Immigration Scam in Spain (fix it)
Immigration campaigners have warned that undocumented migrants wanting to regularise their legal status, as part of Spain's migration amnesty, are facing an increased number of scammers when trying to book appointments. Thousands of undocumented migrants are becoming victims of appointment scams, ahead of Spain's mass regularisation process, with fraudsters and so-called 'immigration experts' benefiting from their desperation to get residency permits. Criminal gangs block-booking and selling cita previa appointments is nothing new in Spain, but they have seen an uptick following the government's announcement of a blanket regularisation of undocumented migrants living in the country. The measure will give at least 500,000 migrants, without legal papers, the right to work and live in Spain. According to the Funcas think-tank, however, around 840,000 undocumented migrants lived in Spain at the beginning of January 2025. This comes as the Spanish government formally approved the measure on Tuesday, paving the way for a short application window for these migrants to be able to get a short-term residency card. READ ALSO: The myths surrounding Spain's mass regularisation of migrants As information about the application process is being released (read The Local's explainer here), reports in the Spanish press suggest that scammers are charging sums of up to €400 with the promise of speeding up administrative procedures that are still in the process of being set up. These intermediaries and so-called 'immigration experts' are publishing misleading adverts, saying they'll handle all the paperwork in return for advance payments, taking advantage of the uncertainty felt by those hoping to obtain their residency, but knowing there's limited time to do so. “Guaranteed processing; you don’t pay until you’ve secured an appointment. Don’t waste your time in front of a screen trying to get it; contact us, we’ll advise you and sort it out for you”, reads one advert circulating online on sites such as Milanuncios, which are not linked to any legal firms or immigration services. Spanish trade unions have also warned of offers of services from private individuals and even travel agencies charging “from €50 for a simple enquiry to €450 for processing paperwork”. In reality, getting an appointment to submit paperwork should be completely free. This is of particular concern to migrant groups that make up the Regularización Ya movement, who have been campaigning for years to drive the initiative forward and who warn that the scams only serve to “increase the anxiety” of irregular migrants. They also warn that some law firms are profiting from the situation. “They are trying to make money off people..., something that should be penalised," said activist Victoria Columba, one of the spokespersons for Regularización Ya. READ ALSO: Spain eyes new way for foreigners to avoid 'cita previa' appointment scam Immigration and appointment scams are nothing new in Spain, of course. Various criminal groups have been arrested in recent years for hacking the cita previa system and booking up all available appointments, which are then sold onto desperate foreigners who've often been trying for weeks or months to get an appointment. Spain's national police carried out an operation in Valencia in which they arrested two people who were engaged in fraud by selling appointments for which they charged between €50 and €90. The detainees blocked the system using a computer bot and monopolised almost all the appointments to then sell them on the black market. Back in May 2023, Spanish national police arrested 69 people in different provinces throughout Spain and dismantled a network which blocked foreigners from obtaining these appointments, and many believed this would help put a stop to it. Elena Muñoz, head of the legal department at the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), has been observing this situation for years. “We are primarily involved in the international protection process and have noticed this irregular market for buying and selling appointments, a procedure that is entirely free of charge and should not incur any cost,” she says. Muñoz adds that, following the pandemic, “in practically every province, it has become increasingly difficult or time-consuming to secure these appointments”, and that this shortage has caused a spike in scams “on various platforms, such as Wallapop or the Yellow Pages, offering these appointments for sale at prices ranging from €50 to €200, or even more”.
Here’s your refined C1 lesson, keeping the text authentic but slightly shortened, while ensuring it naturally contains all 15 target vocabulary items.
🧠 C1 English Lesson: Appointment Scams and Migration in Spain
📖 Reading Text (Adapted from Original)
Immigration campaigners have warned that undocumented migrants trying to regularise their legal status under Spain’s migration amnesty are increasingly falling victim to scams when attempting to book appointments.
Thousands are affected ahead of the mass regularisation process, with fraudsters and so-called immigration experts exploiting migrants’ desperation to secure residency permits. Criminal gangs use block-booking systems to reserve appointments and resell them at high prices, despite the process being officially free.
Following the government’s announcement, this illegal practice has intensified. These intermediaries often publish misleading adverts offering fast-track services. In reality, many of these offers are fraudulent, increasing the uncertainty faced by migrants, especially those in vulnerable situations.
Authorities and activists argue that those responsible should be penalised and that stronger action is needed to dismantle these networks. However, high demand and limited availability of appointments continue to make migrants easy targets for exploitation.
📚 Vocabulary Match (15 words)
Match the words (1–15) with their definitions (A–O):
Words
- undocumented
- regularise
- amnesty
- fraudsters
- exploit
- desperation
- secure
- block-booking
- intermediaries
- misleading
- fast-track
- fraudulent
- uncertainty
- vulnerable
- dismantle
Definitions
A. People without legal documents
B. To make something legal or official
C. An official pardon for illegal acts
D. People who commit scams
E. To take advantage of someone unfairly
F. A feeling of extreme need or urgency
G. To obtain or achieve something
H. Reserving many appointments at once
I. People acting between two sides
J. Giving false or confusing information
K. A quicker-than-normal process
L. Illegal or dishonest
M. Lack of clarity or certainty
N. Easily harmed or at risk
O. To break apart or destroy a system
🔁 Synonym Match (10 words)
Match each word with its closest synonym:
Words
- warned
- secure
- exploit
- intensified
- misleading
- promise
- obtain
- vulnerable
- penalised
- dismantle
Synonyms
A. increased
B. guarantee
C. take advantage of
D. became stronger
E. deceptive
F. assure
G. acquire
H. at risk
I. punished
J. break up
🗣️ Speaking Practice
1. Role Play: “Buying an Appointment”
Student A: An undocumented migrant trying to regularise their situation
Student B: An intermediary (choose: honest helper or fraudster)
👉 Include:
- Price negotiation
- Trust vs suspicion
- Urgency and desperation
2. Role Play: “Public Debate”
Student A: Government official
Student B: Activist
👉 Discuss:
- Should intermediaries be banned?
- How to dismantle scam networks
- How to protect vulnerable migrants
3. Discussion Questions
- Why do fraudsters target vulnerable groups?
- How does uncertainty make scams more effective?
- Is it ever acceptable to pay for a fast-track service?
- What would you do in this situation?
🎯 Speaking Skills Development
Expressing Opinion
- “I strongly believe that this system…”
- “In my view, the main problem is…”
Speculating
- “This may have intensified because…”
- “Migrants might feel more vulnerable when…”
Comparing
- “Compared to other countries…”
- “Similarly, in my experience…”
✍️ Writing Task (Optional)
Write 150–200 words:
👉 “Why are vulnerable people often exploited, and how can this be prevented?”
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