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Date Published: 21/01/2025

British tourist swindled out of 16k on Benidorm holiday

Thieves drained the holidaymaker’s bank accounts after stealing his phone

What was supposed to be a relaxing holiday in Benidorm turned into a financial nightmare for a British tourist when two clever con artists swindled him out of a whopping £16,000. The National Police have since arrested the culprits, putting an end to their elaborate scheme.

The trouble began when the tourist, who had been enjoying the sun and sea, had his mobile phone stolen. Little did he know that the theft was just the beginning of a well-planned scam. It turned out that the thieves had been keeping a close eye on him for days and had managed to spot him entering the PIN number.

A few hours after the theft, the tourist realised something was amiss as his bank account was being drained through a series of unauthorised transfers and payments. To make matters worse, the thieves had even taken out loans in his name. By the time he filed a complaint at the local police station, the damage was done - £16,000 had vanished into thin air.

With the information provided by the victim, Benidorm police launched an investigation and identified three men who had received the stolen funds. One of these recipients turned out to be another victim of the same con artists. It seems the thieves used this clever tactic to throw the police off their trail and make it harder to trace the stolen money.

The investigation led the police to two perpetrators: a 19-year-old Spanish man and a 20-year-old Algerian man. Both were arrested for alleged fraud. The case was then handed over to the Benidorm Court of Instruction for further proceedings.

In other news: Costa Blanca returns to FITUR: Beyond sun, sea and sand

Image: Policia Nacional

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