The Public Security Police (PSP) has alerted the public to a new version of the “fake accident” scam that has caused more than 50 reports and losses above €200,000 in the Lisbon area over the past month. Officers say the fraud is aimed mainly at motorists aged between 70 and 90 who are driving alone. It usually starts with a seemingly minor crash, after which the suspects accuse the victim of causing the collision and create pressure for an immediate response. Instead of going through insurance, they propose settling the matter on the spot and use a portable card payment terminal to request payment. While the victim enters their PIN, the scammers allegedly replace the real bank card with a similar-looking one and then leave with the original card. They later withdraw large amounts of cash before the victim notices the theft. The PSP is advising drivers, especially older people, not to hand bank cards to strangers, to contact the PSP if anything seems suspicious, and to record details such as descriptions, vehicle make and model, and registration numbers. Although the recent cases were reported in mainland Portugal, the police want families and carers in Madeira to warn elderly relatives, stressing that any collision should be handled through the normal legal process and that no immediate payment should ever be made under pressure.
