The group is thought to have committed the crimes of kidnapping, bodily harm, theft and IT scams against at least five French nationals, generally wealthy singletons or widows.
A statement from the PJ police said the gang resorted to “violence, deprivation of liberty and fraudulent manoeuvres” to achieve their intentions.
The victims were enticed to northern Portugal through the internet on the premise of an amorous encounter.
They were contacted by the 42-year-old woman who, according to the PJ, would seduce victims into travelling to Portugal and spending a few days in the city of Viseu.
Upon arriving in Portugal they were taken to a luxury villa where the four members of the gang, aged 22 to 61, were waiting.
Over the ensuing days the suspects would access the victims’ credit and debit cards and respective codes to withdraw cash and pay for purchases.
The PJ’s statement adds that when the victims realised they were being fleeced and put up resistance, they were “attacked and locked up in one of the property’s rooms.”
As well as making the arrests the PJ police also rescued a newly-arrived French victim.
One of the suspects is being held in custody pending trial; another is under house-arrest and fitted with an electronic tag.
The other two have been ordered to check in at their local police station twice a week.