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Scam involving Portugal traffic fines

I just got a scam email about a supposed traffic fine in Portugal.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/12/30/scam-email-warning-to-drivers-in-portugal/

Email is obviously fake, but demanded payment of €120 by Feb 17. I've only been to Portugal once and it was in 2022, though I'm going back this April.

Email claimed to be representing ANSR, which is like the DMV in Portugal but the address is from .it domain, Italy.

Meanwhile, the only clickable page goes not to the ansr.pt site but to some other Portuguese site, where you're apparently prompted to enter your phone number. No doubt it would also ask for your bank or credit card account. I didn't enter anything.

The article says that Portugal doesn't send traffic violation notices by email, only by regular mail. Also on the ansr.pt site, there is an English FAQ and it appears the only way you can pay is by international wire, not by credit card, which is the case with some agencies in other countries, for instance, I've paid traffic fines online for France once.

In any event, for them to learn of my address and email address, the rental car company would have to be involved and if they do have to provide this information to the agencies, they will typically charge you an administrative fee.

Also official notices don't give you just a couple of days to pay.

Posted by
34480 posts

confused a bit by your account.

Is the article about you or just a similar account?

Did you drive in 2022 in Portugal? Did your credit card used for the rental have a charge appear after you returned the car which could be a 25€ to 75€ charge for reporting your details to the police?

What is it about the email that appears fake?

It could be a scam or it could be real, depending...

Posted by
2506 posts

This is very common right now in the US. You receive a text stating you owe for tolls in your state and if you don't send payment Within a short time frame you lose your license. They claim to represent your state DMV. There was an FBI warning not to open the website or respond in any way. Just perhaps this is the same kind of scam regarding Portugal. Just a thought to be aware.

Posted by
7375 posts

Similar to a text I recently received about a toll fine in Massachusetts (haven’t been in decades) that came from a Philippines phone number.

Posted by
195 posts

We once got an actual ticket in the mail from Port Authority of New York for driving through the electronic toll lane to go over a bridge without having the necessary electronic device to pay the toll. The offense occurred late at night when we were home asleep. Fortunately they included a photo of “our” vehicle that clearly showed a license number different from ours. When I explained the discrepancy to their customer service agent they cancelled the ticket.