The Policía Nacional in Málaga bagged a network of companies that allegedly specialised in the gas-inspection scam, targeting the elderly.

In some instances victims had been overcharged 1,000% – not 100% but 1,000%.

In all 23 suspects were arrested, belonging to a group of 17 companies which coordinated their efforts to reportedly swindle their elderly victims.

According to the police communiqué their investigations began around the middle of last year after several people of advanced years made complaints at different police stations around the province.

In one complaint the 84-year-old victim explained that they carried out an unsolicited gas inspection, claiming that they needed to update paperwork for work that they had already carried out three months earlier.

Whilst she was filling out the documents, one of them said that he was going to see if the hot water in the bathroom worked correctly. During the time that he was out of sight he allegedly stole her jewellery.

(News: Malaga, Andalucia)