Scam callers pose as a power company using Spain's new 400 phone prefix

Police in Puente Genil, a town in Córdoba, Spain, say a man gave his bank details to a caller who claimed to work for the electricity company Iberdrola. The call came from a number starting with +400, the prefix used to mark sales calls in Spain since 17 October.

What happened

The man reported the call to the Local Police. They say the caller got his bank details "through deception". Police call this vishing, a mix of "voice" and "phishing". Criminals phone while posing as a well-known company, sound professional and push urgency, such as a supposed problem with a contract or an account. Then they ask for things like bank passwords or card numbers.

Some people may assume a +400 number means the call has been checked. Police say it does not. A +400 call is not guaranteed to be legitimate, and criminals may exploit the new numbering. The number on the screen can also be part of the scam, so it should never be the only thing you trust.

What to do

The alert box above lists the steps. In short, if a call feels wrong, hang up and contact the company through its official channels. If you already shared details, call your bank right away. Police stress that speed matters, because payments can be blocked before they go through. Telling the real company and sharing the story with family and friends can also stop others from being caught.

Reports do not say how much money was taken or whether other people got similar calls. Police issued the warning as a precaution for the wider public.