Digital scopes in Portugal continue to multiply and the latest target is the continent card. A phishing scheme, which presents itself in the form of a seemingly legitimate SMS, promises prizes in exchange for points to expire, but leads victims to provide bank data directly to criminals.
How the scheme works
The scheme works through a mobile phone message to inform that the continent card points are about to expire. To make everything more credible, SMS contains a link that looks official but leads to a fraudulent page.
Once on this fake site, customers find personalized information, such as the exact number of points and a showcase of awards. To receive the articles, simply choose the collection store and pay a symbolic value of transport, usually two euros. It is at this moment that bank data is in possession of the burns.
Official reaction from the continent
The continent has already reacted to this case and issued clear warnings on the website and the official application. The company recalls that it never sends external links and underlines that the only safe domains are continent.pt, letterocontinent.pt and card.continent.pt. All others must be considered suspicious.
Cybersecurity experts, cited by the Portuguese publication Magazine HD, also warn of common signs in digital fraud. The messages that appeal to urgency, such as points to expire, or links with unusual terminations such as “.VC” or “.top” are evidence of attempted sloping. Another factor to be aware that many of these messages come to people who are not even customers.
How to protect yourself from phishing
In order not to fall into this scheme, it is recommended that you never click on dubious links, always confirm the address before entering data and contact the entity only by the official channels. Suspected messages should be deleted immediately.
If someone has already introduced your data, the action should be fast. The first step is to contact the bank and block the cards, followed by changing passwords associated with online accounts. It is equally important to keep evidence, such as SMS or screen catches, and file a complaint to the Judiciary Police.
An increasingly recurring problem
Phishing is today one of the biggest digital threats in Portugal and is increasingly known brands. Banks, telecommunications operators and even the tax authority have been targeted by similar schemes, which become increasingly sophisticated.
This case associated with the Continent Card is another example of the need to reinforce surveillance. The earlier these slips are reported, the less financial damage will be and the more likely to lock the burns.
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