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Canary Islands (IC)

The Canary Islands are Spain's Atlantic autonomous community: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.

Capital: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Region: Europe
Language: Spanish
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 52)
Emergency: 112
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands (Spanish territory, EU member) attract over 16 million tourists annually, making the islands one of Europe's most targeted locations for tourist-area scams. Timeshare fraud — from the original sale to the secondary "reclaim" scam — is the most severe and financially damaging threat. Other persistent scams include scratch-card timeshare entry traps, fake excursion operators, taxi overcharging, gem/jewellery scams at ports, and fake rental listings. As Spanish EU territory, EU consumer protections apply including the 14-day withdrawal right under the EU Consumer Rights Directive (TRLGDCU). Emergency: 112. Policia Nacional: 091. Guardia Civil: 062. Consumer fraud: OMIC of your Ayuntamiento. CNMV for investment fraud: cnmv.es.

Timeshare Sales Fraud

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The Canary Islands are among the worst locations in Europe for timeshare fraud. Aggressive outdoor sales agents (OPCs — Outside Public Contact) approach tourists in resort areas including Playa de las Américas (Tenerife), Playa del Inglés (Gran Canaria), and Puerto del Carmen (Lanzarote). They offer scratch cards, "tourist prizes," or "free gifts" that require attending a "short" presentation at a resort, which in reality lasts 4–8 hours of high-pressure sales. Victims sign contracts, pay deposits of €2,000–€30,000 or more, and later discover the product has minimal resale value, extreme maintenance fees, and restrictive usage conditions. Under Spanish law (Ley 42/1998 and subsequent updates), timeshare contracts must comply with strict requirements — including a 14-day EU cooling-off period during which no payment may legally be taken.

How to spot it
  • - Stranger on the street offers a scratch card, free gift, or "tourist survey" near a resort area
  • - You "win" a prize but must attend a "short breakfast presentation" to claim it
  • - Sales team is extremely reluctant to let you leave the presentation; managers are brought in with progressively better offers
  • - Pressure to sign and pay a deposit "today only" at a heavily discounted price
  • - Presenter claims the investment will appreciate in value and can be resold easily — timeshares rarely have a resale market
  • - Contract is for a "points-based" or "holiday club" rather than a named property — this category is regulated differently and has been used to circumvent protections
What to do: Do not attend timeshare presentations. If you are already in a presentation, you have the right to leave at any time — do not be detained. If you signed within the last 14 days: exercise your 14-day withdrawal right in writing (burofax with acknowledgement of receipt is recommended) — no payment can legally be demanded during the cooling-off period. Contact OMIC (Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor) of your local Ayuntamiento. Report the company to Consumo (dsca.gob.es) and the Policía Nacional.

Fake Timeshare Reclaim / Legal Recovery Scam

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Existing timeshare owners are targeted by a secondary scam: unsolicited phone calls from "law firms," "legal claims management companies," or "consumer advocates" claiming to have a court case (or frozen company assets) that will result in a payout — if the victim pays upfront legal fees of €2,000–€15,000. Multiple convictions occurred in 2025, including a UK-based operation convicted at Southwark Crown Court in January 2025 for running a Tenerife-based fraud scheme defrauding over 3,500 victims of £28 million, with sentences of 2–7.5 years. The fake firm names change constantly — no specific name can be relied upon as safe.

How to spot it
  • - Cold call from a "law firm" you never engaged claiming they have a case or frozen assets involving your timeshare company
  • - Upfront payment of thousands of euros required before any legal work begins or any court papers are produced
  • - Firm cannot produce actual Spanish court case numbers (número de expediente) or judgments from Spanish courts
  • - Firm is not listed in the official Spanish Bar Association (Consejo General de la Abogacía Española) registry at abogacia.es
  • - Payment requested to an overseas bank account (UK, Eastern Europe) rather than a Spanish client account
  • - Firm claims a "class action" or "government compensation scheme" exists — verify this independently before paying anything
What to do: Do not pay any upfront fee to a cold-calling firm. Verify any lawyer through the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española (abogacia.es). If a genuine court case exists, you will be formally notified by the Spanish courts — not by a cold call. Report reclaim scams to Action Fraud (UK: actionfraud.police.uk) if British, to Policía Nacional (091), and to the Canary Islands consumer authority.

Scratch Card and Fake Prize Timeshare Entry

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A specific entry point to timeshare sales: OPC agents approach tourists near shopping centres, beaches, and resort promenades and offer a scratch card to win a "tourist prize" (tablet, smartwatch, VIP hotel stay, cash). The card always reveals a winning combination. To claim the prize, the visitor must attend a presentation at a nearby resort. The presentation is the timeshare or holiday club sales pitch. The "prize" is usually conditional on completing the presentation, and the real purpose is never disclosed upfront. This practice has been documented extensively in Tenerife and Gran Canaria and is specifically flagged by European consumer protection organisations including the European Consumer Centre Austria.

How to spot it
  • - Young person approaches you in a tourist area holding clipboards, scratch cards, or promotional tickets
  • - They claim to represent "the tourist board" or "the Canary Islands government" — they do not
  • - The scratch card always wins, often showing three matching symbols or numbers
  • - Prize must be claimed at a specific resort or hotel, requiring you to travel there
  • - The "presentation" is described as "just 90 minutes" — it will typically be 4–8 hours
What to do: Decline all scratch cards and prize offers from strangers near resort areas. If you have already attended a presentation and signed or paid: you have a 14-day EU withdrawal right. Send written withdrawal notice immediately by burofax. Contact your credit card company if payment was made — chargeback may be available. Report to OMIC.

Fake or Inflated Rental Listings

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As in mainland Spain, fraudulent holiday and long-term rental listings appear on Facebook Marketplace, Airbnb-clone sites, and expat groups. The scammer copies photos from real listings, offers significantly below-market prices, and requests a deposit by bank transfer, crypto, or PayPal Friends before any viewing. For long-term rentals, a full month's deposit and first month's rent may be stolen. Activity spikes in peak tourist season (December–March, June–August) and when demand for long-term accommodation from remote workers is highest.

How to spot it
  • - Rent is 30–50% below comparable listings on Idealista or Fotocasa for the same area
  • - Landlord is "currently abroad" or "in the UK/Germany" and cannot show the property in person
  • - Deposit requested by wire transfer, PayPal Friends, crypto, or Western Union before contract
  • - Non-Spanish bank account (Lithuanian, Romanian, or other Eastern European IBAN) given for deposit
  • - No reference to the Spanish Tenancy Act (LAU) in the contract; vague or non-standard lease terms
  • - Reverse image search of property photos matches a different listing or a different address
What to do: Never pay any deposit without a signed contract and in-person property viewing. Verify the landlord's identity and property ownership via the Canary Islands Land Registry. For deposits paid by SEPA bank transfer: contact your bank immediately — SEPA recall is possible within 13 months for unauthorised transactions. Report to Policía Nacional online at sede.policia.gob.es and to the listing platform.

Taxi and Private Transfer Overcharging

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Unofficial private hire vehicles (often luxury cars or vans) operating near airports, cruise ship ports (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), and resort taxi ranks offer rides at fixed prices that are 2–4x the regulated meter fare. Legitimate taxis in the Canary Islands are licensed, metered, and display official tariff cards. Drivers working at the airport or port claiming to be "official taxis" but quoting fixed prices without a meter are operating illegally.

How to spot it
  • - Driver quotes a fixed price rather than offering a metered ride
  • - Vehicle approaches you inside the terminal or at the port exit before the official taxi queue
  • - Taxi does not display the official Canary Islands taxi licence plate markings
  • - No meter visible or driver claims "meter is broken"
  • - Price quoted is significantly above what mapping apps suggest for the route
What to do: Use only officially licensed metered taxis from the designated taxi ranks at airports and ports. Apps including Uber and Bolt operate in the Canary Islands in most resort areas. If overcharged: note the taxi number (on the door/dashboard), report to the Cabildo (island government transport authority) and to your accommodation's reception. Emergency: 112.

Port Area Gem and Jewellery Fraud

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Near major cruise ports and tourist promenades — particularly Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria — street vendors and small shops aggressively sell gemstones, amber, tanzanite, or gold jewellery at prices claimed to be "wholesale" or "emergency sale" prices. The items are almost invariably worth a fraction of the stated price, are of lower quality or completely fake (synthetic stones, gold-plated metal), and carry no certificate of authenticity from an accredited gemological laboratory.

How to spot it
  • - Vendor approaches you on the street with a "special price today only" gemstone or jewellery offer
  • - Product has no GIA, IGI, or other accredited gemological certification
  • - Vendor claims to be selling off remaining stock before closing or leaving
  • - Price seems dramatically below what you would expect for the stated stone quality
  • - Vendor is reluctant to allow you to take the item for independent appraisal before purchase
What to do: Do not purchase gemstones or precious metals from street vendors or aggressive port-area shops. If interested in buying jewellery in the Canaries, use established jewellery shops with verifiable certifications. If you believe you have been defrauded: report to Policía Nacional and to OMIC. EU consumer rights (including possible return under Spanish consumer law) may apply to purchases from registered businesses.

Fake Excursion Operators

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Unofficial excursion sellers operate in resort areas, sometimes with professional-looking signage, offering whale watching, boat trips, quad biking, or jeep safaris at below-official prices. These operators may be uninsured, use unsafe vehicles or vessels, provide a far inferior experience to what was advertised, or simply take payment and not show up. In the worst cases, customers have been stranded or involved in accidents on poorly maintained equipment with no insurance recourse.

How to spot it
  • - Booking is made from a street kiosk or individual without a verifiable business address or company registration
  • - Price is significantly below what resort hotels or official tourist offices charge for the same trip
  • - Operator cannot show public liability insurance documentation
  • - Vehicles or boats appear poorly maintained or lack safety equipment
  • - No written confirmation, receipt, or ticket is provided at time of booking
What to do: Book excursions only through your hotel, official tourist offices, or operators with clearly displayed Cabildo or Spanish Agencia Tributaria business registration numbers. Report fake or unlicensed operators to the Cabildo tourism authority and to Policía Nacional.

CNMV-Flagged Investment Fraud

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The Canary Islands' large resident expat community — particularly in Tenerife and Gran Canaria — is targeted by investment fraudsters posing as financial advisers offering "offshore" or "tax-efficient" investment products. These are sometimes linked to the same networks as timeshare fraud. The CNMV (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores) publishes a live list of unauthorised investment entities operating in Spain — entities not on its official register are not authorised to offer investment services in Spain, including the Canary Islands.

How to spot it
  • - Financial adviser cannot show a current CNMV registration number (número de registro)
  • - Product marketed as "offshore," "tax-free," or using Canary Islands' ZEC (Zona Especial Canaria) tax advantages without a specialist licensed tax adviser
  • - Seminar held in a hotel with heavy social pressure to commit on the day
  • - Guaranteed or projected returns well above market rates
  • - Commission structure not disclosed; adviser earns percentage of invested capital
What to do: Verify any financial adviser or investment product on the CNMV register at cnmv.es before engaging. In the Canary Islands, ZEC tax structures are legitimate but complex — only use CNMV-registered and Colegio de Economistas-registered advisers for tax planning. Report unregistered advisers to CNMV at cnmv.es/portal/inversor/reclamaciones.

Reporting

Where to report: Policia Nacional: 091 (non-emergency) / policia.es. Guardia Civil: 062 / guardiacivil.es. Emergency: 112. Online denuncia: denuncias.policia.es/OVD/. CNMV (investment fraud): cnmv.es. Consumo (Spanish consumer body): dsca.gob.es. INCIBE (cybercrime and phishing): 017 / incibe.es. OMIC (municipal consumer office): contact your local Ayuntamiento.

Consumer helpline: OMIC of your Ayuntamiento (free, in-person consumer advice). National consumer helpline: 900 100 247 (Ministerio de Consumo). INCIBE cybersecurity: 017 (free). For timeshare disputes: Canary Islands consumer arbitration via your OMIC or Junta Arbitral de Consumo.