Spanish police bust fake Vatican Bank branch in Fuengirola

National police arrested three Spaniards and one Colombian, accused of operating a fake Vatican Bank branch and swindling people worldwide.

Image National Police

Spanish National Police announced Friday that they had busted a ring of criminals, allegedly operating a fake branch of the Vatican Bank in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. Three Spanish nationals and one Colombian were taken into custody, suspected of swindling people all over the world. They also seized one vehicle emblazoned with the Vatican shield and with fake stickers on the windshield.

As can be seen from the video included below, the bank branch looked authentic. However, the Vatican Bank has no branches outside of the Vatican City. On approaching the fake bank branch, the glass door bore the Vatican shield and in the window a statue of the Virgin Mary can be seen, holding baby Jesus. Inside the office, various framed pictures of Pope Francis and further Vatican shields.



An investigation was launched after the Vatican Gendarmerie reported the existence of the criminal group, which they believed to be usurping the symbols, image and identity of the Vatican Bank. It was believed the criminals set up the fake bank branch to gain “huge profits” via various contracts signed with global companies which purported to offer financial advice and develop “commercial relations.”




As reported by The Local, three Spaniards and one Colombian national were arrested and taken into custody on possible charges of fraud, trespass, conspiracy and money laundering. The ringleader of the criminal group is a 30-year-old Spaniard who impersonated a member of the Vatican Diplomatic Corps and also had documents, falsified to accredit him as an Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba.


Police seized a variety of documents, along with a yacht in the Fuengirola Marina, a number of luxury cars, several luxury watches, silver ingots, computer equipment, POS terminals and a firearm. Officials also seized €5,000 in cash and a further €64,000 in the ringleader’s personal bank account.

The National Police continue to investigate to establish how many victims had been hit by the fake Vatican Bank branch and the amount of money raised by the criminal gang. Meanwhile the four suspects are languishing in police headquarters, facing charges of money laundering, fraud, criminal association and impersonation.


RT News notes that the Vatican Bank itself has seen some controversy in recent years after four priests were investigated in 2012 for operating money-laundering operations for the Mafia. A 2009 book by author Giangluigi Nuzzi also stated that the Vatican Bank had helped to create fake charity accounts, allegedly for money laundering, embezzlement and political donations.