MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say a congregation of nuns in the southern city of Granada led them to an organization that allegedly defrauded as many as 7,000 victims of up to 7 million euros ($7.7 million).

Police said in a statement Sunday they have arrested 212 suspects who allegedly used some 20 companies based in and around the southern cities of Malaga and Torremolinos to fraudulently obtain money.

The nuns told police that members of the organization called demanding payment for advertising they had ordered. As the nuns had not ordered any advertising, they refused to pay.

Their refusal was followed by threats, a modus operandi police say the organization used on extract money from thousands of victims across the whole of Spain.