A WOMAN who faked her own kidnap to see whether her husband loved her enough to pay the ransom has been arrested after she was seen alive and well in a shopping centre.

The accused, who has not been named, was spotted in a car near the pictured La Vital retail complex in Gandia (Valencia) just days after her husband received a text message from her supposed captor.

According to police, the message featured a picture of his wife tied up and demanded 20,000 euros for her safe release.

A similar incident occurred in the Valencia province two years ago with a different couple, where the woman's lover pretended to kidnap the 'victim' in order for them both to obtain thousands of euros out of her husband.