A woman has been arrested by the National Police in Madrid for a scheme in which she defrauded over a dozen users by offering tourist apartments while pretending to be the actual property owners. The accused would rent a property, assume the identity of the rightful owners, and then advertise the property on an apartment rental platform. This fraudulent activity took place across various districts of Madrid, including Arganzuela and Puente de Vallecas, as reported by police sources to El País.

The accused, a Spanish national born in 1985, would usurp the identity of the real owners, posing as the landlady and conducting tours of the apartments. After these viewings, she would sign contracts with multiple interested renters, effectively renting out the same property several times. The police have managed to track down her activities, leading to her arrest and preventing further scams from occurring.

This case highlights the ongoing issue of rental fraud in tourist-heavy cities like Madrid, where demand for short-term rentals can create opportunities for deception. With authorities cracking down on such fraudulent activities, it serves as a warning to those seeking short-term accommodation to verify property ownership and landlord identities before making commitments. The implications of this case resonate not only for the victims but also for the integrity of the rental market in the area.