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Guardia Civil warns Wallapop customers in Spain about scammers.
Credit : Bangla press, Shutterstock
If you’ve ever sold anything on Wallapop – or bought something second-hand to save a bit of cash – the Guardia Civil has a warning you’ll want to pay attention to. What started as a clever idea to breathe new life into old gadgets and furnishings has attracted the attention of less honest people.
Spain has embraced the use of second-hand apps. Wallapop, Vinted, Milanuncios… in just a few taps, you can get rid of a laptop you no longer need, or find a great deal on a bike. Most of the time, it’s a great tool.
The same as the Guardia Civil Scammers aren’t too far behind when something is popular online.
A scam that feels friendly – until the item is gone
Cybercriminals have a new trick that is incredibly simple. There’s no hacking, no big drama – just a conversation that seems normal… until the moment your item disappears and the money never shows up.
This is how the typical scenario plays out: you post an advertisement. A buyer contacts you – polite, quick responses, genuinely interested. Perhaps they seem relieved at having finally found the item they were searching for.
First red flag: They suggest completing the transaction outside of the app.
They’ll be ready with a good reason:
• “Wallapop fees are too high”
• “It’s quicker to transfer directly”
• “I don’t trust the app’s payment system”
Whatever the excuse, the goal is the same – get you into WhatsApp, SMS, or email, where Wallapop can’t protect you.
This happened recently to a woman selling a smartphone worth €850. The buyer suggested that he pay directly. To make her feel safer, he sent an official-looking email, purporting to be from the Guardia Civil. It claimed that the transaction was monitored and guaranteed.
It was real. Reassuring, even.
She posted her phone.
She waited.
Money never arrived
Who is the buyer? Gone.
The Guardia Civil explained this:
As soon as she stepped outside of the app, all protections disappeared.
Why leaving the App is the Biggest Mistake
Everything in apps such as Wallapop leaves a trail. Payments are safe. Messages can be monitored. Platforms can take action if anyone tries to do something suspicious.
What is the App?
No protection. No protection No refund
You’re on your very own.
Scammers are aware of this. This is why scammers put pressure on sellers so they can switch platforms as quickly as possible.
They create a feeling of urgency.
Send it now and I will pay you immediately.
Can we use email instead? “Oh no! My app doesn’t work.
It’s faster to travel this way.
They pretend to do you a favour – but they’re the only ones benefitting.
Spain’s second hand boom is fueling a new trend
This kind of scam did not appear overnight. Spain’s second-hand economy is bigger than ever – and growing. Selling unused items is a lifeline for many, particularly during this current crisis.
It also means
- The private sale of more expensive goods
- Fraudsters are targeting more users who have never been exposed to it
- Scammers are taking advantage of the situation
The Guardia Civil is more than happy to praise the idea of recycling tech and clothing…
They’re not happy that criminals have found out that a friendly chat is more effective than hacking software.
The Guardia Civil’s message: don’t move the chat – not even for a “better deal”
The authorities are not trying to scare users away from Wallapop and similar apps. Quite the opposite — they want users to stay inside those platforms, because that’s where the rules protect them.
Their advice is clear.
- Never complete a deal outside the app – not for any reason
• Do not trust emails claiming official involvement
• Don’t send an item until payment is confirmed within the app
• Report buyers who refuse to use the platform’s system
They stress that, in these scams, the seller is convinced they are being careful – right up until the moment they realise they’ve been tricked.
Better to lose a sale… than to lose a €850 phone.
We can prevent a scam by being vigilant
Guardia Civil does not want to ruin second-hand enjoyment. Most transactions go smoothly. Most people are honest.
One scammer can turn a good day into a bad one.
This is just a friendly reminder.
if the buyer insists on skipping the official chat – that’s your sign to walk away.
There is no undo button once the parcel has gone. What about the scammer? The scammer is already moving on to the next victim.
The next time that you see a message promising quick cash with a simple process: stay on the application or do not take part in the deal.
