Spain’s National Police have issued a nationwide warning to inform the population that the old 50 Euro windshield scam is back. It’s a simple but dangerously effective trick, mostly used in busy parking lots, particularly in tourist areas and commercial zones. A 50 Euro note is placed on the windshield of a parked car. A driver returning to their vehicle will usually only see the banknote once they are inside the vehicle, and often with the engine running.

The scam relies on surprise and distraction. When most people see the banknote their immediate reaction is to get out of the car and take the money. This is all the time the criminals need to seize valuables in the car, or even the car itself. The 50 Euro note is effective in that it attracts one’s attention, but is (usually) not suspicious enough for the vehicle owner to think the situation is dangerous.

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Incidents have been reported across Spain, including the Canary Islands, Madrid, Valencia Region and Alicante City, Andalusia (Particularly in Malaga and Seville), Barcelona, Murcia & Almería. Be particularly vigilant in shopping parking and commercial parking areas.

These scams are often most prevalent around holidays and during tourist seasons, particularly when car parks are busy.

There other common car-related scams in Spain.

Flat tyre scam. When driving on the highway, someone from another car points to your tyre to indicate that it is flat. If you stop your car to check the tyre, the thieves will pretend to give assistance while they distract you to steal your vehicle, and leave you stranded on the side of the road. In urban areas, they may also let the air out of your tire, and wait for you further down the road so that they can pretend to offer help.

Dropped valuables scam. A person points out some dropped items near your car (like keys or coins that they left there). One person does this to distract you while someone else will grab your belongings.

Rental car scam. Some thieves will impersonate rental staff at airports, and convince drivers to hand over their vehicle keys and documents.

Most of these scams involve a team of two or more people. One creates a distraction, while another targets the vehicle and/or your possessions. While these thieves are usually unarmed, they are very quick, and are often finished before the victim realizes what has happened.

This is how you can protect yourself.

Stay inside your car if you notice anything odd, especially if you see a banknote under the windscreen wipers. Lock the doors immediately and drive to a safe location before getting out. You can also drive to the nearest police station to report the incident, as this helps to raise awareness and prevent future incidents.

Don’t remove or touch suspicious objects near your vehicle, get in your car and lock the doors. Report the incident to the police, even if nothing was stolen.

You can install a dashcam to act as a deterrent and provide evidence to the police.

Avoid leaving valuables in your car, and park in busy, well-lit areas.

Has this happened to you, or anyone that you know? Let us know in the comments below.
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