Spain experiences surge in smishing scams as digital entrepreneurs fall victim

Natalia Fuentes, a 28‑year‑old owner of a shoe store and online shop in Salamanca, nearly handed over her bank details after receiving a fraudulent text message that pretended to be from her bank. She recalled, “Menos mal que no llamé al número… se hacen pasar por el banco y te ponen nerviosa”.

The fraud, known as smishing, has become the most reported scam in Spain. The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) logged over 25,000 cases in 2025, though experts believe the true figure is higher because many victims stay silent. Psychologists such as Daniel de la Fuente explain that scammers exploit authority, familiarity, fear and consistency to trigger automatic reactions. BBVA’s information‑protection chief Laura del Pino advises, “Ante cualquier comunicación inesperada, es crucial tomarse un momento para reflexionar y verificar la autenticidad del mensaje”. The rise of smishing highlights the growing vulnerability of digital entrepreneurs and everyday users to online fraud.