Spain's Guardia Civil has detected a new online scam built around fake prize draws, according to a report by Valencia newspaper Las Provincias. Criminals send notifications telling victims they have won a prize, but say a small payment for shipping costs is required before it can be delivered. The prize never arrives, and in many cases the real target is the victim's bank card details.
An appeal to excitement. The Guardia Civil explained how the trick works on its official channels. Scammers play on people's enthusiasm with messages along the lines of: "Congratulations, you've won a prize! You only need to pay the shipping costs." The goal is to persuade victims to hand over money or banking information before they stop to think.
Disguised as real promotions. According to the Guardia Civil, the fraudsters usually dress up these traps as brand promotions, genuine giveaways or loyalty campaigns. That familiar look makes the message seem plausible and lowers the victim's guard.
Two ways to profit. Once the victim is hooked, they are asked to enter their credit card into a form or to click on a malicious link. In some cases, the criminals use this to steal confidential information that can be used in future crimes. In others, they simply pocket the fake shipping fee for a prize that will never be sent.
Why it matters
Small fee, bigger risk. The amount requested is small, which is exactly what makes the scam effective: few people think twice about a modest shipping charge. But handing card details to criminals can expose victims to much larger losses later, since that data can be reused for other fraud. The Guardia Civil stresses that the whole scheme depends on the emotional factor, pushing people to act without checking whether the notice is real.
- Be wary of any prize you don't remember entering, especially if it arrives unexpectedly.
- Never pay a fee, however small, to receive a prize.
- Don't enter your card details in forms reached through links in messages.
- Check promotions directly on the brand's official website or app, not through the link you received.
- If you have already shared card details, contact your bank immediately.
The golden rule. A legitimate prize does not require you to pay upfront. If a message congratulates you and then asks for money or card information, treat it as a scam until proven otherwise.
Source: Las Provincias
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