In recent days, several Portuguese people have received messages that appear to be from SNS 24, informing about alleged debts for urgent care and asking for immediate payments. According to the SNS 24 website, this is a digital scam in Portugal, which is increasing in circulation.
These messages arrive mainly via SMS and include specific amounts, ATM references or payment links, giving the impression of being official.
As mentioned by the same source, the scheme is known as smishing, a variation of phishing sent via SMS, and aims to trick recipients into providing bank details or paying amounts they shouldn’t.
The messages use formal language, an authoritarian tone and appeal to urgency, threatening legal consequences or cutting off access to healthcare if payment is not made. No public entity requests payments in this way, without prior notice or additional context.
How to react to suspicious messages
When receiving one of these messages, the same source recommends not clicking on links, not providing personal or banking details and immediately deleting the message. Whenever possible, the case should be reported to the Judiciary Police, through the Cybercrime Unit, and alert family and friends, especially the most vulnerable.
If you have already been a victim of fraud, it is crucial to contact the bank immediately to try to block any suspicious transactions. It is also advisable to file a complaint with the authorities, providing all the details of the message received, and notify the National Cybersecurity Center or the Cybercrime Office of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the same source, it is equally important to closely monitor all banking movements and remain vigilant for signs of fraudulent activity.
Prevention remains the best defense
With increasingly sophisticated digital scams, written in almost perfect Portuguese and adapted to the national context, digital literacy has become essential.
Always confirm that the website is official (sns24.gov.pt), doubt alarmist messages, check the origin of the number and save the legitimate contact number, 808 24 24 24, are simple but effective steps to avoid falling victim to this type of fraud.
According to the same source, sharing this information with people close to you helps protect the entire community. Individual attention and careful checking of suspicious messages remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of digital fraud.
Security begins with prudence: small gestures, such as confirming the legitimacy of a message and not providing sensitive data, make all the difference in protecting against fraud that exploits trust in public services.
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