SPAIN NEWS: Expats in Spain warned of new scam targeting bank accounts

THE National Police have issued a warning to those living in Spain about a new scam carried out by a criminal gang through the Correos postal service. 

An investigation was launched after multiple victims across the country reported that a considerable sum of money had been taken from their bank accounts. Officers were then able to link the withdrawals to an active group who used the same method of operating. 

As reported by the police, the gang are able to carry out their activities through connections with employees working at Correos, Spain’s most widely used postal service. Here, they are passed customer’s personal details from forms that are filled out and handed over at the counter.

Once the group have a customer’s mobile number, they send an SMS message stating that a parcel was undeliverable and to organise a redelivery through a provided electronic link. Once following the instructions, victims are then prompted to enter their bank details, where the scammers are then able to withdraw money from their bank account.  

At present, officers are working on multiple cases, but believe that there are countless more victims who have either not come forward or are unaware that they have been affected by the crime. As Euro Weekly News understands, over the past few months, an increased number of cases have been filed. 

The National Police have therefore issued a warning to alert those who use Correos to apply extra caution if they receive an SMS and to check the authenticity of it by contacting their local postal office. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of the crime are advised to contact the authorities immediately.