Tourists and residents in Spain, including the Canary Islands, are being urged to stay vigilant as the National Police warn of a rapidly spreading scam known as the ‘50-Euro Trick’. This cunning scheme, which primarily targets shoppers, uses a counterfeit 50-euro banknote to lure unsuspecting victims.
The scam is particularly being reported in shopping centre car parks and busy city streets. Fraudsters place a fake 50-euro note under the windscreen wiper of a parked car. When the driver returns from shopping, they often notice the banknote and instinctively step out to check it. At that moment, criminals make their move.
In just seconds, valuables such as handbags, mobile phones, or even the car itself can be stolen, when car keys are left in the ignition. Before the victim realises what has happened, they are left without their possessions, or worse, their car. While similar scams have been reported in the past, Spanish police have noted a worrying increase in cases across the country in recent months.
How to Stay Safe
The authorities are urging drivers to remain cautious and to think carefully before reacting to anything unusual found on their vehicle. If a 50-euro note or any other unexpected object is spotted under the windscreen wiper, drivers should not rush to remove it.
Instead, they should remain inside the vehicle, lock the doors, and drive to a safe location, such as a police station or a well-populated area, before investigating further.
It is also advisable to keep car doors locked at all times, even when stepping away momentarily. Criminals rely on distractions to carry out thefts, and an unlocked vehicle presents an easy opportunity. Moreover, leaving valuables such as phones, wallets, or handbags inside a car can make drivers prime targets for thieves.
Other Tourist Scams Being Reported
The ‘50-Euro Trick’ is just one of many scams being used by criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting visitors and residents. Another prevalent tactic is the ‘Flat Tyre Scam’, in which scammers falsely claim that a driver’s tyre is punctured. As the driver checks the supposed damage, the thieves take the opportunity to steal valuables from the vehicle.
A separate scam recently uncovered at Barcelona Airport involves criminals posing as rent-a-car employees. Dressed in official-looking uniforms and carrying professional-looking credentials, they trick unsuspecting tourists into handing over their hire cars. Victims only realise they have been deceived when the rental company later contacts them regarding an unreturned car. At least twenty vehicles have already been stolen in what appears to be a well-coordinated operation.
Another common scam, known as the ‘Chase Trick’, involves criminals following a car and signalling that something is wrong, prompting the driver to stop. The moment they do, the thieves take advantage of the distraction to rob them. Some criminals even cause minor collisions to lure victims into pulling over. While drivers are preoccupied with filling out accident reports, their belongings are swiftly stolen from inside the vehicle.
Scammers also employ more subtle distraction techniques. One common method involves an individual approaching a tourist with a map or asking for directions, while an accomplice stealthily steals their wallet or phone.
