Man arrested in Orihuela for smishing fraud schemes

A man has been arrested in Orihuela for allegedly carrying out several fraud schemes using smishing, a type of scam conducted via SMS messages.

At least three cases have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

How the scheme worked

The suspect sent messages pretending to be from banks or official entities.

The process:

• the victim received an urgent SMS

• the message contained a link

• it led to a fake website

• the victim entered personal data

• the attacker accessed financial information

  
  

Legal status

The suspect was brought before the court and released pending further investigation.

Context: rising cybercrime

• over 230,000 cybercrimes annually in Spain

• more than 25% of crimes occur online

• over 80% are fraud-related

Up to 60% of attacks in the EU begin with phishing or smishing.

Trends

• cybercrime has grown by over 70% in recent years

• regional increases reach 30%

• smishing continues to expand

How to stay safe

• avoid suspicious links

• never share personal data

• verify sources

• contact your bank directly

This case highlights how everyday tools like SMS can be used for serious fraud. Awareness is essential.

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At Torreviejactual.com, the editorial team is increasingly discussing the need for a dedicated section on how to protect against modern fraud schemes. As technology evolves, staying informed becomes a key part of personal safety. Such content may soon become a regular feature of the site.