Have you been the victim of a fraudulent transfer to a bank account in Spain? If you were tricked into sending money to fraudsters and the funds ended up in a Spanish bank, you may be entitled to claim civil liability against the receiving bank and recover part or all of your money. In this guide, we explain when a Spanish bank can be held liable, what to do if you’ve fallen victim to a scam, and how Lawants can help you recover your funds
Is a Bank in Spain Liable for a Fraudulent Transfer?
Have you been the victim of a fraudulent transfer to a bank account in Spain? If you were tricked into sending money to fraudsters and the funds ended up in a Spanish bank, you may be entitled to claim civil liability against the receiving bank and recover part or all of your money.
In this article, we explain when a Spanish bank can be held liable for bank transfer fraud, what to do if you’ve fllen victim to an international transfer scam, and how Lawants can help you recover your funds.
What Is a Fraudulent Bank Transfer?
A fraudulent bank transfer occurs when an individual or company sends money to an account controlled by criminals impersonating legitimate entities such as suppliers, banks, or financial advisers.
The most common types of bank fraud include:
- Impersonation of banks or companies
- Fake investment scams
- Sales of non-existent vehicles or goods
- Phishing or email interception (false supplier fraud)
Victims usually discover the scam after the transfer has been made and the funds have already been withdrawn or redirected.
Can a Bank in Spain Be Held Liable for Fraud?
Yes. In certain cases, Spanish banks can be held civilly liable if they allowed suspicious activity or failed to properly verify the identity of the account holder.
Under Spain’s anti-money laundering regulations, banks are required to:
- Verify the identity of all clients, especially non-residents
- Detect unusual or suspicious transactions
- Prevent their accounts from being used for criminal purposes
If a bank breaches these obligations and this enables fraudsters to operate freely, it may give rise to non-contractual liability under Article 1902 of the Spanish Civil Code.
What Can You Claim From the Bank?
If you can prove that the receiving bank acted negligently or failed to comply with its obligations, you may file a civil lawsuit for fraudulent transfer, seeking:
- Full or partial reimbursement of the funds
- Compensation for financial damages
- Immediate freezing of funds (if still available)
- Reimbursement of legal costs
Time is crucial — gathering evidence and acting fast with the help of lawyers experienced in international banking fraud can make all the difference.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Scammed and the Money Was Sent to Spain?
- Inform your home bank immediately and request a transfer recall if possible.
- Don’t waste time filing complaints in your home country. Legal action must be taken in Spain, as Spanish banks are only subject to Spanish jurisdiction.
- Contact the receiving bank in Spain, inform them the funds were obtained fraudulently, and request that the account be frozen urgently.
- Collect all evidence available: emails, transfer receipts, contracts, chats, recorded calls, etc.
How Can Lawants Help You Recover Your Money?
At Lawants, we are experts in bank liability for fraud and have extensive experience helping foreign victims recover funds transferred to Spanish banks.
We can help you:
- Legally contact the banks involved
- Request urgent freezing of recipient accounts
- Initiate civil and criminal actions against fraudsters and banks
- File claims for non-contractual bank liability
- Handle the full process from Spain, in your own language
Have You Been the Victim of a Bank Scam Involving a Spanish Account?
You are not alone. More and more individuals and companies abroad are falling victim to international bank transfer scams targeting Spanish accounts. The good news is that there are legal ways to act and recover your money.
Contact us today, tell us your story, and we’ll clearly explain your legal options — no strings attached.
