National Police arrest 70 for fraud

OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested 70 people for setting up fake companies in two investigations in Almeria.

The first investigation began in November 2014 when officers found four false businesses in Vera, Antas and Gador supposedly dedicated to retail, hospitality and construction.

The research showed that the fake companies had been set up to falsify periods of employment for individuals that then went on to claim unemployment benefit.

The false companies are allegedly responsible for faking 245 employee records in order to claim social security falsely.

The uncovering has enabled fraud of €738,186.39 to be exposed.

Workers paid between €250 and €450 for the false paperwork before then attempting to claim social security benefits.

The second investigation followed information provided by the Provincial Labour Inspectorate in which a businessman had been selling fake employment records to immigrants from North Africa in order to validate their status as resident in Almeria. The operation showed the fake company to have 42 non-existent employees.

The businessman had used his octogenarian mother as a supposed investor in the business. He charged €300 to foreign citizens in exchange for contract paperwork and advice to fraudulently gain a work permit in Spain.