Have you recently received an email informing you that you have an unpaid parking fine? Before clicking on any link or providing personal data, please be careful. According to the Public Ministry, a fraud scheme is currently circulating that attempts to deceive citizens, making them believe in the existence of fines that do not exist, and can lead to significant financial losses.
The method is based on sending fraudulent electronic messages to randomly chosen recipients.
According to the same source, the emails identify the sender as Authentication Gov, the official identification, authentication and digital signature platform of the Portuguese State, and even reproduce the official logo, reinforcing the impression of legitimacy.
How the scheme works
In the body of the message, the victim is informed that they have an outstanding parking fine, with amounts that would increase if they were not paid by a certain date, and could even lead to the deduction of points on their driving license.
A button marked “Pay online” directs the recipient to a website that imitates the official Gov Authentication page.
According to the statement from the Public Ministry, when advancing in the process, the user is asked to provide the cell phone number associated with the Digital Mobile Key and, subsequently, bank details, including the card holder’s name, number, validity and security code.
If this information is entered, fraudsters will have direct access to the cards and can make purchases online.
The scheme also includes two-factor authentication, requesting the code received via SMS, which, if provided, completes the criminals’ access to the victim’s bank accounts.
Warning signs
There are several signs that can help identify fraud. The terminology used in the emails raises suspicions: expressions such as “driver’s license” or “we are writing” are not used in Portugal, neither formally nor in everyday life.
The sender’s email address does not always match the official one, and the supposed announced penalties do not correspond to the law.
The loss of points on your driving license, for example, only occurs in specific cases of parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
Furthermore, according to the same source, fine notifications never require credit card details and are usually sent by post, allowing 15 working days for dispute or payment. If there is no response within this period, the amount of the fine may increase and legal sanctions may be applied, but the official procedure differs substantially from that described in fraud.
The warning is for citizens to remain vigilant and always check the authenticity of fine notifications. The official authentication platform of the Portuguese State is accessible exclusively at autenticacao.gov.pt, and only there should payments or processes related to fines be processed.
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