Spain, second country worldwide with most fraud: over 1,000 offences per 100,000 residents
Spain ranks second in the world in registered fraud rates, according to a new international report. Cyber fraud is especially high, with 861.71 cases per 100,000 people.
Spain, second global 'fraud hotspot' according to risk report for expatriates
According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, a new international report ranks Spain as the second country in the world with the highest rate of registered fraud, with over 1,000 offences per 100,000 residents. The study, called the Global Fraud Hotspots Report, was prepared by William Russell, specialists in international medical insurance, and analyses fraud rates, cybercrime, identity theft, financial losses and legislation related to fraud in different countries.
The report emerges in a context where immigrants relocating abroad are considered especially vulnerable. Before arriving in a new country, they frequently must search for accommodation, manage employment contracts, open bank accounts and share personal documentation, often without the possibility of physically verifying the organisations or individuals involved. Fraudsters take advantage of precisely that pressure to make quick decisions.
Spain leads in Europe alongside France and Germany
Spain not only ranks second in the general fraud classification, but also second place in cyber fraud, with a rate of 861.71 offences per 100,000 people. This highlights the significant weight of online fraud within the country's criminal landscape, which ranges from false property advertisements and employment scams to phishing messages and identity theft.
The first place in the global classification is not mentioned explicitly in the report, but Singapore occupies third place in the general classification and heads the cyber fraud ranking with 905.24 offences per 100,000 people, the highest value of all the countries analysed. The report notes that this reflects potential risks for those who rely on digital banking, online government services and internet transactions.
Germany ranks fourth with 882.76 fraud offences per 100,000 residents, and also records a cyber fraud rate of 253.34 per 100,000. Austria occupies fifth place, with 876.05 registered fraud cases per 100,000 people and a cyber fraud rate of 177.53.
Italy, France and Canada, also in the higher-risk group
Italy ranks seventh worldwide, with 728.08 fraud offences per 100,000 residents and a cyber fraud rate of 165.38. France appears in eighth position with 520.74 registered cases, although its cyber fraud rate — 303.58 per 100,000 — is considerably higher in relation to its position in the general ranking, which makes online fraud a notable risk for those residing there.
Canada closes the top nine group with 517 fraud offences per 100,000 people and 129.69 cyber fraud cases in the same proportion.
"One should not assume that a safe country is also safe against fraud"
William Cooper, director and co-owner of William Russell, states that "relocating abroad can make people especially vulnerable to fraud, because they often have to navigate systems they are unfamiliar with". Cooper notes that opening a bank account, finding accommodation, taking out insurance or making an international payment are situations in which newcomers "may not always know what legitimate processes are like in their new country".
Cooper also warns that high fraud rates should not be interpreted solely as a negative indicator: "They can reflect more robust reporting systems and better detection, but equally they demonstrate the importance of knowing how to identify and report fraud".
Among the report's recommendations are verifying the identity of any person or entity through contact details obtained independently, keeping records of transactions and knowing local reporting procedures.
Spain, high cyber fraud rate but low on the cybercrime index
A striking point in the report is the discrepancy between Spain's high registered cyber fraud rate and its position in the World Cybercrime Index, where it ranks 51st. Germany appears in 12th place in that same index, with a score of 2.17, while Canada appears in 18th, France in 21st and Italy in 27th. This difference suggests that registered fraud statistics and broader cybercrime measurements measure distinct phenomena.
Source: Majorca Daily Bulletin