Conman sentenced to two years for renting then selling 60 cars in Tenerife
A man in Tenerife has accepted a two-year prison sentence after admitting to selling 60 hire cars that he had rented but did not own.
The case was heard this week at the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the accused also agreed to pay €269,000 in compensation to six victims of the scam.
Although sentenced to two years in jail for a continued offence of fraud, the court agreed to suspend the prison term on the condition that the man does not reoffend during this period.
How the scam worked
According to the prosecution, the man either acted directly or through unsuspecting intermediaries. He rented vehicles from legitimate car hire companies and then illegally sold them to individuals or businesses for personal financial gain.
By the time the rightful owners reclaimed the cars, the buyers had already paid large sums of money. The scam left six parties out of pocket, while the rental companies eventually recovered their vehicles and therefore did not file claims.
Compensation to victims
The defendant has committed to repaying the €269,000 demanded by the Public Prosecutor’s Office as civil liability compensation for the six victims, with the exact amounts to be finalised during enforcement of the sentence.
This unusual case highlights the importance of due diligence in second-hand vehicle purchases, as fraudsters continue to exploit the Canary Islands’ thriving car rental sector.
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