Britons have been warned about a hug scam being used on tourists in Spain (Image: Getty)
Britons travelling to have been warned about criminals taking thousands of pounds worth of belongings from visitors in a scheme known as the ‘hug scam’.
The method of theft has reported proliferated in cities such as where police have seized around 41,000 (£33,908) in cash alongside 11 watches and several pieces of jewellery reports Spanish publication .
Discussing how the scam works, journalist Pablo Munoz says it occurs when an target is approached by a man and a woman. When said individual is approached, the woman hugs them, distracting their attention.
It is in these short moments when the target is distracted, says Mr Munoz, that their phone, money and belongings are all taken. He added that the thieves take advantage of a “nervousness” that comes over someone when a random stranger hugs to steal “whatever they can”.
Mr Munoz’s warnings come as concern grows for the welfare of in both in terms of their vulnerability to scams and a growing antipathy of local people towards tourists.
The so-called ‘hug scam’ isn’t the only method would be thieves use to steal belongings from tourists. On the pickpockets operate a ‘’ where they throw what appears to be bird poo over tourists.
What follows is that the thief swoops in an apparent attempt to helpfully clean up the mess, only to take their target’s phone, wallet, and other belongings. Speaking to The Olive Press about the matter, Sue Oswick spoke about how she and her husband were victims of the scam on holiday.
She said: “We were both splattered with what we thought was bird c**p. This ‘nice’ man, who had just sat down on the next bench to us, jumped up and offered to help us clean ourselves up. He had water and tissues. He was helping to clean my husband’s shirt and shorts and then said we could keep the water to finish off. He then left.”
It was only after the individual left that Sue realised she and her husband had been duped and she later discovered someone had attempted to use her card in Mercadona.
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Meanwhile, in the popular resort of Benidorm, a British YouTuber called Lucy who resides in the area has claimed that Britons in the area of are being duped out of thousands because thieves steal their phones.
Known only as the Benidorm Enthusiast, the reported that her advice was for people to swap their new phone for an older model so it is of less value to thieves if or when they decide to steal it.