Marbella property scam leaves victim €150,000 out of pocket

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. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Not over yet - Storm Konrad on its way Estepona's hip new indoor market Drive carefully: A-7 riddled with potholes post rainstorms 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. Tune into the Euro Weekly for the latest Costa del Sol news .

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