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Marbella Property Scam

Published

6 days ago

March 14, 2025

Marc Menendez-Roche

Marbella property scam leaves victim €150,000 out of pock Credit: Shutterstock, Sauce Reques

Fraudsters dupe sellers with fake cash in luxury rip-off.

A slick new property scam sweeping Spain has already stung a Marbella seller for a whopping €150,000, prompting La Policía Nacional to issue an urgent warning to the public.

The fraudsters, operating under a scheme known as a ‘Rip Deal’, have been targeting property owners and sellers of high-value items. Their con? Swapping real cash for fake banknotes so convincing they could fool even the sharpest eye.

How the con unfolds

The latest victim was selling a rural estate in Marbella when they were bombarded with calls from various phone numbers – most with Italian prefixes. The so-called ‘buyers’ seemed professional, wealthy, and genuinely interested in sealing the deal.

Over multiple meetings, the crooks earned the seller’s trust, setting the stage for a high-stakes handover in a lavish Marbella restaurant. At the final meeting, one of the conmen offered a tempting deal: €500,000 in cash plus an additional €165,000 in €200 banknotes. But there was a catch – they wanted €150,000 back in smaller bills of €50 and €20.

The seller agreed, unknowingly handing over real money in exchange for an expertly crafted pile of worthless facsimile banknotes. By the time they realised, the criminals had vanished.

The scammers’ playbook

Authorities have broken down how these criminals operate:

Phase One: The Approach – The scammers make contact with sellers, posing as serious buyers with impressive backgrounds. They establish credibility, often using fake identities and fabricated careers.

Phase Two: Gaining Trust – The criminals arrange multiple meetings and communicate frequently, gradually making the seller comfortable with the idea of doing business with them.

Phase Three: The Switch – At the final meeting, they pull off the swap – offering large sums of counterfeit cash while walking away with the victim’s real money.

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Art Palma Brunch This Weekend

Published

7 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Sara Arjona

Facebook, Art Palma Contemporani. Visit the galleries at one of Art Palma Contemporani’s previous events.

Experience the best of contemporary art at Art Palma Brunch this Saturday.

Art Palma Brunch celebrates its 19th edition on 22 March, showcasing innovative contemporary art in Palma and beyond. Enjoy free entry to top galleries from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Art Palma Brunch this weekend

Art Palma Brunch reaches its 19th edition this year, with an exceptional programme showcasing the most innovative in contemporary art. Organised by Art Palma Contemporani, the event will take place on Saturday 22 March, offering a wide range of exhibitions at galleries and collaborative spaces that are part of this annual event.

Art Palma Contemporani consists of prominent galleries such as ABA Art Lab, BARÓ, CCA Andratx, Galería Fermay, Galería Fran Reus, KEWENIG Palma, LA BIBI, L21 Gallery, Maior Pollença, Galeria Pelaires, Pep Llabrés Art Contemporani, and Galería Xavier Fiol, among others. This event, which celebrates contemporary artistic creation, presents high-quality, culturally diverse exhibition projects with a focus on research and contemporary creativity.

This year’s edition extends its visiting hours to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with free entry to all participating galleries. Art Palma Brunch strengthens its position as one of the three major annual contemporary art events on the island, alongside Art Palma Summer and Nit de l’Art.

This year, the event extends beyond Palma, with exhibitions in Andratx and Pollença. Additionally, Nivia, the luxury brand of Garden Hotels, renews its collaboration with Art Palma Contemporani, reaffirming its commitment to culture and the arts.

For more information and the full event programme, please visit the official website: www.artpalmacontemporani.com.

Find more articles on musical events and cultural experiences in Mallorca.

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Portugal’s Airports Reach Record Numbers

Published

8 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Ion Axinescu

portugal’s-airports-reach-record-numbers

Madeira Airport, Portugal. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Portugal’s airports hit an all-time high in January 2025, welcoming 4.2 million passengers. This means a 5.9 per cent increase from the same month last year, according to the Portugal National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The number of commercial flights also grew, with 16,000 aircraft landing. That’s a 1.6 per cent rise.

Most arrivals were from international destinations, totaling 1.6 million, 7.6 per cent more than last year. European travelers made up 63.2 per cent of these arrivals, while 11.1% per cent came from the Americas.

Lisbon leads, Funchal overtakes Faro

Lisbon Airport handled 56.9 per cent of all passenger traffic, reaching 2.4 million, up 6.9 per cent. Porto Airport saw 949,600 passengers, a 2.1 per cent increase.

Funchal Airport recorded 330,000 passengers, overtaking Faro as Portugal’s third busiest airport. Faro, now in fourth place, had 309,900 passengers.

France, Spain, and the UK dominate travel routes

France remained the top country for both arrivals and departures. Passenger numbers increased by 6.5 per cent for incoming flights and 1.9 per cent for outgoing.

Spain and the UK followed, switching positions depending on origin or destination. Brazil and Germany ranked fourth and fifth. Portugal’s airports are off to a record-breaking start in 2025, showing strong demand for travel.

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€1.6 Million Investment In Torre Del Mar

Published

8 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Ion Axinescu

e1.6-million-investment-in-torre-del-mar

Torre del Mar receive a €1.6 million investment. Credit: Ayuntamiento de Velez-Malaga

Torre del Mar is set to receive a €1.6 million investment from the Malaga Provincial Council in order to improve the use of reclaimed water for irrigation and also upgrade its sanitation system. The project will reduce salinity levels in wastewater collectors, making recycled water more suitable for places like parks, agriculture, and public spaces.

Malaga’s provincial president, Francisco Salado, visited the site this week alongside Velez-Malaga mayor Jesús Lupiáñez, Axarquía municipal association president Jorge Martín, and beach councilor David Vilches.

The plan involves two essential projects, according to the local authorities. The first, a €1.2 million initiative managed by Aqualia, will install a new sanitation pipeline along the Paseo de Larios. The second one has a budget of €423,325 and is led by Axaragua. Its goal is to reinforce a major sewage collector running from Torre del Mar to the wastewater pumping station.

Mayor Lupiáñez pointed out that these improvements will enhance water management and also strengthen local infrastructure in Torre del Mar. The upgrades aim to optimize water resources in the whole Axarquia region, which will benefit both residents and farmers.

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