Overview
- Spain recorded a 490% jump in computer fraud from 2016 to 2024, reaching 414,133 cases last year, according to Interior Ministry crime data reported on Thursday.
- Guardia Civil specialists warned of a seasonal spike around Black Friday and Christmas and urged shoppers to verify urgent messages, pay only within official platforms, and use prepaid or limited‑balance cards.
- Investigators described call‑center‑style operations overseas in countries such as India, China and Israel that channel funds through locally opened accounts, including youths paid about €100 to act as money mules.
- In Ourense, losses tied to online scams in 2025 are nearing €6 million and these offenses represent roughly one in five reported crimes, authorities said in public briefings this week.
- Bank fraud expert David Herrerías of HSBC México advised never sharing credentials, responding to bank verifications only with yes or no, hanging up on suspicious calls, and distrusting deep‑discount offers circulating on social media.