Spain's banks are trying to speak their customers' language. According to El Confidencial Digital, the Spanish Banking Association (AEB) has turned to Instagram influencers to warn people about the rise in online scams. Last year's campaign reached 15 million views, and the industry body is now preparing a new edition for after the summer.
Simple advice, short videos. In April last year, creators including Carmen Bianchi, Alex Guijo, Diego Ferro and Ángeles Rodríguez posted videos on their Instagram accounts with one clear goal: teaching users how to protect themselves from digital fraud. The messages were direct and easy to apply, from not clicking suspicious links to hanging up when someone asks for banking details over the phone.
Paid reach. The campaign also involves significant spending. According to the outlet, banks are paying substantial sums to these content creators, aware of their ability to amplify messages and connect with audiences that traditional channels struggle to reach.
Not just for the young. The choice of profiles was deliberate. The AEB explains that the aim is to reach different age groups, not only younger users. That is why the selected influencers come from varied fields such as fashion and beauty, sport and cultural outreach, so the message lands both with heavy social media users and with people less familiar with the digital world who are equally exposed to fraud.
Why it matters
Scams keep growing. The report notes a rise in recent years in cyberscams and phone fraud attempts. Criminals use increasingly elaborate techniques to impersonate banks and access customers' data. Phishing remains one of the most common methods: messages that look official, such as "your account has been temporarily suspended", designed to create alarm so the user quickly taps a fraudulent link that asks for banking and personal details.
Harder to spot. Fraudsters also use phone calls and SMS messages that imitate the tone and look of financial institutions. According to the outlet, the sophistication of these attacks makes it increasingly difficult to tell a legitimate message from a fake one. In response, banks have stepped up prevention, and the AEB has made cybersecurity one of the main themes of its Instagram account, betting on influencers as trusted voices who can explain complex ideas simply.
The campaign's core advice:
- Do not click on suspicious links, even if the message looks official.
- Hang up if someone asks for your banking details by phone.
- Do not share personal information.
- Use strong passwords.
- Be wary of urgent messages claiming your account has been suspended.
Source: El Confidencial Digital / AEB
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