Guardia Civil investigators have recovered more than €23,800 after a woman in the Canary Islands was tricked into paying over €25,000 for a car advertised on an online sales platform, that did not exist.
Two women, aged 21 and 38 and living in Alicante, are being investigated in connection with the scam, which used a method known as "Phishing Cars".
The advertisement contained photographs and descriptions that appeared genuine, and after making contact through the platform, the victim received further information through instant messaging.
She was sent documents, photographs and details about the supposed vehicle and was also asked to provide photographs of her ID to begin the purchase process.
However, after transferring more than €25,000, communication stopped and her calls went unanswered.
The woman contacted her bank and reported the incident, prompting an investigation by Guardia Civil cybercrime specialists in La Palma.
Investigators were able to block the first bank account and recover more than €22,000.
They subsequently traced a second account and recovered another €1,800, preventing the money from being transferred overseas, which would have made recovering it considerably more difficult.
Investigations then led officers to identify the two women in Alicante, with assistance from cybercrime specialists there.
The case has now been passed to the relevant judicial authority.
The Guardia Civil is warning people buying vehicles online to be particularly cautious when sellers demand advance payments for deposits, transport or reservations without providing adequate guarantees.
Buyers are also advised to be suspicious if they are prevented from physically seeing or checking a vehicle before making payment.
