An incident in one of the residential buildings in the Macarena district of Seville has once again highlighted the need for vigilance among elderly residents. An elderly couple let a woman into their apartment who introduced herself as an employee of the municipal social services. Their trust was betrayed, and they were left not only without their valuables but also completely bewildered by what had happened.
In the afternoon, around four o’clock, a young woman wearing a medical mask knocked on their door. She confidently stated that she was sent by city services to inform residents about new free support programs in the area. The elderly homeowners, suspecting nothing, opened the door and invited her in.
The guest immediately took a seat in the living room and launched into a conversation, not allowing the hosts to get a word in. She paid close attention to details of the interior and tried to open a window, citing a lack of light, though the hosts did not let her do so. She wore her mask the whole time, claiming it was out of concern for the health of others.
At one point, she suggested moving to another room to show which apartments had already received assistance. The elderly couple followed her, leaving the front door slightly ajar. It was at this moment, as later became clear, that her accomplice entered the apartment. He quickly and quietly made his way to the bedroom, searched the closets, and took jewelry: watches, rings, and earrings.
After a brief conversation, the stranger hurriedly left, citing a busy schedule and the need to visit several more families. She promised that the pensioners would soon receive a call or a notification about the benefits owed to them. Only in the evening did the homeowner notice the mess in the bedroom and realized her jewelry was missing. That’s when the couple understood they had fallen victim to a carefully planned scam.
Shaken by what happened, they turned to the police. The lawyer who took on their case noted that such crimes are particularly dangerous, as criminals target the most vulnerable citizens. He stressed that one should never let strangers into the house without proof of identity, even if they claim to be from official organizations.
This incident is yet another reminder that scammers will stop at nothing to take someone else’s property. Elderly people and their relatives should be especially cautious and never trust unknown visitors, no matter how convincing they may seem.
