Andorra man, 23, tries car scam again days after arrest for €93K fraud

A 23-year-old man from La Massana, under investigation for around a dozen vehicle sales scams, made another attempt at fraud this past weekend, police have confirmed, despite his detention the previous week and subsequent release on medical grounds.

Officers learned of the latest incident after detaining the suspect last Thursday in La Massana on judicial orders. That probe has uncovered losses exceeding €93,000 across multiple cases, where he allegedly convinced sellers a bank transfer had cleared by showing forged documents, allowing him to take the vehicles before payments were verified. Police recovered nine cars during the operation. Investigators are also examining related allegations of document forgery and identity theft.

The suspect was freed shortly after his arrest due to health issues, though details on conditions remain undisclosed. The new attempt reportedly involved him posing as a buyer interested in a vehicle, but no formal complaint has been filed and the matter did not progress.

This follows a pattern police have tracked since at least March, linking him to property thefts, traffic violations, forged papers, identity misuse, and sham deals. Earlier, he fled a Sant Julià petrol station without paying €140, stole plates in Plans de Sispony, and crashed during a chase near the Justice Headquarters on Baixada del Molí, again citing medical reasons to avoid custody. A Batllia decision two months ago required him to pay one victim €15,000, later upheld, yet the schemes persisted. Spanish authorities have noted prior incidents across the border.

Victims have voiced frustration over his quick return to similar tactics, now using a French phone provider to evade detection. Sources near those affected demand stricter detention, verified medical checks, full compensation, accountability from courts and police, and cooperation with Catalonia to address the risks. They portray him as a deliberate scammer and dangerous on the road.

His family arrived in Andorra around 15 years ago as a group of four or five; only he and his father remain, with a history of disputes over behavior and finances. No new custody measures have been reported, and police knowledge of the weekend bid prior to media coverage is uncertain.