Benidorm man arrested after renting out properties he did not own

Police in Benidorm have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of fraud, misappropriation and document forgery. He rented out homes and parking spaces he neither owned nor had any legal right to let. The case has left multiple victims out of pocket, including British holidaymakers and long-stay renters.

The investigation began after several people reported losing money to the same individual. He offered properties for both long-term lets and short holiday stays, collected deposits and then either cancelled at the last minute or disappeared.

How this particular scam worked

One victim paid €650 as a deposit for a long-term rental after being introduced through a work colleague. She signed a contract with a planned April move-in date. Weeks before she was due to arrive, the man claimed the owners had pulled out. He promised to return the money but blocked all further contact. Two other people from the same workplace lost money in the same way.

A woman who lived in the same building lent him her keys for a few days so his family could stay. Months later she discovered strangers living in her flat. They had paid the man €700 a month in cash after he presented himself as the legitimate landlord.

Holiday lets followed a similar pattern. A man from Gijón paid €350 to reserve an apartment for a short break. When he arrived he could not reach the supposed owner. Staff at the building told him several other people had turned up with identical bookings for the same dates.

The biggest single loss came from a Dutch woman who already owned a flat in the same building as the suspect. She agreed to buy a garage space from him for €22,000, signed a deposit agreement and paid €2,200 upfront. She also booked flights and a hotel to complete the purchase. Days before travel he cancelled, blaming health problems on the seller’s side. She later discovered the contract had been falsified and the space was never for sale. Her total losses, including travel costs, exceeded €4,300.

Tactics that caught people out

This case shows how scammers sometimes operate through personal connections rather than public websites. Victims were approached via work colleagues or by someone living in the same building. Key lending and fake garage sales added extra layers that made the offers feel more legitimate.

How British visitors can protect themselves in similar situations

Be especially cautious with any rental offer that comes through a personal introduction or someone already living in the building. Always insist on seeing proof of ownership before handing over money or keys.

For any parking space or garage purchase, carry out an independent check through the local property registry or town hall rather than relying on documents supplied by the seller.

When booking holiday lets, confirm with the building management or concierge that your booking is recognised before you travel. If several people arrive for the same dates, report it to the police straight away.

Never send large deposits by bank transfer for long-term rentals arranged privately. Use a proper contract with clear cancellation terms and keep records of every payment, including cash withdrawals if necessary.

Report any suspicious approach or sudden cancellation to the Policía Nacional immediately. Early reports help officers connect cases and warn others. Benidorm police stations tend to have someone who speaks English well, but if concerned about language barriers, crimes can be reported online in various languages at denuncias.policia.es

British tourists heading to Benidorm this summer should treat any offer that feels unusually convenient or comes through informal channels with the same level of checks they would apply to buying a second-hand car. Quick verification steps can prevent the kind of losses seen in this case.