For millions of people in Spain, Bizum has become almost automatic. People use it without thinking anymore : Dinner with friends, shared taxis, birthday collections, second hand sales and even paying somebody back for coffee.

The app became so normal, so quickly, that many users now trust it almost instinctively.

And that is exactly why the Banco de España is warning people to slow down.

Because while Bizum continues expanding into everyday shopping and physical stores across Spain, scams linked to the platform are also growing fast and many victims still fall into the same trap.

According to the Bank of Spain, one of the biggest problems right now is that many users still do not fully understand the difference between receiving money and authorising a payment.

It sounds simple. But in practice, scammers are exploiting that confusion constantly. And honestly, a lot of people only realise what happened after the money has already disappeared from their account.

The Bizum mistake that keeps catching people out

The scam itself is simple and that is partly why it works so well. Somebody contacts the victim pretending they need to send them money.

It could happen through a selling platform, social media, WhatsApp or even fake customer service messages.

The person then sends what appears to be a Bizum transfer request.

Many users assume they simply need to ‘accept’ the incoming payment. But that is where the mistake happens.

Instead of receiving money, they are actually authorising a payment leaving their own account.

The Banco de España has repeated the same warning very clearly. Receiving money through Bizum never requires confirmation.

If the app asks somebody to approve an operation, they are almost certainly sending money, not receiving it. And yet the scam continues spreading because people move quickly, trust the app and often do not stop to carefully read what appears on the screen.

That automatic behaviour is exactly what scammers rely on because Bizum feels familiar.

Most users associate it with friends and family, not fraud.But the reality is changing as the platform grows larger and becomes more integrated into everyday life across Spain.

Bizum is becoming much bigger than transfers between friends

What started years ago as a quick way to split restaurant bills is now turning into something much larger.

Bizum already has more than 31 million users in Spain and is now moving directly into physical shops through systems allowing customers to pay with their phones at compatible terminals.

For many people, it feels like a natural evolution.Especially younger users who already rely heavily on mobile payments and barely carry cash anymore.

Some people even leave home with nothing but a phone and keys.And because Bizum is already connected to daily routines, the transition into physical shopping may happen faster than many people expect.

The Bank of Spain recently highlighted how rapidly Bizum continues growing, particularly as the platform expands beyond transfers between private individuals.

Online shopping through Bizum has also exploded. Thousands of businesses already accept it as a payment method and more shops are expected to join over the coming years.

That growing popularity is exactly why authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about fraud attempts linked to the platform.Because the more people trust a payment system, the easier it becomes for scammers to exploit that trust. Especially when users stop paying close attention during transactions.

Why fraud experts say people are becoming too comfortable with payment apps

A lot of scams today no longer look dramatic or suspicious at first glance. There are no obvious warning signs.No badly written messages.No fake princes asking for bank details. Modern scams often look ordinary.And that is precisely the problem.

Cybercriminals increasingly rely on routine behaviour rather than technical tricks.

People move quickly through notifications.They click automatically.They approve operations without fully reading them.And payment apps encourage speed by design because convenience is exactly what made them popular in the first place.

Fraud specialists say many victims genuinely believe they are receiving money right until the moment they notice funds disappearing instead.

The Banco de España is now urging users to become much more cautious with unexpected payment requests, refund messages or strangers asking to complete transactions through Bizum.

Authorities also recommend contacting the bank directly if anything feels suspicious rather than reacting impulsively through links or notifications.And honestly, the warning comes at a moment when Bizum itself is becoming more deeply integrated into daily life than ever before.Because this is no longer simply an app for sending €20 to friends after dinner.

It is rapidly becoming part of how people shop, transfer money and manage everyday payments across Spain.Which means scammers are paying attention too.

And the more normal Bizum becomes, the easier it may become for users to lower their guard without even realising it.

A California-based start-up says it plans to open the world’s first hotel on the Moon by 2032, marking one of the most ambitious proposals yet in the rapidly expanding space tourism sector. The company, GRU Space, has announced plans to construct a lunar hotel designed to accommodate private guests for multi-day stays on the Moon’s surface.

According to the company’s published timeline, the first operational hotel module would be deployed in 2032 following a series of earlier lunar test missions planned for the end of the decade.  The proposed project forms part of a wider commercial push towards long-term human activity beyond Earth, with private companies increasingly targeting space tourism, lunar infrastructure and off-world habitation.

Deposits already open for future guests

GRU Space has already begun accepting applications and deposits from prospective customers despite the project still being in its conceptual and development phase. Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of US$1,000 before being considered for reservations. If selected, customers can place refundable deposits ranging from US$250,000 to US$1 million in order to secure a future place at the lunar hotel. 

The total cost of a completed trip is expected to be substantially higher. Multiple reports citing company estimates suggest a full lunar holiday package, including transport, astronaut-style training, accommodation and operational costs, could exceed US$10 million per person for a stay of around five nights. 

While some media reports have described the accommodation as costing “US$1 million per night”, the company’s published information currently refers to reservation deposits rather than confirmed nightly pricing structures. Estimates based on projected overall trip costs place the effective nightly rate at several hundred thousand dollars per guest. 

Hotel designed for four guests

According to GRU Space, the first version of the hotel would consist of an inflatable habitat transported from Earth and deployed on the lunar surface using a heavy cargo lander. The structure is intended to host up to four guests at a time and is expected to operate for approximately 10 years. 

The company says guests would have views of both Earth and the lunar landscape, with proposed activities including Moon walks, driving vehicles on the lunar surface and low-gravity recreational experiences such as golf. 

GRU Space also claims future versions of the hotel could expand capacity to around 10 guests through the use of construction systems incorporating lunar regolith, the layer of dust and rock covering the Moon’s surface. The company says later stages of development would involve robotic construction techniques and local resource utilisation rather than relying entirely on materials transported from Earth. 

Founder outlines wider lunar ambitions

The company was founded by Skyler Chan, a University of California, Berkeley graduate who has described the lunar hotel as part of a broader long-term plan to support permanent human presence beyond Earth. GRU Space has stated that revenues generated from space tourism could eventually help finance larger lunar infrastructure projects, including roads, industrial systems and future settlements. 

The company has also released a public white paper outlining its long-term strategy for off-world habitation and commercial lunar development. 

Significant technical and financial hurdles remain

Despite growing interest in commercial space tourism, the project remains highly speculative and would depend on major advances in transport capability, life-support systems, lunar construction methods and regulatory approvals.

GRU Space has proposed beginning preliminary lunar missions by 2029, including tests involving inflatable habitats and construction materials made from lunar regolith. However, no lunar hotel infrastructure currently exists, and the company has yet to demonstrate operational lunar deployment technology.

The plans nevertheless reflect increasing commercial interest in lunar development, particularly as NASA’s Artemis programme and other international Moon initiatives continue to accelerate investment in lunar exploration during the 2030s.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), two illnesses have spiked across Europe in recent years, with the number of cases in Spain skyrocketing. Sexually transmitted infections gonorrhoea and syphilis have reached record high levels, with Spain experiencing the highest spike in cases.

Gonorrhoea and syphilis cases at an all-time high

New data published by the ECDC shows that in 2024, gonorrhoea cases numbered 106,331, representing a 303 per cent increase since 2015, while the number of syphilis cases more than doubled in the same period to 45,557. According to the health agency, the spike was caused by an increasing lack of testing and prevention.

According to the ECDC, men who had sex with men were the most disproportionately affected group, showing the steepest long-term rises in gonorrhoea and syphilis. Heterosexual women of reproductive age also saw large increases in syphilis.

Putting a spanner in the works for the Spain summer romance plans?

Spain ranks as Europe’s hotspot for the two sexually transmitted infections, with 37,169 gonorrhoea cases and 11,556 syphilis cases reported in 2024.

One of the main reasons that these two illnesses have spread so quickly is because many people may not be aware they are infected, even though the illness is already transmissible. Gonorrhoea often presents no symptoms at all, particularly in women, where up to half of all cases are asymptomatic.

Syphilis, on the other hand, often primarily presents as a single sore, but since it is usually painless and can be hidden inside the body (inside the vagina or rectum, for instance), many people never notice it.

Another reason for the spike is the increase in holiday activity; alcohol, spontaneity, and a partying mindset can lead to the lowering of inhibitions, leading to riskier sexual behaviour. 

When to get tested: Recognising the symptoms of gonorrhoea and syphilis

While gonorrhoea often presents as asymptomatic at first, it is a smart idea to get tested if you experience any of the following symptoms:

For men:

• Discharge
• A sharp, burning, or painful sensation when urinating
• Testicular discomfort, pain, or swelling
• Urethral irritation

For women:

• Altered discharge
• Painful urination
• Irregular bleeding or spotting, especially between menstrual cycles or after sexual intercourse
• Pelvic pain

The symptoms for syphilis include:

Primary stage:

• One or multiple small, firm, and round sores

Secondary stage:

• A non-itchy, reddish-brown rash, often appearing on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• Sores and growths
• Flu-like symptoms

Latent stage:

• During this phase, there are no visible signs or symptoms, though the bacteria can still be detected during blood tests

Tertiary stage:

(If left untreated, syphilis can advance to this stage even decades after the initial infection.)

• Organ damage
• Difficulty coordinating muscle movements
• Paralysis
• Numbness
• Dementia
• Aneurysms
• Blindness

It is best to get tested for STIs or STDs if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, have had unprotected sex, or have reason to believe the condom was broken or damaged.

How to prevent the spread of gonorrhoea and syphilis

Whether on holiday in Spain or simply getting to know someone new in your home country, there are a couple of things people can do to help prevent the spread of these two illnesses and keep themselves safe:

1. Use a condom. Condoms are the only form of contraception that protect against both pregnancy and STIs.
2. Avoid handling condoms after using sun creams or tanning oils. Oils can break down the latex in the condoms and lead to breakage.
3. Avoid leaving condoms in a hot car.
4. Get tested if you experience any symptoms and encourage your partner to do the same.