The most recent complaints of cryptocurrency scams come, especially, from Navarra.
The National Police of Spain issued a warning about the increase in a scam related to investing in cryptocurrencies. The entity does this after receiving a series of complaints from the province of Navarra.
According to the 20 Minutes outlet, the amount scammed in the last two complaints investigated by the National Police in Pamplona and Tudela might surpass 240,000 euros (USD 279,880).
Alert with Investment websites
The police highlighted that various websites offer users fake investment services in the stock market or virtual currencies, promising high returns and very low risk to acquire a big payment through deception and fraud.
According to the media, these are new companies, little known, but with profiles on different social networks in which they regularly launch videos on well-known online channels to gain the trust of their potential victims.
Modus Operandi
The complaints filed in recent weeks in Navarra refer to the same modus operandi: When victims search for information about investments in BTC on internet portals, they find different platforms that promise substantial benefits in just a few days.
He adds that these companies also grant users tools to follow the revaluation of investments in real-time. “In this way, and with the promise of high profitability, they are convinced to increase the invested capital, transferring more than 120,000 euros to the accounts of the alleged brokers.”
Afterward, the injured party continues to check analytical tools to see how their investment could increase exponentially. In one of the complaints analyzed, the victim had supposedly received a million and a half euros by investing 120,000 euros.
The Criminals do not Allow Users to Withdraw Profits
The most worrying struggle is, according to the police, that when users try to withdraw the fictitious profits, the victims get informed that they must re-enter a large amount of money, more than 100,000 euros, to extract the funds. Users then realize that they may be suffering a scam, and they inform the police services.
The National Police explained that this type of scam highlights the social engineering of the scammers, capable of establishing a relationship of trust with their victims without raising suspicions.
Police Tips to Avoid These Type of Scams
Before making any investment, the National Police of Spain warn users and encourage them to check their solvency. In addition, the entity recommends the periodic consultation of alerts from public authorities regarding investment platforms.
If users want to file a complaint or make any query, they can do it personally 24 hours a day at the National Police offices and through 091.
In the Higher Headquarters of the National Police in Navarra, there are groups specialized in Economic Crime and Technological Crimes to which they can go if they have been a victim of this type of incident and proceed to initiate their investigation.
By: Jenson Nuñez
