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Three men arrested for cheating 17000 euros with the tocomocho scam

21 October 2019 - 13: 01

The Civil Guard has arrested in Calpe three men of Spanish nationality of 34, 43 and 47 years, as alleged perpetrators of three serious crimes of fraud through the method of tocomocho or stampede, a crime of usurpation of identity and another crime of constitution of criminal group Only last month they scammed about 17000 euros to three people, two in Xàtiva (Valencia) and one in Calpe (Alicante).

The arrest was carried out when agents of the Investigation Area of ​​the Civil Guard of that town observed three individuals along the avenue of the port in a suspicious attitude, while stalking pedestrians who were passing through that area, especially elderly people.

Under these circumstances, the agents proceeded to identify them, verifying that all of them had numerous police records for crimes of theft and for committing fraud crimes through the "Method of tocomocho".

In a superficial registry of their belongings and the vehicle they used, several strings of coupons were intervened and a receipt with the logo and seal of the delegation of the issuing entity with winning numbers, which coincided with the ones they were carrying. But this shelter was totally false.

The agents could also specify that the three had committed, during the past month of September, three alleged crimes of fraud with this method, specifically two in Xàtiva (Valencia), of 7000 and 5000 euros respectively, and a third committed in Calpe (Alicante ), where a victim of more than 80 years was scammed by another 5000 euros.

In addition, one of the detainees used the ID of another person to try to hinder their identification, since with his true identity he was required to search and enter prison, by the Provincial Court of La Rioja, for the commission of similar crimes .

After becoming available to the Court of Instruction in duty of Dénia, they have been released, subject to precautionary measures.

Tocomocho method

The scam for the "tocomocho method" consists of deception, usually to elderly people, to whom the scammer, with the help of an accomplice, offers them coupons or tenths of lottery supposedly awarded. The fake usually alleges some fictitious reason for not being able to charge it directly, such as having to make a sudden trip or suffer from an illness. The victim is convinced to give them a large amount of money, always of value less than the prize, in exchange for keeping the coupon. Only when it goes to the administration window to collect it, does it prove that it is false and becomes aware of the scam.

Civil Guard tips to avoid scams or scams

- Apply common sense, it is our best ally.
- As a main premise we must take into account that nobody gives anything away.
- Ask the employees of service companies (gas, electricity, etc.) to identify themselves and in case of doubt you call the company for verification, it is important that you do not use the telephone they provide and do not allow them to Entrance until they have verified it. As a general rule, companies usually notify the visit beforehand.
- Refuse the street sale since the products can be of doubtful origin and quality. Also refuse the offer of any type of product outside commercial establishments can be a scam.
- Never stop before gambling, fortune tellers (hand readers), alleged begging and other activities carried out in the street that may have deceptive purposes.

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