Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Openbank, the subsidiary of Banco Santander in Spain, has alerted its customers to a new scam involving Spanish mobile payment service Bizum. Cybercriminals use second-hand platforms to exchange messages with their victims, asking for their mobile numbers in order to send them money. However, they end up sending you a request for payment.
Bizum’s use in scams isn’t surprising as it has become a common payment tool used by many people in Spain. Immediacy and ease of use have increased the number users. Not only individuals but also businesses are using it more. It is also the perfect tool for cybercriminals who pretend to be ordinary members of the public.
Scammers are now posing as buyers who want to buy products on second-hand platforms. They ask for the phone number of their target to make a Bizum first payment. They send the seller a request to pay, under the pretext that their Bizum was different. The vendor will be the one to send the money if they accept the request.
Openbank reminds users to review all notifications before accepting any mobile banking transaction. Openbank also warns against giving out your mobile number to strangers before verifying their identity.
The platforms that sell second-hand items usually offer protection for both buyer and seller. Therefore, it is recommended to pay through the application. Bizum is a service that does not ask the recipient to do anything in order for the payment transfer to happen.
You can report any fraud attempts or doubts to Openbank at ayuda@openbank.es.
