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Spanish Police Arrest Two, Seize 75 Phones in Barcelona Smishing Operation

Investigators say forged IDs enabled 431 mobile lines used to blast phishing texts.

Overview

  • The inquiry began mid‑2025 after a mobile provider reported a surge of irregular line registrations.
  • Officers raided a residential operations hub in late November and referred a man and a woman to judicial authorities on suspicion of fraud and document falsification.
  • More than 790,000 SMS messages were sent from 431 fraudulently activated lines, generating over €15,700 in costs for the carrier.
  • Seized items included 75 mobile devices, €11,050 in crypto‑card vouchers, €1,150 in cash, 17 consoles, and falsified documents.
  • Police report the proceeds were laundered by purchasing electronics such as game consoles and professional hair straighteners for resale on second‑hand platforms.