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Guardia Civil Warns of Seasonal Cyberfraud Surge, Issues Five Key Safeguards

Experts cite mule recruitment linked to cross‑border rings, with Ourense losses nearing €6 million.

Overview

  • Authorities outline five core protections: distrust too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals and pay within official platforms, verify urgent messages by calling the source, use prepaid or limited‑balance methods, harden digital DNI copies, and keep devices and apps updated.
  • Specialists detail prevalent schemes including phishing and smishing, the “child‑in‑need” ploy, fake bargain sites, identity theft via DNI, money‑mule recruitment, and romance scams.
  • Guardia Civil reports campaigns run from call‑center‑style rooms abroad, while local youths are recruited to open bank accounts for around €100 to move stolen funds.
  • In Ourense, reported online‑fraud losses so far in 2025 are close to €6 million, with attempts intensifying ahead of Black Friday and Christmas.
  • HSBC México’s fraud‑prevention director reiterates that banks do not request confidential credentials and estimates that roughly 99% of such solicitations are fraudulent.