Caught in Vallecas, they were selling immigration appointments using a bot and a calendar.

Well, it turns out that a handwritten diary has been the key to dismantling a network that was dedicated to selling appointments at the Foreigners' Office in Madrid. Two Peruvians —aged 20 and 26— were arrested last October 16 in Puente de Vallecas. The crime? Fraud and computer damage. According to the Police, they used an automatic program to request appointments in bulk and then sold them for about 50 euros each.

In that notebook they wrote down names, passports and other data of immigrants who needed an urgent appointment to regularize their status. Then, with the list, they called the reservation phone number over and over again. When they got a slot, they assigned it to a client —who paid by bank transfer—. The agents seized four mobile phones and, of course, the famous diary.

With this system, they collapsed the official system and made it almost impossible for other foreigners to get a real appointment. So you know: if you are looking for an appointment and see suspicious offers on social media or on Wallapop, be suspicious. Selling slots is illegal and you can get into serious trouble.

Getting an appointment at the Foreigners' Office in Madrid is already an ordeal, and these practices only make it worse. The Police repeat it: the only legal way is the free online appointment. If someone asks you for money for a slot, they are committing a crime. So only use official channels.

The two detainees had no criminal record, but now they face prison sentences. The investigation remains open —more may fall—.

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