The Civil Guard detains three people in various proceedings for the fraudulent sale of medical equipment

In Baena (Córdoba) two people were arrested who sold medical supplies through a well-known website, but who never sent

In Jaca (Huesca) the now detained was posing as manager of a company in the health sector and offered products such as face masks and hydroalcoholic gels in person at pharmacies and veterinary centers, without being authorized to do so

The Civil Guard has detained 3 people in two actions carried out in Córdoba and Huesca for the fraudulent sale of medical equipment.

Operation MASKOS

The Civil Guard, in the framework of the MASKOS operation, has arrested two people in Baena (Córdoba) for the fraudulent online sale of medical equipment. They are charged with a continued crime of fraud.

The investigations began after the Civil Guard became aware of the existence of a series of shipments through courier companies to different locations in the Spanish territory and that could be related to a scam in the sale of medical equipment.

After a first examination of the documentation that accompanied these shipments, it was found that all of them had been carried out by a company located in the town of Baena, between March 30 and April 1. In addition, this company had recently published on a well-known website numerous advertisements offering high-performance masks, of the FFP2 3M type.

Through these announcements, the victims contacted the alleged scammer and agreed to the sale of the products, which in some cases amounted to 3,000 euros and which they never received. Subsequently, the victims made the payment or part of it, through two modalities: cash on delivery or by depositing in some of the bank accounts they used.

To give a greater guarantee in the sale and credibility to the scam, victims were provided with the status of follow-up of shipments, thereby obtaining enough time to receive the payment of the agreed money, or part of it, before supposedly receive the masks purchased.

The agents focused their investigation on the environment of the company that offered the masks, as well as on the analysis of the transactions corresponding to the payments made. After these inquiries, it was possible to identify the alleged perpetrator of the events, a neighbor from the town of Baena, who had been administrator of the company that offered the masks and who was able to use the constitution documents of the same, to carry out shipments in the name of said company, which had sold to another person months before.

Once the perpetrator of the events had been identified, they were located and arrested in the town of Baena for an alleged crime of continued fraud, with the aggravating circumstance that the object of the fraud was the sale of protection material before COVID19, specifically masks, whose sale is regulated by publication in the BOE of the corresponding ministerial order, in order to protect public health.

As a result of the study of the bank accounts, where the reported income was carried out, a second person was identified who could be related to one of the investigated events, for which a new line of investigation was initiated.

The agents discovered that this person, along with the former detainee, was posing as workers of companies related to the distribution of masks and other types of protective material, such as gloves and alcohol, to give greater credibility to their victims.

For this they used the name of several companies, different identities, and several mobile phone lines, reaching sales with two distribution companies of said material for the amount of 5,800 and 2,629 euros; which after paying the total amount agreed, only received part of the material they had bought from them. For this reason, the second person involved in the wrongful acts was also arrested.

So far, some 26 alleged scams have been detected to those affected, being affected by individuals, companies that distribute health products and even pharmacies throughout the national territory.

It is recalled that the Civil Guard maintains a communication channel open for receiving complaints about scams related to the COVID19 crisis, through the email ciberestafas@guardiacivil.org.

For more information you can contact the Peripheral Communication Office of the Civil Guard of Córdoba, telephone 957 414 111, ext. 2222.

Operation LUISSERRA

The Civil Guard has arrested in Jaca (Huesca) a 44-year-old man from Alicante, who was offering health products related to COVID19 in pharmacies and veterinary centers, without being authorized to do so. The alleged crimes against industrial property and attempted fraud are imputed to him.

The operation began after the Jaca Civil Guard learned that a person was offering in person in pharmacies and veterinary centers in the town various health products, such as face masks and hydroalcoholic gels, without restriction or quotas.

This fact raised suspicions among the professionals of these establishments, since it is not the way to proceed of the commercials of this type of products, in breach of the established by the situation of the state of alarm.

From the different steps taken by the agents, it could be verified that, due to the shortage of this type of materials due to the pandemic by COVID19, the now detained was posing as manager of a company in the health sector and offered in pharmaceutical establishments or veterinarians their products, doing in person in Sabiñánigo, Jaca, Huesca and others in the province of Zaragoza. Likewise, it could be determined that the company he claimed to represent was fictitious.

Once all the data had been collected and the perpetrator had been identified, he was arrested as the alleged perpetrator of crimes against industrial property and attempted fraud. At the time of his arrest, the products that he offered in pharmacies and veterinary centers, as well as business cards and documentation from a fictitious company, were located in his vehicle.

The operation has been carried out by agents belonging to the Jaca Civil Guard Judicial Police Team.

The detainee, along with the proceedings investigated, was brought to justice in the Investigating Court No. 1 in Jaca.

For more information, you can contact the Peripheral Communication Office (OPC) of the Civil Guard of Huesca, tel. 974 215 553, or 680 441 007.

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