Getting an “urgent” message from your bank may seem normal, but this is precisely the type of contact that should arouse distrust. Banco de Portugal (BDP) has left a new warning about a fraud that is growing in Portugal and has made several victims through apparently legitimate calls, messages and emails.
According to News to the Minute, the scheme starts simply: the customer is contacted by someone who presents himself as a bank employee, often with the institution’s actual number on the mobile phone screen.
The conversation seems convincing, there is an urgent tone, a warning of “blocked account” or “suspicious activity”, and the goal is always the same: obtaining personal data, homebanking access or SMS -sent codes.
An increasingly sophisticated scheme
According to the BDP, this type of fraud, known as Phishing, Smissioning or Vishing, depending on the medium used, has become more elaborate and difficult to detect. Criminals resort to spoofing, a technique that allows them to mask phone numbers and email addresses, making them seem authentic.
The institution explains that the scheme is built based on “plausible scenarios”, such as updating personal data or unlocking the account.
There are also cases where the burns know real information from the victim, obtained through social networks or data escapes, which increases the degree of confidence and reduces suspicions.
The urgent tone as a trap
The BDP warns that fraudulent messages resort to short, threatening and written sentences in a hasty tone to force an immediate reaction.
“Contacts with fraudulent intentions are usually made in an urgent tone, so that it quickly disseminates personal data without having time to think,” warns the entity.
When the victim gives in, it involuntarily provides the keys of access to your account, and the attack is realized in a few minutes.
How to protect
The BDP recommends never to disclose personal data, passwords or codes by phone, SMS or email, even if the contact seems legitimate. It is also essential to check the sender’s address, the language and formatting of the message: Spelling and visual errors are warning signs.
Another essential rule, according to, is not clicking links or opening attachments sent by suspicious messages. If in doubt, you should contact the bank by the official channels and immediately report any attempted fraud.
If it detects unauthorized movements, the BDP advises to contact the bank and submit a complaint with the PSP, GNR or Judicial Police. The warning is clear: care begins in the way it reacts to the next “urgent message” you receive.
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