HOLIDAY SCAM ALERT: Look out for new cash machine con whilst on holiday in Spain

cash machine skimmer

Spanish police have issued a warning to the public about a new ATM scam that is spreading around Spain.   The con involves thieves placing a fake ‘skimmer’ on the cash machine’s card reader. What the fake ‘skimmer’ does is copy all the information from the magnetic strip on your card when you insert it into the machine. To combat …

Police catch conmen in the middle of a 145,000€ Costa del Sol real estate scam

rip deal scam Costa del Sol

Two young men of Croatian nationality were arrested by National Police after trying to scam Costa del Sol property owners in a “rip deal.”   A “rip deal” is a popular scam where the perpetrators pass themselves off as investors looking to purchase a property. According to a National Police statement, the scam involves using the “exchange of bank notes, …

Warning: Fake Costa del Sol Taxi Scam

official taxis in malaga

The British Foreign Office in their travel advisory to Spain is telling tourists to book their airport or taxi transfer with a licensed company.   A British Holiday maker raised the alarm after he was approached by a ‘fake’ taxi driver on the Costa del Sol. Sam Simmons, said he and his partner were waiting at a bus stop in …

Charity scam targets tourists in Nerja

According to local news publications, a group of scammers are touting their trade in Nerja looking to take advantage of tourists and the elderly. The way the scam works is that you are approached by a person asking you to sign a petition to help the disabled or another reputable charity. Once they have your attention they then ask for …

As a warning to others…

Bogus gas inspectors, the famous flower sellers, the puncture ploy, the ‘broken ATM’, the spillage and other regular scams tend to increase during the peak holiday seasons and it is always sad to see people fall victim to the con artists. Here is an account of a recent incident in Málaga sent in by Mike:

Horrendous if true…

Reports, as yet unverified, have been coming in about a new ‘scam’, for the want of a better word, happening in the area recently. Apparently, a woman is doing the rounds selling perfume door to door (and the odd leather coat for a ‘bargain’ price). This part we know is true, having ourselves been visited over the weekend.

A bad experience…

I received an email from Karen in which she recounted a rather unfortunate experience resulting from a visit to Nerja in November 2009 and a solution to which is still not forthcoming. Rather than paraphrase, here is the full, completely unedited email:

9 detained in dodgy land deal

Nine people have been detained and charged by the Guardia Civil in relation to illegally built houses. Eight have been charged with violating the local planning regulations and a ninth person has been charged with swindling the other eight.