The investigation, which began in October of last year, was launched after a victim, seeking accommodation in Madrid from abroad to pursue a master's degree, filed a complaint. After contacting an advertisement and viewing the property via video call, the victim paid 4,000 euros for reservation, management fees, and the first month's rent. However, upon arriving at the property, they discovered the rental was a scam, encountering other individuals also waiting to access the same apartment.

The scammer's method involved previously renting properties as tourist accommodations and, without authorization to sublet, offering them as long-term rentals through various real estate portals. To avoid being located, the individual communicated exclusively through messaging applications and primarily targeted victims residing outside Spain, showing them the properties via video calls.

In cases where interested parties insisted on visiting the property, the scammer used third parties, whom he presented as «assistants», who were unaware of the illegality of the operation. Furthermore, he used documentation provided by the victims to open bank accounts or impersonate property owners or managers, creating a false appearance of legality.

On February 21, simultaneous searches were carried out at two addresses linked to the investigated individual, where lists of apartments, appointment schedules, various documents, computer equipment, bank cards, and SIM cards were seized, along with professional photographic material used for the fraudulent advertisements. The Police also discovered that the suspect used two different identities and had no fixed residence in Spain. Finally, he was arrested on February 20 after a location and surveillance operation, and placed at the disposal of the judiciary as the alleged perpetrator of a fraud crime.