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B1Spanish·20 cards

Scams and Fraud in Spain

Spot a scam call or text, block your card, warn friends and report fraud to the police in Spain.

The classic scams in Spain are fake calls 'from your bank', SMS messages about a parcel held by Correos, WhatsApp messages from someone pretending to be a family member and Bizum tricks on Wallapop. If you've been caught, you call your bank to block the card and file a 'denuncia' at the Policía Nacional, which the bank will ask for. The cards follow one person through a fake bank call, a fraudulent charge and the police report.

Black and white photo of a man walking in a busy Madrid street while using his phone.
Photo: Juan García on Pexels
  1. 1

    Me da que esta llamada es una estafa.

    I've got a feeling this call is a scam.

  2. 2

    Me dijeron que llamaban de mi banco.

    They said they were calling from my bank.

  3. 3

    Un banco nunca te va a pedir el PIN por teléfono.

    A bank will never ask you for your PIN over the phone.

  4. 4

    No le doy ningún dato, ya llamo yo a la sucursal.

    I'm not giving you any details — I'll call the branch myself.

  5. 5

    Quiero bloquear la tarjeta ahora mismo.

    I want to block my card right now.

  6. 6

    Me aparece un cargo en la cuenta que no reconozco.

    There's a charge on my account I don't recognise.

  7. 7

    Me llegó un SMS diciendo que tenía un paquete retenido.

    I got a text saying I had a parcel being held.

  8. 8

    No pinches en el enlace, que es falso.

    Don't click the link, it's fake.

  9. 9

    Me intentaron timar en Wallapop.

    They tried to scam me on Wallapop.

  10. 10

    El comprador quería que le hiciera un Bizum para recibir el dinero.

    The buyer wanted me to send him a Bizum to 'receive' the money.

  11. 11

    Es el timo más viejo del mundo.

    That's the oldest trick in the book.

  12. 12

    A mi madre le escribió por WhatsApp alguien haciéndose pasar por mí.

    Someone pretending to be me messaged my mum on WhatsApp.

  13. 13

    Menos mal que no picó.

    Luckily she didn't fall for it.

  14. 14

    Si parece demasiado bueno para ser verdad, es un timo.

    If it seems too good to be true, it's a con.

  15. 15

    Vengo a poner una denuncia por estafa.

    I've come to report a fraud.

  16. 16

    ¿Cuánto dinero le han quitado?

    How much money did they take from you?

  17. 17

    Metí los datos de la tarjeta antes de darme cuenta.

    I put in my card details before I realised.

  18. 18

    Traiga las capturas de pantalla y el extracto del banco.

    Bring the screenshots and the bank statement.

  19. 19

    ¿Voy a recuperar el dinero?

    Am I going to get my money back?

  20. 20

    Qué rabia, me la han colado.

    I'm so annoyed — they really pulled one over on me.