Fake Police Scams in Portugal
Fraudsters impersonate PSP, GNR, or PJ officers to extort EUR payments or steal banking credentials from Portuguese residents under threat of arrest.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Police impersonation fraud is an active threat in Portugal, with scammers calling in European Portuguese and claiming to represent the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP), Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), or Polícia Judiciária (PJ). Victims are told their bank accounts are implicated in criminal activity and that funds must be moved to a 'police custody account' or risk seizure.
PJ has issued public warnings about this fraud type. Elderly residents, recently arrived expats, and foreign nationals unfamiliar with Portuguese legal procedures are most at risk.
How this scam works on Portugal
A call arrives with spoofed caller ID appearing to match a local PSP or GNR station. The caller claims in fluent Portuguese that the victim's IBAN has been flagged in a money-laundering investigation, and that immediate transfer to a 'secure judicial account' is required to demonstrate cooperation.
A second caller posing as a 'Banco de Portugal compliance officer' corroborates the claim. The victim is urged not to contact their own bank or family until the transfer is complete.
In some variants, the caller instructs the victim to buy MB NET virtual cards or prepaid vouchers to pay a 'provisional security deposit'.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited call claiming your bank account is linked to criminal activity
- Request to transfer EUR to a 'secure judicial or police account'
- Caller insists you act immediately and tell no one
- Caller ID appears to match official police numbers — Portuguese police do not call for transfers
- Request to purchase MB NET cards or prepaid vouchers for a 'security deposit'
- Co-caller posing as Banco de Portugal representative
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and call PSP at 21 765 4242 or GNR at 21 321 4000 to verify any claim
- Never transfer EUR or purchase prepaid cards on the instruction of a phone caller
- Tell a trusted family member or your bank branch before taking any action
- Report the call to CNCS at cncs.gov.pt
- Alert elderly relatives about police impersonation tactics
- Enable daily transfer limits on your Portuguese online banking account
How to report it
- Call PSP (21 765 4242) or GNR (21 321 4000) to report the impersonation
- File a complaint with Polícia Judiciária at policiajudiciaria.pt
- Report to CNCS at cncs.gov.pt/reportar
Frequently asked questions
Will Portuguese police ever ask me to transfer money as part of an investigation?
No. Neither PSP, GNR, nor PJ will ever ask you to transfer money to a police account as part of an investigation. Such requests are always fraudulent.