How can you tell if a bib advert is a scam?

The most common signs

• They rush you: 'other people are interested'. The hurry is so you don't check anything.
• They ask you to pay by PayPal or Revolut as 'friends and family': that payment has no buyer protection.
• They ask you to accept a Bizum request to 'receive' or 'refund' money: if you accept it, you're the one paying.
• They arrange to hand over the bib away from the official pick-up, or ask for a photo of your ID or your card details.
• They won't show you their entry or the organiser's email, or want to move to WhatsApp from a number you don't know.

A real case

At the 2025 Seville Half Marathon, at least six runners bought fake bibs from fake Facebook profiles. They paid by PayPal or Revolut as 'friends and family' and received a fake QR code and a pick-up appointment at an airport stand that didn't exist.

Even if it isn't a scam

If the bib isn't put in your name, you run on someone else's entry: the results and the insurance are in their name, and 8 of the 22 races in our report punish selling outside the official process with a 4-year entry ban. On Pasadorsal you don't pay the person transferring anything: the entry is paid to the organiser.

Check it

Answer a few questions in 'Is it a scam?' and we'll tell you which signs we see and how the official transfer works for your race. We don't store your answers. If you've already paid, call your bank as soon as possible, keep the screenshots and report it.

Is it a scam? →