1. Frauds and other security warnings.
As the nationals of other countries, Canadians can be the target of attempts of fraud using the method known as "Nigerian letters". Although scarce and unlikely to happen, the Embassy deems fit to inform about its modalities and how to avoid it.
The Nigerian scam, also known as scam 419 (the article number of Nigeria’s penal code that it violates) is a fraud in which the scammer gets the victim's money as an upfront payment or security deposit in exchange for a supposed millionaire sum of money that has been promised. This scam is particularly prevalent today through unsolicited email.
PERPETRATORS:
Organized groups based in foreign countries.
TARGETS:
Any person, with or without a Spanish connection. The data of potential victims is mainly obtained from public telephone guides or the Internet.
MODUS OPERANDI:
There are several variants of the scam, but they all have in common the promise of great wealth, as well as the various tricks that perpetrators use in order to make the victim pay a sum of money in advance as a condition of access to that money. The victims are reached via telephone, mail, fax or email, informing them that they have won a prize or that there is a large amount of money at their disposal, from an inheritance, or similar award. In order to receive their prize, the victims must send an amount to cover administrative procedures, taxes or any other similar expenses. After this first payment, the criminals either disappear or continue to request "upfront payments" using different excuses. Documents provided to the victims are always forgeries.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
•Never ever send them money.
•Contact the police and follow their instructions.
•Report the case to the Spanish Embassy (Ottawa) or the Spanish Consulates at Montreal and Toronto, or directly to the Home Affairs Office at the Spanish Embassy in Washington (consejeria.estadosunidos@interior.es), Fax +1 202 530 0509
•Pay special attention to words such as: "Cash Only", "Secret Plan", "Hurry", "Take action today and don’t miss the opportunity"
•Useful sites:
2. Travelling with pets
Trips to Spain:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has among its functions to inform about the health requirements that must comply with pets that accompany people traveling from Canada to Spain. You can consult the information on this in the following link:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/en/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/desplazamiento-animales-compania/default.aspx
Trips to Canada:
Animals traveling from Spain must comply with the requirements of the Canadian authorities.
This information is available on the website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
https://inspection.canada.ca/importing-food-plants-or-animals/pets/eng/1326600389775/1326600500578
3. Medications
Can you send special medication between Spain and another country by mail?
Spanish legislation does not allow the shipping of medication by mail. In accordance with Article 73 of Law 29/2006 of July 26th, for guarantees and rational use of medication and sanitary products, only laboratories and distribution entities that meet the established legal requirements are able to export medication. Any other entity or individual is not allowed to send medication through packaged mail because they are unable to guarantee the quality and security of the products.
Can an individual receive medication in Spain from another country by mail?
Article 72 of the aforementioned Law 29 of July 26th, 2009 and implementing regulations establish that only pharmaceutical laboratories can import medication. Therefore, individuals outside of the country, cannot send medicines because it is not possible to guarantee their quality and security.
Can an individual bring his/her necessary medication to their destination in Spain?
Article 74 of Law 29/2006 of July 26th states that: "medication that accompanies travelers following a medical treatment is excluded from the established protocols in the previous articles". Thus, in order to avoid problems with the Spanish customs office, it is recommended that the patient traveling with medication to Spain brings a doctor’s prescription/medical report that justifies the treatment. However, one should consider the previously stated regulations of the country of destination.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the case of medicines containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, patients should send inquiries to the Spanish Agency of Drugs and Health Products in order to receive a permit to travel with their medication. Interested parties can contact: estupefacientes@aemps.es
For additional information, please contact the Ministry of Health, Consumption, and Social Welfare:
• Information and Customer Service Office: oiac@mssi.es
• Medicine Inspection and Control Department, Spanish Agency for Medicine and Sanitary Products: sgicm@msssi.es