Scandinavian Fugitive Arrested in Rojales for Multiple Frauds via Fake Norwegian Government SMS

The National Police have arrested a 20-year-old Norwegian national in Rojales, who was under an Extradition Order issued by the authorities of his country for aggravated fraud committed in 2023.

The fugitive was wanted for being responsible for 37 frauds, through which he obtained 8.4 million Norwegian kroner from his victims, equivalent to over 720,000 euros. He carried out the scams in various ways, notably through fake text messages falsely claiming to be from the Norwegian government.

According to police sources, the young man was apprehended at his residence after the National Police, through the International Cooperation Section of the Alicante Prosecutor's Office, learned of his location. Investigators began the necessary inquiries to carry out the arrest just as he was about to leave his home.

The detainee faces six years in prison in Norway for fraudulently obtaining 8.4 million Norwegian kroner from both victims and banks. The young man deceived users in various ways, such as using an app to charge for goods that were never delivered or through fraudulent links.

In fact, the fugitive contacted his victims via text messages falsely claiming to be from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, the Norwegian Tax Administration, and other organisations. Subsequently, individuals received calls from unknown persons claiming to be from the police or other services, tricking victims into providing more banking and personal information, leading to million-kroner transfers from their bank accounts.

Thanks to the exchange of information and effective coordination between police authorities from other countries and the National Police, the arrest of this individual was possible. The detainee, after the completion of police procedures, has been placed at the disposal of the Central Court of Instruction of the National Court, the judicial body responsible for processing his subsequent extradition.