The Policía Nacional warned on 7 September 2026 of a scam at the bus station by Logroño (Estación de Autobuses de Logroño) warned. According to the authorities, the suspects approach travellers who are about to buy a ticket from a machine and offer supposedly cheap “Bonos” or tickets. Their aim is to steal the PIN from victims and then secretly swap their bank card for a similar-looking one.
The police describe the method as follows: one person distracts the victim with an offer of cheap travel and directs them to pay at the ticket machines. While the PIN is being entered, an accomplice watches it. At a moment of inattention, the card is stolen and replaced with a similar-looking card – often from the same bank. Because the victim believes they still have their own card, the theft often goes unnoticed at first.
This gives the perpetrators time to make withdrawals and payments before the card is blocked. The police point out that combining a stolen PIN with a physical card swap can cause substantial financial losses, as card and terminal security measures can be bypassed in such circumstances.
The police advise people to cover the keypad with their free hand when entering their PIN, keep their bank card in sight at all times and be wary if strangers suddenly offer discounts or help with a purchase. After any unusual approach or distraction, they should immediately check that they still have the correct card. If they suspect anything, they should contact their bank straight away, block the card and report the incident to the police.
By way of context, the authorities recall that variants of the card-swap and PIN-watching trick have repeatedly been reported in La Rioja and other regions. The warning issued now relates specifically to the bus station in Logroño. The regional news outlet NueveCuatroUno reported the police warning on the same day. In its statement, the Policía Nacional did not say whether any reports had already been filed or arrests made in connection with the incident.
The warning is aimed above all at people buying tickets shortly before departure, who may be more susceptible to distraction. Anyone who does need help should only turn to official station staff and should never carry out transactions under time pressure.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).