Fake Ferrari Owner Arrested in Alicante for Online Sale. Police in Alicante have discovered the sale of a counterfeit Ferrari 360 Spider for €30,000. The car turned out to be a carefully made replica. The owner was detained for violating industrial property rights.
In Alicante, police detained a man who tried to sell a meticulously crafted replica of a Ferrari 360 Spider for €30,000 online. The car, visually indistinguishable from the original, was listed on a specialized car sales platform. It was the suspiciously low price and the perfect resemblance to a real sports car that caught the attention of the National Police Cybercrime Unit in Murcia.
The operation began back in April, when police officers were monitoring websites and social networks for fraudulent schemes and advertisements for stolen or counterfeit cars. During the investigation, it was discovered that the Ferrari for sale was a replica, assembled on the chassis of another brand using fiberglass and inexpensive materials. Despite featuring all the external attributes—brand logos, signature body lines, and even official permits for the modifications—the vehicle had no connection to the Italian manufacturer.
The car was discovered on May 8 on the streets of El Altet, a suburb of Elche, where the owner was showing it to potential buyers. According to police, the replica was so well made that even experienced car enthusiasts could have mistaken it for the original. However, a thorough inspection of the documents and technical specifications quickly revealed the forgery. As a result, the car was confiscated and the owner was detained on suspicion of violating industrial property rights. After the protocol was drawn up, the man was released on condition that he appear in court.
According to the police, genuine Ferrari 360 Spider cars on the secondary market are priced between €70,000 and €120,000, depending on their condition and year of manufacture. Attempts to sell a replica at half the market price are often associated with fraud or brand rights violations. Such cases are not uncommon: earlier, a court in Madrid already handled large-scale scams involving counterfeit goods, which was detailed in a report about fraud schemes related to MotoGP tours — details on the million-euro scam case.
For reference: in Spain, violation of industrial property rights is a criminal offense, which may include fines and imprisonment. Car replicas, even if they have technical authorizations, do not release owners from liability for the illegal use of registered trademarks. In recent years, police have stepped up monitoring of the used car market and online platforms to combat such schemes. Drivers and buyers are advised to carefully verify the origin of vehicles and documentation before concluding any deal.
