A man who lives in Benidorm has taken to TikTok to issue a warning to tourists who are planning a visit to the sunny Spanish resort. He said people need to be “very, very careful”
One Benidorm resident, who operates a stag and hen do company in the British holiday favourite, has issued an urgent warning to Brit tourists about a scam that’s wreaking havoc in the hotspot. Describing how the con could potentially wreck holidays, Frank took to TikTok with a worrying message.
He warned “this is really happening” and instructed travellers to be “very, very careful”. He detailed a disturbing trend where phone thieves are duping visitors. In his online cautionary tale, he recounted, “Generally, what happens is, someone comes up to you and they’ll say to you ‘oh, I’m with some friends, and I’m lost, and I don’t know where I’m going. Can you do a Google Map search for me? ‘” But it’s a ruse. “What you do, because you’re a nice person, is you whip your phone out, you get your Google Maps up, and as soon as you get your Google Maps up, they grab the phone and run off with it.”
The clip comes with a content warning for potential offensive language. These cunning criminals are not just snatching phones, according to Frank by tricking tourists into unlocking their devices, they then gain access to private information, including bank details found on various apps. Frank lamented the sad reality of good Samaritans being exploited, reports the Daily Record.
His final sobering advice was direct: “You help that one person, they’ll run off with your phone, they’ll take all your money,” he pressed. “Just basically destroy whatever they can. And, do you know what people, let me tell you this right now, no one’s going to help you then.” The warning story has taken the internet by storm, amassing over 16,000 views. One person replied: “It’s rife now, and dangerous too.” Another commented: “Such a shame for people who genuinely might need help as we’re all too scared to help anyone.” A third person simply remarked: “Like a standard day in London then.”
Frank has also hit back at the £1 drinks on offer in the resort. He said: “Let me tell you something about drinks that you get for €1. They are absolute rubbish.” He has spoken out against Spanish bars promoting €1 pints, denouncing them as “bottom of the barrel” establishments. Stressing the adage ‘you get what you pay for’, Frank suggests shelling out a little extra could mean the difference between quality drinking and potential health risks.
The cheap booze is dubbed “chemical horrible rubbish” by Frank, who cautions that a bad pint could ruin your entire holiday if it leads to illness. Opinions among social media users are split; some patrons protest they’ve had no issues with the budget beers, while others support Frank’s stance, with one person commending: “Well done Frank about time someone said it”.
