Catalonia launches new plan to combat rising cyber scams

The Government of Catalonia is preparing a new strategic plan to combat virtual scams, which have become one of the region's primary security concerns. Currently, approximately 80,000 cybercrime reports are filed annually, averaging 220 reports per day, though officials believe the actual number is significantly higher due to underreporting.

While the number of reported cases has stabilized, the financial impact continues to rise. Since 2024, economic losses attributed to these frauds have exceeded 490 million euros, with 103 million euros lost between January and August 2026 alone. Criminals are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance their fraudulent campaigns.

Key measures in the upcoming plan include the deployment of an artificial intelligence assistant to help citizens detect potential scams and the creation of a virtual police station to facilitate online reporting. The strategy aims to strengthen coordination between the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia.