What happened?

The defendant advertised at least two flats in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the online portal Milanuncios. They did not belong to him, the Audiencia Provincial de Santa Cruz de Tenerife found.

He contacted his victims via WhatsApp and asked for deposits or reservations. Three victims transferred 1,400 euros, 1,940 euros and 1,000 euros, according to the published court details.

He must pay the money back. Together with the fine, that costs him 7,040 euros: a 4,200 euro fine plus 4,340 euros in civil compensation.

The prosecution had initially sought four years in prison and a 2,700 euro fine. The defence asked for an acquittal.

How did the scam work?

In the first case described, one victim transferred 900 euros as a reservation. Another paid a total of 1,440 euros in three transfers.

All the money landed in the defendant's account. He lived in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and withdrew the sums shortly after the transfers.

In court he admitted the account was his and that he had received the payments. But he said he had acted on behalf of an acquaintance and knew nothing about the fraud.

What does the ruling mean for flat hunters?

Anyone looking for a flat online in Tenerife risks running into fraudsters. The cases apparently involved regular rental offers and a holiday let.

Before making any payment, check for yourself who owns the flat, whether the address is correct and who the landlord is. A contract alone does not necessarily protect you.

In an earlier case, a forged contract was used. The court sentenced the offender to six months in prison and 1,000 euros in compensation, Tenerife Weekly reports.

The reporting does not mention new legal rules, deadlines, closures or special application procedures for residents, foreigners or visitors. It is a criminal sentence against one defendant; tenancy law does not change.

Which warning signs should tenants know?

The reporting lists several warning signs: unusually low prices, time pressure and requests for quick transfers. Someone who is only reachable via WhatsApp can also be suspicious.

View the flat or check it independently before you send money. Ask for the contract and documents and establish who the landlord is.

If fraud is suspected, the reporting advises keeping the listing, chat histories, receipts and bank details. You can report it to the Policía Nacional or the Guardia Civil.

The ruling does not mention official prevention advice from the police, Guardia Civil or Milanuncios. The other sources also contain no special instructions for this case.

What remains open?

The convicted man's full name, the case number and the exact date of the ruling have not been published. The sources also say nothing about possible appeals or payment deadlines.

The Spanish report appeared on 19 October 2026. The linked English report is dated 21 October 2026.

We found no official full text of the ruling or a statement from the judicial authorities. It is also not proven that the 4,200 euros is exclusively a fine and not partly another court payment.

The Spanish report calls the 4,200 euros a multa, meaning a fine. Whether the convicted man has appealed is not clear from the sources.