In recent months, reports of burlas that use the multibanco payment system to mislead users in Portugal have multiplied. The scheme involves sending messages or emails that simulate official communications, asking for payment of debt or missing fees. The value may seem low, but the impact on the victims is high, both on the financial and emotional level. The entity at stake is 21800.
According to the Portuguese newspaper, Diário de Odivelas, the latest complaint came from a message that was going through the National Health Service. Contact was an alleged debt of 16.90 euros regarding a hospital urgency.
The request included payment instructions with entity 21800, a practice that had already been identified in other similar cases linked to water, electricity or telecommunications services.
What is phishing and how it disguises
The scheme is part of the so-called phishing category, a technique used to deceive citizens through false communications that mimic legitimate institutions. Messages can arrive by SMS, WhatsApp, email or even telephone calls. The goal is always the same: to lead the victim to provide sensitive data or to make payments without realizing the fraud.
Criminals often resort to psychological pressure strategies, creating urgent scenarios that lead to hasty decisions. Not rarely, they present apparently official documentation, with logos and signatures, to reinforce the credibility of the burla.
The entity’s trap 21800
In the specific case of Entity 21800, the scheme is simple: the victim receives a notification about a debt or proceedings and is instructed to regularize the situation by multibaning reference. The confidence that the public deposits in this system is explored as bait. For many, payment looks like a common and safe procedure.
According to the same newspaper, the burns use a structured and convincing discourse, using technical terms and references to legislation. This detail makes contact more difficult to identify as fraudulent.
How to protect yourself from these fraud
The expert’s recommendation is always suspicious of messages that require immediate payments, especially when using little known entities. Before transferring any amount, it is essential to confirm with the institution through the official channels. Other protective measures include not sharing personal or banking data by telephone or email and maintaining updated security software.
In case of suspicion of slopping, it is advisable to immediately contact the Judicial Police or GNR and keep all the documentation received. If any payment has already been made, it must also be reported to the bank to try to cancel the operation.
At the end of the warning, the importance of denouncing even the failed attempts. Registration of occurrences helps authorities identify standards and prevent new victims. Digital literacy continues to be pointed out as the best defense against this type of fraud, at a time when digital schemes become increasingly sophisticated.
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