Rip Off Britain - Advice on the Tenerife Tablet Scam
On Friday 5 January 2024, Rip Off Britain investigated the cases of British tourists conned out of thousands of pounds when scammers struck during a spot of holiday shopping. In HQ, editor of the Canarian Weekly website Chris Elkington, whose team have closely followed the scam and subsequent police operation, joined us remotely with the latest news and advice for holidaymakers and scam victims.
How does the scam work?
Tourists – often elderly - are targeted on the last day of their holiday as they buy last minute gifts and souvenirs. Lured in by low-priced tablets, cameras and phones, as well as friendly shop owners, shoppers THINK they are getting a bargain, but instead, their cards are compromised when they pay via machine – or at the ATM where they are directed to draw the cash – and their card details are stolen or “skimmed”.
Victims find out days later – often when they’re back home in the UK - that several thousand euros has been charged to their credit cards, rather than the low prices originally advertised.
How common is this scam in Tenerife?
Several hundred victims have been identified already with potentially hundreds more out there. So far, over thirty people have been arrested, eleven shops raided, more than €900,000 was blocked in 300 bank accounts, and over a million euros in cash has been confiscated. So it's been quite a huge scam on a large scale.
What should you do if you think you are a victim?
The Spanish Police want to encourage people to come forward so that the scale of the scam can be assessed and victims can be identified and advised on the next steps to recovering their money.
They’ve set up an email address - sctenerife.bppjudef@policia.es – where victims can communicate in English with officers who will assist victims directly and inform them on how to proceed depending on the specific situation of each individual.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) also have which includes advice on understanding the local police customs and how to report crimes.
