Spanish police have detained 102 people in connection with so-called "child in need" scams which have defrauded parents of vast sums.
Police said on Tuesday that 238 victims in the south-eastern province of Alicante alone had lost an estimated €850,000 ($911,000) in individual payments totalling between €800 and €55,000.
The scams, which are sometimes also called "Hi Mum" scams, see perpetrators contact potential victims via messenger services such as WhatsApp and pretend to be their child.
To explain why they are making contact from an unknown phone number, the fraudsters then claim to have a problem with their old phone and ask for urgent instant bank transfers to a new account due to an emergency.
Spanish police said 500 bank accounts and 100 telephone numbers have been registered in connection with the scheme.
The perpetrators often proceed in a targeted manner, selecting potential victims with adult children who are studying elsewhere or travelling.
Police advise against responding to such requests for payment under any circumstances. The best way to deal with such messages is for parents to speak to their children personally by calling their existing mobile phone or landline.