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Date Published: 06/06/2023

Scam artist posing as translator steals 35,000 euros when couple try to sell Spanish home

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A man is facing five years in prison for allegedly defrauding a married couple during the sale of their home in Jávea

Scam artist posing as translator steals 35,000 euros when couple try to sell Spanish home

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Alicante has accused a man of defrauding a married couple while conducting intermediary services for them when they tried to sell their property in Jávea.

The defendant, who will be tried next week, was working with two other people to scam the pair who wanted to sell their home in the Marina Alta town, according to the prosecution.

Sources from the prosecution claim that the man presented himself as a translator to help the couple sell their property, and convinced them that, in order to complete the sale in Spain, they should grant him a special power of attorney.

This was false information, as you do not need to give anyone else power of attorney in order to purchase or sell a property in Spain.

In this case, the defendant used the power of attorney he had been granted to carry out transactions that did not benefit his clients and, without the consent of the injured parties, he is purported to have misappropriated some 35,000 euros.

The public prosecution considers that, as he exploited the couple’s trust and stole a considerable amount of money from them, these acts constitute the offence of aggravated fraud. As such they are requesting a prison sentence of five years for the alleged fraudster.

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Image: Ajuntament de Xàbia

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