La Guardia Civil, through police operation Housel mounted in Murcia, nobbled a home-help company for elderly British residents.

When the police searched the company offices they found 45,000 euros and 3,600 pounds sterling in cash, as well as a quantity of personal documents, bankcards and bank books, all of which were in the names of British nationals residing in Mazarrón.

The police first began investigating when a complaint was registered on behalf of a 90-year-old woman who lived by herself and was being looked after by the person who runs the company.

The victim had no relatives or close friends and was in a vunerable, completely dependent, situation, which left her open to being targeted for her properties and savings.

Investigation uncovered that the person running the home-help company was a British woman, also a resident of Mazarrón. She allegedly and fraudulently obtained the deeds to the victim’s house and her savings.

Using her position of trust, she sold the house, and as a joint, bank-account holder was reportedly able to spend the proceeds from the sale on herself. She had convinced the victim to make her a co-account holder and allegedly even had the elderly woman change her will into her favour.

According to the Guardia Civil, the modus operandi of the accused was to target elderly residents in Mazarrón, living by themselves with no friends and relatives and who had no knowledge of Spanish in order to offer them her home-help services (in order to help herself to their possessions).

The arrested woman stands accused of fraud, forgery, as well as the criminal offence of improper management under article 295 of the Criminal Code.

The police operation continues and more information (should you know of somebody who could have also been a victim in Murcia) can be obtained from the Oficina Periférica de Comunicación de Murcia on 986 242 746.

(News: Mazarron, Murcia)