Police in Tenerife have dismantled a criminal organisation suspected of defrauding more than 3,000 tourists of millions of pounds.
The network operated under 17 different business names in tourist areas including Playa Las Americas and Los Cristianos, defrauding at least 3,221 holidaymakers of more than €8.39 million.
The fraud was conducted among elderly tourists whose details were collected when they shopped at retail stores involved in the scam.
“These shops, appearing as conventional retail stores, were in fact fronts for fraudulent activities, using card payment terminals to carry out unauthorised bank charges,” Canarian Weekly reports.
After leaving the country, the victims realised more money had been taken.
Police began investigating in June 2023 and Canarian Weekly said authorities have confirmed the person behind one of the businesses responsible for the highest number of fraudulent transactions is missing, prompting an international arrest warrant to be issued.
Tourists who suspect they may have fallen victim to the fraud have been asked to file a formal complaint.
