Woman posed as legal professional to lure victims into fake property deals
PJ police have arrested a 49-year-old woman on suspicion of orchestrating a sophisticated real estate scam that defrauded victims of at least €235,000.
The investigation, which began in 2022, uncovered evidence of the scam in which the suspected British citizen allegedly posed as a legal professional – an enforcement agent, solicitor, or sales representative – to lure unsuspecting individuals and businesses into bogus property deals.
According to police, the woman targeted clients in the Algarve, claiming to represent owners of houses that were allegedly for sale. Using forged documents, including falsified powers of attorney allegedly signed by property owners, she entered into reservation agreements and preliminary sales contracts with prospective buyers, collecting deposits and down payments.
However, the suspect pocketed the money, and the promised contracts were never finalised, PJ police say in a statement.
During searches of the woman’s residence and other locations, authorities confiscated computer equipment, telecommunications devices, and several documents.
The suspect is now in custody and was due to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing.
