The Civil Guard arrests a person for defrauding in the online sale of medical supplies
The deception was carried out through a perfectly designed online store where the existence of a "stock" of medical equipment was permanently reported, which it really did not have, and "safe payment" was made possible through a wide range of systems
He used up to seven bank accounts and a secure payment management application, in which he received more than 2,600 transactions worth more than 100,000 euros
Due to the scope of the scam, there are not only people affected in the national territory, but also abroad
The Civil Guard keeps the email ciberestafas@guardiacivil.org open for citizens to report this type of fraud
The Civil Guard, within the framework of the MEDICAL SHIELD-MASCAR operation, has arrested D.V.I., 26 years old, in Vigo (Pontevedra) for defrauding the online sale of medical supplies. The alleged crime of continued fraud is imputed to him.
The investigation began last March as a result of the complaints filed by those responsible for two nursing homes in the province of Burgos, in which they claimed that they had been victims of a scam by an online product sales company. toilets advertised as “specific protection against the spread of the coronavirus”.
These nursing homes had ordered medical supplies for more than 3,500 euros, and after the expiration of the deadline for receiving their orders, they had neither received the material nor was there a guarantee of reimbursement of the amount paid.
Likewise, through the communications transmitted by citizens in the Civil Guard's suggestion box, in the email ciberestafas@guardiacivil.org and in the Civil Guard profiles in the RRSS, more than 60 complaints filed against the site have been located. web on different sites.
After that, the agents began an investigation that led them to a company in Vigo, and found that it was a complex virtual network created by the now detained.
The deception was carried out through a perfectly designed online store where the existence of a "stock" of medical supplies was permanently reported and "safe payment" was made possible through a wide range of systems. To reinforce the deception, he set very short delivery times (peninsular Spain 15 days, Islands 18 days, EU 7 to 15 days, etc.). He created the website in the midst of a health crisis, two days before the state of alarm came into effect.
Some of those affected had purchased FFP3 masks with a valve on the aforementioned website, which were sold on the website as adequate for the protection of COVID19, and in most cases, the order did not arrive, or if it arrived a minimum quantity corresponded to masks of very poor quality and without the appropriate certifications.
The detainee used up to seven bank accounts and a secure payment management application, in which he received more than 2,600 transactions worth more than 100,000 euros for which the blockade has been requested. This online payment company has informed investigators that it has received 753 claims so far, so it is estimated that there are a large number of affected.
For all these reasons, this person was arrested in Vigo (Pontevedra), as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of continued fraud, with the aggravating circumstance of dealing with essential goods. They have a police record for crimes of falsehood and against property. In addition, the company's headquarters have been registered, where various documentation and computer material have been intervened for study.
The proceedings have been delivered in the Investigating Court of the Infantes Halls (Burgos)
Among those affected are victims with profiles of all kinds, some especially sensitive such as nursing homes and health groups. The incidence of this fraudulent website has been such that many victims have published messages on social networks uncovering the fraud of this company, they have even created platforms for those affected, with which the Civil Guard has contacted.
Due to the scope of the scam, there are not only victims in the national territory, but also abroad. For this reason, the Civil Guard is promoting the location of more victims through EUROPOL and channels of international police cooperation.
This action is framed within the special device against cybercrime of the Civil Guard developed since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis. Given the high demand for sanitary material necessary for the protection of public health that is taking place, a situation of shortage has been caused in the market for these products necessary for individual protection, which has led to a notable increase in this type of cyber frames.
For all these reasons, the Civil Guard insists on a series of tips to carry out secure online trade:
- Make the purchase from devices with updated software and antivirus.
- If the purchase is made through a connection from the home's WIFI network, establish access codes and never have it open to the public.
- Pay attention to the design of the web page that has been accessed to buy:
- The wording must be clear. Suspect disjointed texts derived from automatic translators and lack of homogeneity (for example: the “Home” section is translated as “Home”, instead of “Home”, which is commonly used).
- Be suspicious of online commerce that does not provide real and physical company data, as well as a return policy and established channel for it.
- The online store must have a security certificate. If it does, the browser will display a padlock icon and the URL will start with https instead of http.
- It is highly recommended that online commerce adhere to a code of good e-commerce practice, normally in Spain represented by a Trust Online seal.
- Suspect if the website offers different types of payment but when it comes to payment only supports credit / debit card and / or bank transfer.
- Launch a query in any search engine in case there are already complaints or platforms affected.
- Be wary of prices below the market or with delivery conditions that are very different from the average.
It is recalled that the Civil Guard maintains a communication channel open to receive reports of scams related to the COVID-19 crisis, through the email ciberestafas@guardiacivil.org.
The operation has been carried out by agents belonging to the Burgos and Pontevedra headquarters.
For more information contact O.P.C. from the Burgos headquarters, telephones 639,300,526, 669,872,112, and with the O.P.C. from the Commandery of Pontevedra, phone 650.385.576.
