Seven people have been arrested after a criminal network allegedly tricked people looking for long-term homes in Malaga into paying deposits for properties they had no right to rent out.

Police believe around 20 people have already fallen victim to the scam, with losses estimated at €150,000. Another three people are being investigated in connection with the alleged operation.

What made the fraud particularly convincing was that the properties were real. Members of the gang would first book tourist apartments for just one day before advertising them as available for long-term rental.

They then arranged viewings, showed prospective tenants around the homes and collected money for reservations and deposits. Payments were made through Bizum, Spain’s popular mobile payment service, or bank transfers.

In some cases, the same apartment was offered to several different people on the same day, with each being led to believe they had secured a place to live.

Suspected ringleader operated from Thailand

According to the National Police investigation, reported by EFE, the organisation was based on the Costa del Sol but had an international element. Its alleged ringleader operated from Thailand, where he coordinated the fraudulent activity and recruited people in Spain to carry out the practical work.

Different members had clearly defined roles. Some published advertisements on social media and arranged appointments, while others showed prospective tenants around the apartments and collected their money. Investigators also uncovered a system involving numerous telephone numbers and bank accounts, with cryptocurrency allegedly used to launder some of the proceeds.

Benalmadena featured in the operation, with one suspect responsible for collecting money and arranging the movement of funds and apartment keys. Another allegedly received cash and converted it into cryptocurrency.

Police warn more victims could come forward

The investigation began after several complaints were received by the National Police’s Central District station in Malaga. Officers subsequently identified the properties involved and carried out operations to catch suspects in the act. Several further scams were prevented when prospective tenants arrived to reserve apartments.

Seven people have now been arrested and three others are under investigation for alleged offences including membership of a criminal organisation, fraud and money laundering.

Police believe the number of victims could increase as the investigation continues, given how many people were reportedly shown the same apartments. The case is another warning for people searching for rental accommodation in Spain. EWN previously reported on how fake landlords were targeting desperate renters across Spain, with criminals exploiting the pressure on people to find somewhere to live.

Anyone searching for a long-term rental should check the identity of the person offering the property and establish that they are the owner or have proper authority to rent it out. Paying a deposit before verifying these details can leave prospective tenants seriously out of pocket.

For more home renting advice, see EWN’s guide to avoiding rental scams in Spain.

Visiting a large Spanish hospital for the first time can be a daunting experience, particularly if you are not confident speaking Spanish. But a little preparation can make all the difference, according to British expat Steve Marshall, who has put together a practical guide to help English-speaking residents navigate their way around the Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol near Marbella.

Steve says, “Getting older often means more frequent visits to doctors and hospitals. While appointments at a local health centre may be relatively straightforward, larger public hospitals can be confusing, busy and difficult to navigate, especially when language becomes a barrier.”

Steve’s guide focuses on the Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol, situated just off the A-7 at kilometre 187, near Marbella. His message is simple: “be prepared, know where to go and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Here is his step-by-step guide.

1. Prepare before leaving home

Having the right paperwork and information with you can save considerable time and frustration.

Steve recommends taking:

• Your hospital appointment letter or SMS confirmation.
• Your Spanish health card, TIE or passport.
• A list of your current medicines and their dosages.
• Any recent X-rays, test results or relevant medical paperwork.
• A written list of your main medical concerns.

One particularly useful tip is to use Google Translate to produce a Spanish version of your medical concerns. This gives you something to show your consultant if communication becomes difficult.

Steve also advises checking that your mobile phone is working and fully charged. Take some water, a face mask if you prefer to wear one, and allow plenty of time to get there.

2. Finding the hospital

The hospital has been extended and, according to Steve, visitors should use the new entrance at the front of the extension rather than looking for the former main entrance. There is free parking available, while public transport provides alternatives for those without a car.

From Fuengirola:

• Take the M-220 bus.
• Get off at Los Monteros.
• Walk approximately 350 metres to the main hospital entrance.

From Marbella:

• Check the timetables for bus lines 6, 12 and 13.

Steve recommends checking current bus services before setting off, as routes and timetables can change.

3. Checking in: where to go first

Once inside the hospital, turn right towards the reception area. For English-speaking patients, Steve recommends looking for the desk marked with a Union Jack flag. This is where patients can seek assistance if they are unsure about their appointment or where they need to go. Wheelchairs are also usually available near the entrance.

If you already know where you are going, the automated check-in consoles offer another option:

1. Do not check in more than 30 minutes before your appointment.
2. Select ‘English’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Enter your NIE number.
4. Collect your numbered ticket.

Large directory notices on the walls help visitors find their way around.

Still unsure? Take your ticket to the member of staff at the Union Jack desk. Steve says patients can also request a free interpreter service there if needed.

4. Finding your consultation room

Once checked in, follow the directions to your designated waiting room.

Find your room number and take a seat. A television screen will display patient identification numbers, corresponding to the numbers printed on the tickets issued at reception.

Keep an eye on the screen. When your number appears, it is time to go into your consultation.

5. During and after your appointment

Consultations usually involve both a consultant and a nurse. Steve says most consultants he has encountered speak English, although this is less common among nursing staff.

Patients are normally given a written medical report in Spanish after their consultation. If you do not have an interpreter with you, your smartphone can be particularly useful.

Steve recommends using the translation app on your phone to:

• Translate the written medical report into English.
• Help you understand.

The women Russell Brand attacked told a London court how his crimes still follow them almost two decades on, from sleepless nights to feeling sick at the sight of him on TV. As of Monday November 9, the former comedian and Hollywood actor has been jailed for 10 years and six months.

Brand’s sentence starts straight away

Brand, 51, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court by Mr Justice Bennathan, who ordered the sentence to begin immediately. It comes four days after a jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009.

He’d already spent the weekend behind bars, as the judge had refused him bail on Thursday November 5 over fears he’d flee rather than return to court. Brand, who’d made his home in Florida in recent years, said only ‘yes My Lord’ as he was remanded.

The women told the court how they still live with it

The woman he raped in 2009, a 21-year-old fan he’d met after his stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo, said in a statement read to the court: “It’s something I carry with me every day, and it often feels like it will never end.” She said she’s living with trauma and struggles to sleep and eat.

Another woman spoke from behind a curtain to protect her identity. She told the court the assault left her in shock and turmoil, feeling like “damaged goods”, and added: “There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything.”

A third, a radio station worker he assaulted in 2005, said Brand “has managed to move on and even forget”, while hearing his voice or seeing his face still makes her jump. Brand stared straight ahead and showed no emotion as the women’s words were heard. 

How the judge described what Brand did

Passing sentence, the judge said Brand had lied about grabbing one woman’s breasts, and that she felt sick and traumatised whenever she saw him on television. He described another assault as “very rough” and said Brand had “humiliated” the woman involved.

The judge said the rape victim was left distraught and afraid she’d contracted HIV. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones had earlier called Brand a “sexual predator” who treated women as a “disposable commodity”.

Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued his client is now a “fundamentally different person” and that the offences should be seen as isolated incidents rather than a pattern. The judge wasn’t swayed by the years that had passed though, telling the court: “Saying ‘he got away with it for 17 years’ is not necessarily particularly mitigating.”

How long Brand is likely to spend in prison

The maximum sentence for rape in the UK is life. Brand’s 10 and a half years won’t all be spent in a cell, though people convicted of rape haven’t benefited from the early-release changes brought in for other prisoners.

Under the rules for serious sexual offences, prisoners given a standard fixed-term sentence of this length usually serve two-thirds before they’re released on licence (supervised release, where they can be recalled to prison). That would mean roughly seven years behind bars, with the rest served in the community under strict conditions.

His wife, Laura, with whom he has three children, was in court for most of the trial. His barrister said she’d been left “totally devastated” by the verdicts, while a small group of supporters gathered outside with a banner reading ‘Russell is the truth’.

Police say more women may come forward

Brand’s legal troubles aren’t over either. The Metropolitan Police said files on two more women, part of a separate, ongoing rape investigation, have now been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers are prepared for “many, many more” women to come forward, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Brand’s crimes “horrific”. 

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who led the investigation, said: “Brand used his influence, status, and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women.” He praised the courage of the women who gave evidence and added: “I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.” 

So while Brand begins his sentence, it’s now down to the CPS to decide whether he’ll face a second trial, with the Met making clear it’s ready to hear from any other women who come forward.