizens who claimed to have been victims of a scam related to the sale of appointments for immigration procedures. In all cases, those affected paid for an appointment that they later found did not exist.

Police seized cash, numerous electronic devices used to run the business, and detailed documents on the sale of appointments.

Photo: Archive

Asylum applications from Venezuelans in Spain

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With information from EFE

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