Spanish police have detained a 60 year old man suspected of running a rental fraud that duped university students into paying reservation and administration fees for an advertised flat that did not exist, authorities and regional media reported. Investigators say victims came from several provinces, and the case has been referred to the judicial authorities for further action. According to published police accounts, the suspect placed an advertisement for an apartment in Granada, offering terms attractive to students. Multiple young renters responded and transferred sums of money, sometimes described as reservation deposits or management fees, to secure the accommodation. When victims arrived to take possession of the flat, they discovered they had been misled and the property was not available under the conditions promised. Investigators identified at least one complainant who had paid up to 1,600 euros in the course of the scheme. Police records assembled during the inquiry and reported by regional news outlets indicate the alleged offences affected students from more than one province, prompting a coordinated response once a pattern of similar complaints emerged. Police say the 60 year old suspect has previous records for related offences. After his arrest, he was placed at the disposal of the judicial authority that will examine the charges. The public accounts released by law enforcement indicate the detention followed standard investigative steps including verifying advertisement listings, tracing financial flows and checking ownership records for the advertised address. H2: How the scam worked and why students were vulnerable The case illustrates a recurrent fraud pattern in Spain and other countries, where criminals exploit high demand in tight rental markets, particularly around university enrolment periods. Offenders typically publish convincing online listings, sometimes using real photos and false landlord identities, and pressure prospective tenants to transfer funds quickly to secure a property. Once money is received, contact with the advertiser is cut off and the listing disappears. Students are often targeted because they are under time pressure, unfamiliar with rental markets in a new city, and may feel uncomfortable visiting a property in person before making a payment. Investigators in this case emphasized that transfers labeled as reservation fees or administrative charges are common levers used to give the transaction a veneer of legitimacy. H2: What police recovered and what happens next Police statements reported by regional outlets say investigators compiled banking records and communications that linked the suspect to multiple victims. Those materials formed the basis for the arrest and for handing the file to the courts. Prosecutors will assess the evidence, decide formal charges and determine whether preventive measures such as pretrial detention, bail, or restrictions on movement should be applied. In Spain, rental frauds can attract criminal charges including fraud, falsification of documents and, when there is evidence of organized or repeated conduct, membership in a criminal group. Penalties vary depending on the amount defrauded and the presence of aggravating circumstances. H2: Practical advice to avoid rental scams Police and consumer organisations offer consistent advice that could have prevented many of the incidents reported in this case. They recommend the following steps before transferring money for a rental: - Always visit the property in person and verify the identity of the person offering it. If that is not possible, arrange a live video tour and insist on seeing keys or documentation that proves access to the unit. - Check public property ownership records when possible to confirm the landlord or agent is entitled to let the property. - Use traceable payment methods and avoid cash transfers, wire transfers or instant payment services when the recipient cannot be properly verified. - Insist on a written contract that clearly spells out the terms, and get independent legal or consumer advice when in doubt. - Report suspicious adverts and any loss promptly to local police and the consumer protection authorities, and keep receipts of communications and payments. H2: Wider context Spain has experienced repeated waves of rental frauds in recent years as demand for student and short term accommodation has grown in major university cities. Police and prosecutors have run operations that recovered victims funds and dismantled criminal networks, but individual opportunistic scammers continue to exploit market imbalances. This case underlines the persistence of the problem and the continuing need for vigilance among renters, particularly students arriving in a new city. The judicial process now will determine whether the detained individual faces prosecution for a single episode or a wider pattern of offences, and whether any additional suspects will be identified as the investigation progresses.