Tourists and residents in Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, are being urged to stay vigilant amid a rapidly spreading scam. According to Spanish police, shoppers in particular are being targeted using counterfeit 50-euro banknotes to lure unsuspecting victims.

The scam is most often reported in shopping centre car parks and busy city streets. The scammers place a fake banknote under the windscreen wiper of a parked car. When the driver returns, they are likely to step out of the car to check it. At this point, the criminals make their move on the victims.

In seconds, valuables including handbags, mobile phones and even the car itself can be stolen – as the car keys are left in the ignition.

While this scheme has been reported in the past, Spanish police have noted that there has been a concerning increase in cases in recent months, Canarian Weekly reported.

Authorities are urging drivers to remain cautious and to think carefully before reacting to anything unusual placed on their vehicle – and certainly do not rush to remove any euro notes.

Instead, they should remain inside the vehicle, lock the doors and drive to a safe location, such as a police station or a well-populated area, before investigating further.

They also recommend not leaving any valuables such as phones, wallets or handbags inside a car that is a prime target for thieves.

Another favourite trick used by criminals in Spain is to stop drivers and tell them they have a flat type, which also prompts the driver to get out to check their vehicle.