Else Beekman
Tourists and residents in Spain, beware! Spanish police are warning about a cunning scam that is spreading rapidly. The ‘50 Euro Trick’ uses a simple bait: a fake 50-euro banknote.
This clever yet devious scheme mainly takes place in shopping centre car parks and busy city streets. Here’s how the scammers operate and how you can protect yourself.
How does the ‘50 euro trick’ work?
Scammers place a counterfeit 50-euro note under the windscreen wiper of a parked car. Nothing suspecting, the driver returns from shopping and notices the note. Most people won’t be able to resist checking if it’s real. The moment the driver steps out, the criminals strike.
Within seconds, valuables such as phones, handbags, or even the car itself are stolen. In some cases, thieves have taken advantage of keys already in the ignition. Before you know it, you’re left without your belongings—or even your vehicle.
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Shopping centres and city streets as targets
This trick is mainly carried out in busy locations such as shopping centres and city centres, where cars are more likely to contain valuables. While this method is not entirely new, Spanish police report a concerning rise in cases across the country.
How to protect yourself
Spanish police urge drivers to be extra cautious and to think twice before reacting to something unusual on their car. If you spot a 50-euro note—or any other unexpected object—under your windscreen wiper, do not rush to grab it. Instead, remain in your vehicle, lock the doors, and drive to a safe location, such as a police station or a well-populated area, before investigating further. Keeping car doors locked at all times is essential, even when stepping out for just a moment. Criminals rely on distractions, and an unlocked car is an open invitation. Additionally, never leave valuables such as phones, wallets, or handbags inside your vehicle, as these can make you a prime target for opportunistic thieves.
Other recent ‘tourist’ scams in Spain
The ‘50 Euro Trick’ is just one of many scams used by criminals to catch victims off guard. Another well-known tactic is the ‘Flat Tyre Scam,’ where scammers point out an apparent puncture in your tyre, using the moment of distraction to steal from your vehicle.
Another scam making headlines at Barcelona-El Prat Airport involves criminals preying on unsuspecting tourists returning rental cars. Disguised as official rental company employees, complete with uniforms and professional-looking credentials, they exude an air of legitimacy that easily deceives their victims.
Believing they were simply handing over their vehicle to authorised staff, many travellers only realised they had been duped when rental companies later contacted them about unreturned cars. With at least twenty vehicles stolen in this highly organised scheme, the scale and sophistication of the operation suggest a well-planned network of fraudsters at work.
Then there’s the ‘Chase Trick,’ in which criminals follow your car and signal that something is wrong, prompting you to stop—only for them to seize the opportunity to rob you. Some thieves even cause deliberate minor collisions. While you’re busy filling in accident reports, they swipe valuables from inside your vehicle.
Distraction techniques also take more subtle forms, such as a scammer approaching you with a map or asking for directions while their accomplice lifts your phone or wallet.