Tenerife Real Estate Fraud Case Sparks Concerns Over Transaction Security

A recent court ruling in Tenerife has raised concerns about the security of real estate transactions in the Canary Islands after a property fraud case. A real estate professional has been convicted of misappropriating 68,000 euros from the sale of a property in Puerto de la Cruz that he did not own.

The fraud occurred last June at a notary’s office in La Orotava. The defendant posed as the seller’s representative during the signing of the public deed, allowing him to collect the full sale price while the actual owner received nothing.

The case concluded with a plea agreement. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Public Prosecutor’s Office reduced its initial request for a three-year prison sentence to two years after the defendant confessed. The court also ordered him to pay a 1,000-euro fine and fully reimburse the victim.

Under the Spanish Penal Code, those convicted of misappropriation—where funds received for a specific purpose are kept for personal gain—may avoid prison time if they have no prior criminal record. The court granted this suspension, provided the defendant does not reoffend over the next two years and adheres to a strict repayment plan. The defense has accepted the ruling, which serves as a stark reminder of the need to thoroughly verify legal representation when buying or selling property.