Four women accused of over 130 crimes – Portugal Resident

A German estate agent and three Portuguese solicitors have been charged with more than 130 crimes linked to an alleged Algarve property fraud scheme that prosecutors say generated nearly €4 million.

According to the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of Évora, the four women were arrested in May 2025 and are accused of carrying out a coordinated scheme between 2021 and 2025 involving the fraudulent sale of properties in the Portimão and Alvor areas.

The charges include 60 counts of aggravated fraud and 72 counts of document forgery – 45 of them considered aggravated.

The German estate agent remains in preventive custody, while the three Portuguese solicitors, who worked as enforcement agents, have been suspended from practising their profession.

Prosecutors say the group used forged documents and falsified signatures to sell or promise the sale of properties belonging to third parties without the owners’ knowledge or consent.

According to the investigation, the suspects allegedly created fake powers of attorney and other documents to sign promissory purchase agreements and final property deeds. In some cases, bank loans were also used to complete the transactions.

The alleged scheme affected more than 50 victims of various nationalities, most of them Portuguese and German, the Évora DIAP says.

Authorities estimate the operation generated around €3.9 million, although about €600,000 was later voluntarily returned to some victims.

The DIAP adds that the group obtained an illegal profit of roughly €3.3 million. Investigators have seized €31,000 in cash and two properties allegedly purchased using money from the scheme – one valued at around €920,000 and another at €800,000.

Prosecutors are asking the court to permanently confiscate those assets in favour of the State and to order the defendants to repay the remaining amount linked to the alleged criminal profits.