An Austrian real estate entrepreneur wanted to sell his luxury villa in Marbella, Spain. However, according to the police, the supposed buyers were alleged fraudsters who were after gold coins and simultaneously wanted to circulate millions in counterfeit money.

On October 6, 2026, the „Rip-Deal Unit Vienna“ of the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, together with international investigators, succeeded in dismantling the alleged perpetrator group. Three men were arrested. According to the police, this is the largest sting operation success in the area of rip-deal crime in Austria to date.

The case began in early August 2026. An Austrian real estate entrepreneur offered his luxury villa in Marbella for sale on the internet. Shortly thereafter, alleged investors, claiming to belong to a Swiss real estate consortium, made contact.

After a viewing of the property with the entrepreneur’s lawyer and several personal meetings in Marbella, the deal seemed to be taking concrete shape. A cash payment of 1.8 million euros was agreed upon for October 6 at a hotel in Marbella.

At the same time, the son of the real estate entrepreneur was supposed to hand over a brokerage fee of 300,000 euros in the form of gold coins to one of the alleged investors in Vienna.

In fact, according to the police, the planned real estate transaction was a so-called rip-deal. The alleged perpetrators wanted to collect the gold coins as a commission and simultaneously circulate a large amount of counterfeit euro banknotes.

But the real estate entrepreneur became suspicious. During his own research on the internet, he came across media reports about the „Rip-Deal Unit Vienna“ of the Vienna State Criminal Police Office. He then contacted the police.

After recognizing the suspected fraud scheme, he wanted to work with the investigators to ensure that the suspects were caught.

The Vienna investigators then prepared a coordinated operation together with the Spanish Policía Nacional, Europol, the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office, and the liaison officer’s office of the Ministry of the Interior in Madrid.

On October 6, the task forces struck simultaneously in Vienna and Marbella. As part of a targeted sting operation and undercover investigations, three suspects were arrested.

The task force for combating street crime (EGS) was also significantly involved in the arrest of a suspect in Vienna.

The investigators also seized counterfeit euro banknotes worth around 2.1 million euros.

The three arrested men are 27, 30, and 53 years old. According to the police, they belong to a criminal group specialized in rip-deals and are already known to police across Europe.

Together, they have 30 relevant prior convictions in at least five European countries. These include, among others, robbery, theft as part of a criminal organization, serious fraud, as well as counterfeit money and rip-deal offenses.

According to the police, the group was dismantled through international cooperation.

The police particularly advise caution when selling high-value items. Sellers should not be lured into making deals abroad.

Mistrust is also warranted if buyers are willing to pay a high price without negotiations. Additionally, crime prevention recommends thoroughly checking potential business partners and obtaining references.

Anyone who becomes a victim of a rip-deal should certainly file a report in Austria and not only abroad.

(VIENNA.AT)

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