Bbva's Urgent Alert to Thousands of Spaniards: Never Make This Gesture or You'll Lose Everything

Cybercriminals keep innovating in their strategies to scam people. BBVA has issued a warning after detecting a fraud in which criminals impersonate their victims' children. 

This is a scam carried out through text messages and WhatsApp. The goal is clear: to take advantage of confusion and urgency to get the victim to make a money transfer without hesitation.

The deception begins with a message that seems harmless but hides a dangerous trap. "Hi, Dad, my other phone broke, this is my new number" is just the start of a scam that has affected thousands of people in Spain. The key is to arouse the victim's concern and make them believe they are really talking to their child.

BBVA Warns of the Scam That Impersonates Your Children

Scammers don't settle for a single message; they continue the conversation until they manage to convince the victim. The pretext used may change, but the intention is always the same. In some cases, they claim they have lost their phone and need help to regain access to their accounts.

In others, they claim to be abroad and urgently need money to solve an unforeseen event. They may also invent stories about banking problems, blocked payments, or losing a suitcase with all their documentation inside.

The key to the deception is psychological pressure. Cybercriminals know that in an emergency situation, many people act without thinking too much.

That's why they use phrases like "I'm desperate, please help me" or "I can't talk, but I need you to make an urgent transfer for me." With this type of message, they get the victim to react immediately and fall into the trap without questioning the authenticity of the story.

How to Protect Yourself from This Scam?

BBVA has published a series of recommendations to avoid falling victim to this type of scam. The first and most important is not to act impulsively.

In the face of any suspicious message, it's best to stop and verify the identity of the person sending it. Contacting the child or family member through their usual number is the simplest way to check if the story is real.

It's also essential to distrust any request for money made via instant messaging. BBVA reminds that no bank or official service will request transfers through WhatsApp or SMS. Additionally, if the supposed child avoids answering personal questions or insists too much on making the transfer immediately, it's a clear sign that it's a fraud.

In case of receiving such a message, it is recommended to block the number and report it to the authorities. If the victim has already made a transfer, they should contact their bank as soon as possible to try to stop the operation and report the fraud to the police.