Two resellers of immigration appointments arrested in Vallecas

The National Police have arrested two men in Puente de Vallecas, Madrid, for trafficking in Foreigners' Office appointments. The detainees, who used a computer program to reserve slots, then sold them for 50 euros each to immigrants who needed to regularize their status. It all started on October 16, when agents saw two people inside a car, each holding several phones.

So, to give you an idea, they used a 'bot' to make massive calls to the official appointment number. That way they captured dozens of slots which they later offered on the black market. Payments were by bank transfer, of course. During the operation, police seized four phones and a notebook with personal data of potential clients — exactly the information required to process residence or work permits.

This modus operandi was not only illegal, but it also collapsed the appointment system. The automated calls saturated the lines and left those who requested appointments through the normal channel without options. Behind each resold slot there is a person who has had to wait weeks or months to regularize their status. In other words, it is not a crime without victims.

If you need a Foreigners' Office appointment, do not pay for it. Appointments are free, mind you. You can request them on the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration or by calling the official phone number. Be wary of any offer that asks for money in exchange for a slot. Resellers take advantage of urgency and desperation, so be alert.

The two detainees have been placed at the disposal of the court on charges of fraud and computer damage. Police do not rule out further arrests. Meanwhile, the underlying problem remains: the lack of sufficient appointments to serve all the foreigners who need to regularize their status. Authorities have announced technical measures to shield the system against bots, but for now, with no visible results.

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