How to report cybercrime in Spain

A February 2021 European Commission survey across the region tried to better understand the general public's cyber-preparedness. The numbers were alarming, with 77% of European citizens reporting that they didn't know how to report illegal online behavior.

Spain and Denmark (both 86%) topped the EU list, followed by Romania (84%), France (82%), and Sweden (81%).

Types of cybercrimes to report

Before diving into the reporting process, here are some common types of cybercrimes:

1. Online fraud: Scams or schemes that deceive individuals into providing money, personal information, or other valuable assets.
2. Breaches: attacks and incidents that expose your sensitive information is online
3. Identity theft: Unauthorized use of someone's personal information to commit fraud or other crimes.
4. Cyberstalking: Using digital channels to harass, intimidate, or threaten someone persistently.
5. Hacking: Unauthorized access to someone's computer, network, or online accounts.
6. Phishing: Fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information (such as login credentials or credit card numbers) through deceptive emails, messages, or websites.
7. Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to bully, harass, or intimidate others.

Where and how to report a cybercrime in Spain

If you believe you are a victim of cybercrime, report it immediately. Here are several options to choose from:

1.      Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) - The Spanish National Police has a dedicated Cybercrime Unit (Unidad de Investigación Tecnológica - UIT). You can fill out an online form on their official website (https://www.policia.es), Denuncias Telemáticas section.

1. Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) - The Civil Guard also has a specialized unit for fighting cybercrime called the "Grupo de Delitos Telemáticos" (GDT). You can report cybercrimes to the GDT through:

Email: [email protected]

· Online form: Visit the Colabora section on their official website (https://www.guardiacivil.es)

3.      Local Police (Policía Local)

In some cases, you may want to report a cybercrime directly to your local police station. Check your municipality's official website for the contact information of your nearest

police station.

Once you've reported a cybercrime, the authorities will investigate the case and, if necessary, take legal action against the perpetrators. This process may include collecting evidence, identifying suspects, and working with other law enforcement agencies (both nationally and internationally) to apprehend the criminals.

Almost 90% of cybercrimes reported in 2022 involved online fraud

According to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska's declaration, most cybercrimes reported last year involved online fraud.

To protect your digital identity and data, consider using a tool created for this purpose.

Bitdefender Digital Identity shows you what personal information is on the Internet, leaked in breaches, or collected illegally that can be used by cybercriminals.

Bitdefender Digital Identity scans millions of websites and monitors underground networks to check if your data is on the Dark Web.

When it finds exposed information that puts you at risk, you receive notifications about the incident, what type of data was exposed, how it can affect you, and easy, 1-click action items to minimize consequences.