Guardia Civil 2025: rise in cyber fraud on marketplaces. Buyer claims item not received. Seller sent fraudulent WhatsApp link. Defective dive equipment is a life risk. INCIBE: never leave the platform's internal chat.
The diving community has reported numerous cases of fraud on platforms such as Wallapop and Mil Anuncios, where compressors and equipment are sold but never reach the buyer. Problems with online stores that make returns difficult are also reported. The community acts as an alert channel to warn other divers. The lack of effective complaint mechanisms makes the situation worse.
In 2025, the Civil Guard warned of increased cybercrime on second-hand sales platforms, with two widespread methods: the buyer who falsely reports not receiving the product, and the one who contacts the seller outside the internal chat with a fraudulent link to steal banking data. With dive equipment, the fraud is more serious because the buyer may receive an item with undeclared maintenance defects, which poses a real risk to life. INCIBE's recommendations are clear: never leave the platform's internal chat and be wary of prices well below market value.