Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of eight scams and one robbery involving violence near Barcelona Sants station and in the Eixample district. Police attribute losses of almost €13,000 to the alleged offences, committed between September 2025 and August 2026.

Commuters and pedestrians approached in the street were allegedly persuaded to withdraw cash from nearby cash machines after being shown bank-transfer confirmations that did not result in payment. Mossos said anyone affected by a similar scam should report it at any police station.

“The investigation remains open and police do not rule out that the detainee may be linked to other incidents with similar characteristics.”

Alleged false emergency and transfer receipt

According to the Mossos investigation, the suspect initially operated around Sants station before later targeting people in Eixample. He allegedly told victims he faced a personal emergency, often claiming that he had been robbed, had lost his documents or urgently needed to travel to his country of origin.

He allegedly said he had no cash but would repay a loan immediately by bank transfer. To support the claim, police said, he showed victims a purported payment receipt or a banking application on his phone.

  • Victims were allegedly told that an immediate bank transfer had been made.
  • They then withdrew cash and handed over the requested amount.
  • The transfer did not arrive, and police said the receipts shown were false or had been manipulated.

In one alleged incident, investigators said the man intimidated a victim to obtain money. Public reports and subsequent police inquiries led officers to identify and locate him.

Police ask other potential victims to report incidents

Mossos are continuing their investigation and have asked people who recognise this method to make a report at a police station. The force's official guidance on documents to bring when reporting an offence is available online.

Primary sources: govern.cat, dsp.interior.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by ARA, elcaso.elnacional.cat, lavanguardia.com, infobae.com, larazon.es, metropoliabierta.cat, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, cronicanegra.com, elcontrapunt.cat.