According to information released by Salud Madrid via its X account, scammers contact victims from a hidden number. During the call, they falsely state that a child has suffered an accident and, exploiting the alarm generated, request an immediate financial transfer.
Phone scam alert! If you receive a call from a hidden number in the name of Gregorio Marañón Hospital, saying your child has had an accident and asking for money, it is a scam. The Hospital will never ask for your data or money for assistance.
The Health Department has reiterated that Gregorio Marañón Hospital, or any other public health center, does not request personal data or money in exchange for medical assistance. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to provide sensitive information or make payments in response to such communications.
This new tactic is part of a growing wave of phone scams and appears to be a variation of the well-known 'child in distress' scheme. In the latter, cybercriminals typically contact parents via text messages or WhatsApp, posing as their children in emergency situations to request money.
