Police in Manlleu have arrested an 18-year-old man accused of defrauding two elderly Barcelona residents of €25,000. The sophisticated scam involved him impersonating a bank employee to gain access to their homes and finances.
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The Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force, detained the suspect at his home on Tuesday, 24 February. This followed an investigation into two separate incidents that took place in October and November 2025. Both victims, aged 67 and 90, live in Barcelona’s Sant Martí district.
According to police statements, the teenager is accused of two counts of fraud and one of theft. The scheme saw him blend digital deception with in-person visits to build trust and ultimately steal from his vulnerable targets.
A Deceptive Modus Operandi
Investigators have identified the method as a new variation on familiar scams targeting the elderly, such as those involving fake gas or electricity metre readers. Initially, the suspect allegedly initiated contact via an SMS message, posing as the victim’s bank and warning them of a supposed fraud on their account.
He would then follow up with a phone call, using the security alert pretext to win their confidence. The suspect convinced victims their bank cards were compromised, needing cancellation and physical collection for destruction, as reported by La Vanguardia. Soon after the call, he would arrive at their homes, posing as a bank representative sent to retrieve the cards.
Once he had the cards, the man allegedly made a series of unauthorised cash withdrawals and fraudulent transactions, accumulating a total of €25,000. During one visit, he is also accused of stealing several jewellery pieces from one victim’s home.
Investigation and Arrest in Manlleu
The Mossos d’Esquadra’s unit in Sant Martí launched the investigation after both victims filed complaints. Police subsequently traced the suspect to his residence in Manlleu, a town in the Osona comarca about 70 kilometres north of Barcelona. This community was recently in the news after an emotional tribute was held for local fire victims.
During a search of the property, officers seized €1,520 in cash, multiple credit cards issued in different names, the stolen jewellery, a frequency jammer, and an air pistol. The suspect was taken into custody and appeared before a judge on 26 February.
A Warning on Evolving Scams
This case highlights the evolving tactics criminals use to target vulnerable individuals, combining the anonymity of digital messaging with the disarming nature of a face-to-face visit. It serves as a stark reminder for residents to remain vigilant and verify any unsolicited contact from their bank through official channels.
This arrest comes as authorities across the region continue combating various forms of organised crime. Police forces have recently succeeded in dismantling a gang that specifically preyed on the elderly across Catalonia, and in apprehending thieves involved in catalytic converter sprees and large-scale copper cable theft.
Authorities urge the public, particularly friends and family of elderly individuals, to discuss these types of scams and report any suspicious activity immediately. Banks will never ask customers to hand over their cards or share their PIN in this manner.
