Man arrested in Benidorm over alleged rental and property scams

Investigators say tenants, holidaymakers and a prospective buyer handed over deposits for properties and a garage space, the suspect allegedly had no right to rent or sell

A 59-year-old man has been arrested in Benidorm on suspicion of fraud, misappropriation and document forgery, after allegedly renting out properties he did not own and had no legal right to let.

The National Police say the investigation started after several people came forward reporting they had all been targeted by the same person. He is believed to have advertised both long-term and holiday rentals in Benidorm, taken deposits and rental payments, and then failed to provide access to the properties.

One of the first cases involved a woman looking for long-term accommodation in the area. After being put in contact with the suspect through a colleague, she signed a rental contract and paid a €650 deposit. However, shortly before her planned move-in date, she was told the owner had decided not to rent the property after all.

Although she was promised her money back, the refund never came, and contact eventually stopped, she was then blocked. Police believe the same approach was used with others in his workplace.

In another case, a homeowner in the same building said she had briefly left the keys with the man so that relatives could stay at her property. She later discovered the apartment had been occupied by a couple who claimed they were renting it from him for €700 a month, paid in cash.

The investigation also uncovered alleged holiday rental scams. One man from Gijón paid €350 to reserve a flat in Benidorm, but when he arrived he couldn't get hold of the landlord and was later told others had experienced the same issue.

A more serious allegation involves the supposed sale of a parking space. A Dutch woman agreed to buy a garage space for €22,000 and paid a €2,200 deposit, arranging travel to complete the purchase. Days before the planned completion, she was told the deal couldn’t go ahead due to the seller's health problems. She later discovered the contract had been forged and the space was never for sale.

Her total losses, including travel costs, are estimated at more than €4,300.

After gathering evidence, officers from the Judicial Police in Benidorm arrested the man. Police say there may be more victims, and the investigation is ongoing. The suspect has since appeared before the investigating court in Benidorm.

See also: Europe's tallest water slide has just opened in Benidorm