Emergencies Andalusia has alerted this Monday about new fraud attempts related to false donation requests in Ubrique, Cádiz. In the last few hours, residents of the municipality have received messages and bank transfers requesting money through accounts supposedly linked to the Plaza de Verduras and Casco Antiguo neighborhood association.
Warnings about donation and transfer fraud
The Plaza de Verduras and Casco Antiguo neighborhood association has issued a statement addressed to the residents of Ubrique. In it, they deny any active fundraising campaign and ask for caution regarding messages circulating on social media and messaging applications
"Rumors have reached us that there are several account numbers circulating on social media to collect money for the catastrophe (...) we consider that at this time this type of collaboration is not necessary, if our account number has reached you, please do not make any kind of contribution" - Neighborhood Association Plaza de Verduras and Old Town
The concern has spread among the neighbors. Some have publicly expressed their discontent over the appearance of these messages in a particularly delicate context for the town
"They take advantage of the circumstances we are going through" - Resident of Ubrique
Frauds with entity identity and official recommendations
In parallel, an attempted fraud has been detected through an SMS that simulates originating from AEMET. The message invites clicking a link with the promise of offering a more accurate weather forecast according to the user's location. Authorities insist on not accessing links or providing personal dataThe lawyer Bea de Vicente has pointed out that identity thefts of legal entities are increasingly frequent. She recalled that governmental entities, NGOs, and neighborhood associations do not request personal data nor act proactively in these types of campaigns
"Government entities, NGOs, or neighborhood associations are not proactive nor do they ask us for personal data" - Bea de Vicente, lawyer
Emergencies Andalusia has reiterated the importance of always verifying the destination of any donation. They recommend making contributions only through reference institutions, brotherhoods, and NGOs, and in an organized manner
- Be wary of any request for donation or bank transfer from unknown accounts
- Avoid accessing links received by SMS or instant messaging that promise personalized services
- Always consult with the entities themselves before making any financial contribution