Exploitation of Judicially Incapacitated Woman in Elche Leads to €50,000 Theft

Two individuals have been arrested in Elche for defrauding over €50,000 from a judicially incapacitated woman, making bank transfers and card payments for personal gain after deceiving her. This was stated by the National Police in a statement, whose officers were responsible for the arrest.

The police investigation began when a man filed a complaint at the Elche Police Station, stating that unknown individuals had exploited his sister's incapacity to make multiple transactions from her bank account and payments with the card linked to that account, according to a statement from the Superior Police Headquarters.

In his complaint, the victim's brother highlighted two bank transfers of €14,000 and €30,000 respectively to an unknown person's bank account due to their significant amounts.

Faced with these facts, officers from the Elche Judicial Police Brigade analysed the victim's bank account movements and were alerted by several transfers and card payments due to being "unusual" for the victim's lifestyle. Consequently, they conducted several inquiries to determine where all the money had gone and what the victim had spent it on.

After analysing the destination bank account of the two transfers worth €14,000 and €30,000, they identified a neighbour of the victim as the account holder. The suspect had taken advantage of the victim's judicial incapacity due to a mental disability, deceiving and convincing her to give him the money.

Additionally, two of the payments made with the victim's card led officers to a second-hand vehicle dealership. After gathering more information at the dealership, they discovered that a man accompanied by the victim had purchased a van worth €6,800.

The woman had paid for the vehicle with her bank card, but it was transferred to the suspect's name, who, like the other perpetrator, had exploited her vulnerability to defraud her. The man also resided in Elche and knew the victim.

The two detainees are Spanish nationals aged 47 and 57, accused of the alleged commission of a fraud offence. The arrested individuals have been brought before the Elche Investigating Court on duty.