Incibe reports surge in cybersecurity inquiries and online scams

The National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe) reported a significant increase in citizen inquiries through its 017 helpline. During the first six months of 2026, the service handled 95,064 consultations, nearly doubling the 49,599 inquiries received during the same period in 2025.

Minister Óscar López noted that the rise in inquiries is partly due to increased public awareness of the free service. The most frequent issues reported by both citizens (40%) and businesses (30.6%) involve identity theft and fraud via vishing, smishing, and phishing, where criminals impersonate legitimate entities to steal information.

In a specific incident handled by Incibe, a victim was tricked into an unwanted premium subscription after scanning a QR code intended for a restaurant menu. The user inadvertently accepted cookies that triggered the subscription. Experts advise users to verify that QR codes have not been tampered with and to ensure the resulting web address matches the official domain of the establishment.