Doha – Spanish law enforcement agencies have uncovered a major credit card fraud operation that channeled high-end technological products to Morocco, resulting in losses exceeding €90,000.
The joint operation between the Spanish Civil Guard and Bilbao Municipal Police led to the arrest of four individuals and the investigation of seven others for fraud, money laundering, and criminal organization charges.
The operation, codenamed “Dania,” began in November 2023 following a complaint from a Valencia-based mobile phone distributor who received suspicious online orders worth €9,490.
The investigation revealed an elaborate scheme where the criminal network used stolen credit card data from Danish, German, and Norwegian residents to purchase high-value electronic devices.
According to the investigation details shared by Spanish authorities, the criminal organization employed the “carding” method, utilizing more than 100 fraudulent credit card credentials. This involves stealing credit card data and testing them with small purchases before making larger transactions.
The group specifically targeted high-end mobile phones, which maintain their value and are easily resold in the secondary market.
Investigators discovered that many of the fraudulently obtained devices were never activated in Spain but were instead transported to Morocco for illegal commercialization.
The connection to Morocco was established when authorities detected that some of the fraudulently acquired mobile phones were being used with Moroccan telephone lines.
During the operation, law enforcement conducted four raids in Bilbao and Durango, including one at the residence of the alleged ring leader in Zalla, Biscay.
The searches resulted in the seizure of 48 mobile phones of questionable origin, €5,850 in cash, various electronic devices, and multiple identification documents, including two Moroccan passports.
The criminal network operated through various establishments in Bilbao and Durango, using 13 different telephone lines and at least five establishments for collecting the fraudulently purchased items.
Some members of the organization reportedly slept in these establishments to guard the illegal goods.
Spanish authorities report that while the confirmed fraud amount stands at €56,200 from 33 analyzed cards, the total attempted fraud could have exceeded €91,500. Some transactions were cancelled or returned due to incomplete card information or missing victim data.
The case remains under the supervision of Bilbao’s Court of Instruction Number 8, with additional involvement from the Spanish Labor and Social Security Inspection due to the discovery of two undocumented workers during the operation.
Read also: Moroccan Couple Arrested in Madrid for Trafficking Minors Using Their Children’s Passports
