Phone spoofing fraud targets citizens in Mexico and Spain

Authorities in Mexico and Spain are warning citizens about the rise of telephone spoofing, a fraudulent technique where criminals falsify caller ID information to impersonate legitimate institutions or banks.

In Tijuana, Mexico, the Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security and Protection (SSPCM) has issued an alert regarding scammers who use technology to make official numbers appear on victims' screens. These criminals often create a sense of urgency to solicit sensitive personal data, financial information, or direct payments. The SSPCM advises citizens to verify all requests through official channels and to avoid sharing passwords or security codes over the phone.

In Spain, reports have reached the National Police and Mossos d'Esquadra regarding victims losing savings through similar tactics. Scammers utilize virtual switchboards to rewrite caller IDs and often combine this with stolen personal data to increase credibility. Common tactics include claiming unauthorized account access and instructing victims to transfer funds to a “protected” account or install malicious security applications. Large entities like CaixaBank are frequently targeted due to their high volume of users.