After an investigation lasting two years, the National Police have broken up an organisation of so-called gas inspectors who created a network of 60 fake companies and cheated nearly 2,000 people throughout Spain, mainly targeting the elderly, disabled and tourists.
The fake gas inspectors would collect anything between €50 and €900 for carrying out unnecessary work and would even escort people to an ATM to obtain payment. The principal targets for the organisation were the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, disabled and tourists unaware of the legal requirements relating to gas inspections.
The organisation set up a network of companies relating to the maintenance of gas installations and also built up a debt of €3.9 million with Social Security. The companies then hired workers, some with criminal records, to pose as inspectors and fleece the unwary.
In the operation, twelve people have so far been arrested, 227 bank accounts in 19 provinces have been seized and 10 luxury cars have been confiscated. The arrests took place in Fuenlabrada (1), Navalcarnero (2), Fresno del Torote (1), Barcelona (1), Yeles (1), Málaga (2), Fuengirola (2), Granada (1) y Elche (1).