A plot falls that emptied bank accounts from stolen mobile phones in Barcelona: two arrested and almost 15,000 euros defrauded

The Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested two young people aged 19 and 25 accused of being part of an alleged scheme dedicated to emptying bank accounts using stolen mobile phones in Barcelona. The police investigation indicates that the group managed to obtain close to 14,600 euros by directly accessing the banking applications installed on the stolen devices.

According to the Catalan police, the method was fast and relatively simple: once they had access to the victim's mobile phone, the suspects entered the banking applications and made immediate transfers or payments via Bizum. The money was subsequently sent to accounts opened in the name of third parties to hinder the tracing and identification of the perpetrators.

The investigation, which remains open, first allowed the identification of a third person involved, arrested last February. This man would be related to the opening and activation of the bank accounts used to receive the money diverted from the stolen mobile phones.

The last two arrests occurred on May 14 in the Barcelona towns of Sant Fost de Campsentelles and Martorell. Both arrested individuals are being investigated for crimes of receiving stolen goods and several bank frauds.

One arrested individual had already been arrested five times for similar acts

The investigators especially highlight the police record of one of the main individuals involved. According to the Mossos, he had already been arrested up to five previous occasions for crimes related to similar scams and fraudulent use of mobile devices.

The police suspect that the group acted in an organized manner and took advantage of immediate access to financial applications before the victims could block their accounts or disable the stolen phones.

The rise of instant payments and applications like Bizum has facilitated this type of fraud, which are usually executed in a matter of minutes and complicate the subsequent recovery of the stolen money.

The Mossos do not rule out new arrests

The investigation remains open and the Catalan police do not rule out new arrests linked to the plot. The officers continue to analyze bank movements, electronic devices, and possible connections with other similar cases registered in Catalunya during recent months.

Furthermore, the Mossos recall the importance of protecting access to mobile phones through biometric systems or security codes and recommend immediately blocking banking applications in case of theft or loss of the device.

Another incident in Barcelona with a stolen car and police shots

The case also coincides with another incident that occurred this weekend in the Barcelona metropolitan area related to organized crime and stolen vehicles.

In Badalona, the driver of a stolen car rammed a plainclothes vehicle of the Mossos d’Esquadra when officers were trying to block his path at a gas station on Conflent Avenue. According to police sources, the Mossos detected that the stolen car could be related to groups known as “teloneros” (opening acts), specialized in quick robberies and assaults.

The situation forced one of the officers to fire several warning shots with his service weapon after the driver hit the police car and tried to flee. No person was injured during the operation.

The Mossos keep both investigations open.