{
  "id": 18301084,
  "title": "Two Arrested Over €19,000 ATM Scam Targeting Elderly Victims in Orihuela and Torrevieja",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/two-arrested-over-19-000-atm-scam-targeting-elderly-victims-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T10:50:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Leader",
    "slug": "the-leader",
    "url": "https://theleader.info/2026/11/05/two-arrested-over-e19000-atm-scam-targeting-elderly-victims-in-orihuela-and-torrevieja/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two men have been arrested in El Campello on suspicion of carrying out ATM scams that resulted in the theft of over €19,000 from elderly bank customers in Spain. The suspects, aged 37 and 31, are accused of using a technique called \"scalping\" to steal victims' bank cards or passbooks while they are distracted by a conversation. According to investigators, the suspects targeted elderly people at ATMs across Spain, including in Orihuela and Torrevieja. They approached the victims while they were withdrawing money, observed their PIN codes, and then stole their cards, bankbooks, or cash. The arrests came after a surveillance operation in El Campello where officers noticed the two men interacting with an elderly married couple at an ATM. Officers detained the suspects and recovered €1,000 from the couple, along with €3,400 in cash and a bankbook belonging to another victim, bringing the total cash seized to €4,400. The two men were brought before a court in Alicante and released on precautionary measures while further investigations continue. The Guardia Civil is warning bank customers, particularly the elderly, to be cautious when using cash machines, to shield their PIN codes, and to avoid engaging with strangers who approach during transactions.",
  "summary": "Two men have been arrested in El Campello on suspicion of stealing more than €19,000 from elderly bank customers in a series of ATM scams across Spain, including incidents in Orihuela and Torrevieja. The suspects, aged 37 and 31, are believed to have targeted vulnerable customers using a technique known as “scalping”, which involves secretly […] The post Two Arrested Over €19,000 ATM Scam…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}