Couple accused of defrauding elderly British man of €86,000 after gaining his trust
Guardia Civil investigation reveals years of suspicious transactions, including after victim’s death
A man and woman have been arrested by the Guardia Civil after allegedly defrauding an elderly British man of €86,000 over several years, in a case that investigators say was built on trust and exploitation.The arrests, carried out on March 25 and March 30 as part of Operation “Rodicare-26”, involve a couple aged 42 and 41 who had been living in the Rojales area. Both are suspected of fraud and were later brought before the Court of First Instance in Torrevieja, where a judge ordered their release with precautionary measures.
The investigation began in early 2026 after a British citizen reported concerns following the death of a relative, discovering that his bank accounts had been emptied. Early enquiries quickly pointed towards individuals within the victim’s close circle.
According to the Guardia Civil, the couple had developed a relationship with the victim over time, presenting themselves as trusted helpers. They reportedly assisted him with day-to-day matters, gradually gaining access to his finances.
Officers believe the alleged fraud took place between 2019 and 2022. During this period, the suspects are said to have carried out numerous transactions, including transfers into their own accounts, card payments and repeated cash withdrawals.
Investigators found that some of these withdrawals were made while the victim was hospitalised, and even after his death. As one source involved in the case explained, the enquiry uncovered “irregular banking transactions over several years,” which ultimately allowed officers to trace the movement of the money.
The couple also ran a consultancy aimed at foreign residents, which police say formed part of the environment in which they built trust with the victim, an elderly man described as having health problems and limited family support in Spain.
Through detailed analysis of banking records and coordination with financial institutions, investigators were able to reconstruct how the funds were moved and confirm the scale of the alleged fraud.
The man arrested is also reported to have a prior record for similar offences.
Image: Guardia Civil
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