Scammers imitate boss’s voice to steal €1,390 in South of Tenerife
A business owner in southern Tenerife has fallen victim to a sophisticated phone scam known as the “fake boss” or “good employee” scam. They lost €1,390 from the company’s cash safe after cybercriminals cloned his voice to deceive a staff member.
The incident took place on 21st July at around 1:40pm, when an employee at a shop located in a commercial centre in Adeje received a call on the business landline.
The caller claimed to be in the company of her boss, even using his full name to gain her trust. The man told her that a payment needed to be made urgently to cover permits and licences that would be delivered by DHL.
To further legitimise the request, he gave her a tracking number for the supposed delivery. Most convincingly, the employee said she could hear what she believed was her boss speaking in the background, which was a result of voice cloning technology used by the scammers.
The caller instructed the employee to open the safe and till and withdraw a total of 1,390 euros, which he said needed to be deposited urgently. He then asked her to share her personal mobile number, claiming a courier would need to reach her directly.
The next steps involved depositing the money into her own bank account, transferring it to her personal Revolut account, and then sending several payments to digital accounts in Mexico, all under the impression that she was following legitimate company orders.
The employee followed all the instructions and has provided the police with transfer references and account numbers used in the scam.
While she was still out carrying out the transfers, the business manager arrived at the premises to find the store closed and in disarray, with the employee’s handbag left behind. Fearing something had happened, she called the police.
Officers advised her to call the employee’s personal mobile, and when she answered, she explained she had been carrying out bank transfers at the boss’s request.
This raised immediate suspicions among the officers, who suspected a new wave of fraud that had been making the rounds. It quickly became clear that the employee had been tricked. While she had not lost her own money, the stolen funds all belonged to the business.
This type of scam has become increasingly common and preys on loyal employees who want to do the right thing. Known as the “good employee scam,” it plays on psychology, urgency, and blind trust. Scammers often pose as bosses or suppliers and claim the company urgently needs to settle a debt to avoid serious consequences. Once the employee is convinced, they are pressured into making immediate payments via digital wallets, pre-paid cards, or cryptocurrency ATMs, all of which are difficult to trace.
Authorities urge workers to remain cautious and never make payments without verifying requests through direct contact with a known superior. If in doubt, hang up, report the incident to a manager, and contact the police.
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