Your Bank May Be Calling — But It Could Be a Scam: Police Warn Over Rising 'Spoofing' Fraud in Spain

How the Scam Works

Spain's Policía Nacional has issued a warning over a significant rise in 'spoofing' fraud — a sophisticated phone scam in which criminals manipulate caller ID technology so their call appears on your phone as your bank's official contact number.

The scam typically follows the same pattern:

1. You receive a call that appears to come from your bank's genuine number
2. The caller presents as a bank employee, speaking professionally and claiming there has been suspicious activity or a security breach on your account
3. Under pressure, you provide sensitive information — your password, SMS one-time security code (OTP), or card PIN
4. Within minutes, criminals access your online banking and transfer funds through a chain of intermediary accounts, often moved overseas
5. Recovery becomes extremely difficult once the money has left the country

48 Million Fraudulent Calls Blocked Last Year

Spain blocked 48 million fraudulent calls and messages in the previous year — a figure that underlines just how widespread the problem has become. Spoofing is also linked to international premium-rate fraud and fake callback scams beyond banking alone.

Who Is Being Targeted

Older residents and expats living in Spain are being specifically flagged as high-risk groups. The combination of potential language barriers, unfamiliarity with local banking procedures, and higher levels of trust placed in official-sounding calls makes these groups particularly vulnerable.

What the Police Say to Do

The Policía Nacional's advice is clear:

• Hang up immediately if anyone calls asking for account details, passwords, or security codes — even if the number looks genuine
• Call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card, on your bank's official website, or in official correspondence — never use a number provided by the caller
• Remember: genuine banks never ask for passwords, verification codes, or PINs by phone, text, or email

As the Policía Nacional put it: "A few seconds of checking can prevent enormous financial damage."

This article is based on reporting from Spanish News Today, published May 2026.