GUARDIA Civil officers have arrested ten individuals on suspicion of purchasing luxury goods using fake credit cards.

Houses were raided in Gandia, Gandia beach, Palma de Gandia, Palmera, Villalonga and Benicolet in the south of the Valencia province over the past few months.

Police found forged documents and bank notes, together with large quantities of top-of-the-range goods including plasma-screen and LCD televisions, video consoles, jewellery and luxury cars.

Officers say the ringleader of the gang paid members a commission for credit card numbers they obtained in order to create copies.

They used ‘phishing’ scams and other internet hacking methods to obtain card details of account-holders all over the world.

Police are not yet aware of the exact number of card-holders who have fallen victim to the fraudulent operations.

Ten people were taken into custody, Guardia Civil officers revealed yesterday.

Most were found to be living in a property in Villalonga, in the La Safor district of the Valencia province.