Woman in Lanzarote loses €1,400 in ‘reverse Bizum’ scam
A woman in Lanzarote has reported being scammed out of more than €1,400 in just ten minutes using a growing online fraud known as the “reverse Bizum” method. The incident happened after she advertised a car for sale on a second-hand platform.
The victim filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil in Yaiza after receiving a call from someone claiming to be interested in buying her vehicle. The caller said he would send a deposit immediately via Bizum to secure the deal.
Instead of sending money, the fraudster issued payment requests. Believing she was accepting incoming funds, the woman authorised three transactions in quick succession without realising she was actually sending money.
Within minutes, more than €1,400 had been taken from her account before she became suspicious during the phone call. By then, the transactions had already been completed.
Cybersecurity experts warn that this type of scam is becoming increasingly common on second-hand buying and selling platforms. It relies on confusion, as users mistake a payment request for confirmation of receiving money.
Banks have reminded customers that Bizum payments are received automatically and do not require approval. They also warn that once a payment is authorised, it is unlikely to be reversed, as it is considered a legitimate transaction.
Police investigations into these scams are often complex, as fraudsters typically use false identities and operate entirely online. However, officers say that in some cases, suspects are successfully identified and arrested.
Anyone using online marketplaces is urged to double-check all payment requests and never approve a transaction unless they are certain of its origin.
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