As the adoption of new technologies surges, so does the number of cybercriminals, climbing to unprecedented levels and steadily increasing their motivation. In response, the Civil Guard has developed tools to counter these threats. This led to a program called October of last year Teams, a platform designed to strengthen international collaboration in citizen safety where reports arrive and the Technological Investigation Teams (EDITE) tackle more complex forms of crime. A simple comparison helps illuminate the risk: a pickpocket in a busy plaza is not the same as someone stealing from a bank safe, and the same logic applies to cybercrime. Common sense matters—verify every incoming message or email and bolster protection with reliable antivirus software. Increasingly, small and medium-sized enterprises are turning to outsourced protection, explained by First Corporal Francisco Álvarez Fernández of the Gijón Command’s Arroba Team, alongside guard Sergio Martínez Carretero.
Experts agree there is no single victim profile. Anyone can fall prey, and the number of incidents rose as online shopping grew after the pandemic. “The pandemic accelerated internet use, bringing into play many people who had never used online services or mobile apps, which in turn widened the landscape for cybercrime,” said Álvarez Fernández. In particular, a comparison of cases from the first four months of 2021 with data through May this year shows that complaints processed in the Gijón Command have climbed by almost 40 percent.
The most common scam is known as phishing, which involves mass messages to mobile phones or emails that impersonate a company and tempt victims to disclose bank information or account details. The aim is to obtain access to confidential data. “Criminals can achieve a great deal with little technical know-how, which makes vigilance essential. If a bank text or email asks you to confirm or provide information, take a moment to verify the request directly with the bank rather than clicking links,” said Álvarez Fernández and Martínez Carretero.
Investigating these episodes is costly because criminals operate online across vast distances, placing victims thousands of kilometers away from their pursuers. Agents emphasize that success hinges on solid digital literacy and investigative skill. “One must pull the strings and gather the evidence to identify the author. Interpol or Europol collaborations often come into play, and there are legal channels to reach other countries. Many crimes are clarified, but some traces vanish, mirroring challenges in traditional crime where cases can go unsolved,” the guards noted.
Criminal activity does not always cross borders; it can remain localized or regional. In Asturias, for example, certain fraud schemes via telephone calls are common, with scammers posing as representatives from electricity suppliers and warning of unpaid bills. The Civil Guard, along with other agencies, has repeatedly arrested suspects for such fraud. Recently, calls to catering businesses claimed electricity would be cut unless payments were made. The same principle applies: if someone on the street or a caller claims to be from a bank, verify the message before acting on it.
Public safety efforts continue to adapt to these evolving threats. The combination of training, coordination with international partners, and ongoing public education helps reduce the impact of cybercrime. Citizens are encouraged to maintain routine security practices: use strong, unique passwords; enable multi-factor authentication where possible; and keep software up to date. The goal is a broader, more resilient digital environment in which awareness and timely action can thwart typical attack vectors. (Source: Civil Guard)