Cell phone messages posing as public institutions and private companies are warning of urgent debts and demanding payments through Multibanco references. According to SPMS, Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, this is smishing, a form of fraud that attempts to induce victims to provide personal and banking details. The messages, which call for quick payment within five days, refer to fraudulent links that generate seemingly legitimate MB references.
Scammers use amounts related to hospital services or debts to the NHS, creating a sense of urgency and seeking to pressure the recipient into taking action without confirming the information. The Attorney General’s Office warns that these messages are fraudulent schemes, designed to precipitate undue payments, and recommends immediate reporting to the authorities.
How the entity 21800 appears
One of the elements that has attracted attention is the use of the entity 21800. According to EDP, a Portuguese energy company, this code has appeared in fraudulent SMS that do not belong to the company.
The company has made available a list of its official entities, which includes codes 12223, 23013, 21196 and 20174, and warns that any others should be considered suspicious. According to the same source, ASAE confirmed that 21800 was used in fraud attempts against economic operators, with messages alleging the collection of fines through Multibanco references.
Is Entity 21800 Legit?
Despite being misused in fraud, 21800 is not a fictitious entity. Banco de Portugal clarifies that it is associated with the Online Payment Platform BV, formerly MediaMedics BV, a payment institution based in the European Union and authorized to operate in Portugal.
The Open Banking UK platform confirms the change in the entity’s corporate name. Fraud occurs when this code is exploited by third parties to deceive consumers and businesses.
How scam messages work
According to SPMS, fraudsters use logos of public institutions and the language of urgency to create an effect of pressure.
The Multibanco references generated appear valid, making it difficult to detect fraud. Therefore, it is essential not to give in to unexpected messages that allege debts or fines.
How to protect yourself
To protect yourself, we always advise you to check entities through official channels before making any payment and make the complete list of valid entities available on its website.
SPMS reinforces that no amount should be paid and recommends immediately deleting the message. If payment has already been made, the bank must be contacted immediately, followed by a complaint being filed with the authorities.
The essentials to remember
Multibanco references continue to be used as bait in digital fraud. Neither the SNS nor SNS 24 collect debts via SMS or email.
The entity 21800 has repeatedly appeared in fraudulent messages, although it is linked to an authorized payment intermediary, as explained by Banco de Portugal. The main rule is clear: do not pay without confirmation and report whenever fraud is suspected.
Also read:
