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As the Black Friday frenzy begins, Spain’s Policía Nacional stepped up their warning about twelve of the most common online scams doing the rounds this year. Their message is simple: anyone can fall victim.

 

“There’s a scam for every age group,” officers from the Electronic Commerce Fraud Section said, pointing to the rising creativity and sophistication of digital fraudsters.

 

At the top of the list is skimming, a deceptive scheme that can drain your bank account in minutes. It often begins with a text message pretending to be from a parcel delivery company. The message asks the recipient to confirm delivery by clicking a link, which leads to a fake page imitating the company’s own site. Once you type in your personal and banking details, scammers can access your account and make unauthorised transactions.

 

Another scheme gaining ground is the so-called “Like Scam.” At first glance, it looks harmless, promising cash rewards for liking or commenting on certain posts. But what starts as an online game can quickly turn costly, as victims are persuaded to invest money with the false promise of high returns.

 

To help prevent fraud, the Policía Nacional urge people to shop only through trusted retailers and secure websites that use encryption. They advise avoiding direct bank transfers wherever possible and instead using prepaid or credit cards. Their golden rule: never share passwords, personal documents or online access codes, and be immediately suspicious of urgent or pushy purchase requests.

 

“Always be wary if you’re asked for personal documents or online access codes, or if you’re urged to complete a purchase quickly,” the Central Cybercrime Unit warned.

 

As part of their 30th anniversary campaign, the unit has launched a series of short audio clips designed to help people recognise these scams before they fall for them. Each one-minute micropodcast, available via the Policía Nacional’s official WhatsApp, Facebook and podcast channels, offers down-to-earth, practical advice for staying safe online.

 

Other common scams featured in the campaign include the payroll swap, the bill swap and the so-called “child in distress” trap, as well as schemes involving fake romantic relationships. With so many variations targeting different age groups, police say the key is vigilance. In their words: “There is a scam for everyone, but no one has to be scammed.”