ARCHIVED - Murcia-bound couple narrowly escapes notorious car theft scam
So-called highway pirates in Spain orchestrate car damage or accidents in order to rob motorists
Spain is one of the world’s top holiday destinations and as summer kicks into high gear, tourists from around the world are flocking to the country’s idyllic beaches, mountain hideaways and exciting cities.
Sadly, once the sun comes out, so do the scam artists, keen to make a few quid on the bustling streets and relaxed holidaymakers.
Earlier this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs warned visitors of the notorious ‘highway pirates’ scam, whereby fraudsters convince motorists there is something wrong with their car in order to get them to pull over and rob them. Rental vehicles are more commonly targeted, and scammers have been known to go to such lengths as causing an accident or damaging the other car to pull off their con.
One Murcia-bound couple experienced the scam first-hand recently as they travelled down through Spain from Calais.
The journey is long, the weather is warm, so while driving south on the A1 ring-road the pair decided to stretch their legs and use the facilities at a McDonald’s restaurant located at a petrol station in Madrid.
One of the travellers commented that another car had pulled right up beside their vehicle in the quiet car park, almost touching the door. Thinking little of it, the couple continued on their journey, only to discover they had a puncture a couple of kilometres down the road.
Parking in a safe lay-by, the couple was immediately approached by a man stopped nearby, who advised them they should erect a warning triangle close to their vehicle.
And so enter the highway pirates.
Although the would-be victim was busy directing traffic safely around her own car, she chanced to look back and discovered that a second man had joined them and was busy riffling through their belongings on the back seat. She shouted in alarm, and the pair fled in their own vehicle.
It was only then that the woman’s husband realised that the car was the same model and colour as the one which had parked beside them at the petrol station.
Both of the scammers were wearing masks and one of the men was sporting a large floppy hat. It would appear that the con artists had punctured their victims' tyre back at the petrol station, concealing their actions with the open door, before following them.
Luckily, on this occasion, the travellers only suffered the expense of a new tyre, but things could have been much worse.
These highway pirates know how to spot tourists and will target vehicles in order to nab holiday cash, passports, phones and credit cards.
To avoid becoming a victim of this con, the authorities recommend only stopping in busy and well-lit areas and always being extremely wary of strangers randomly offering help.
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