'Fake Accident' Trap on Portuguese Roads: Algarve Leads, Methods Have Changed

One of the most annoying scenarios that can happen to you while behind the wheel in Portugal has been on the rise again lately. The GNR (National Republican Guard) warns drivers against "fake accident" scams, which are rapidly increasing in the Algarve region, especially in the south of the country. The figures clearly show the seriousness of the situation: The money lost by people in just the first six months of the year has exceeded 72 thousand euros. This amount is almost equivalent to the total money lost in the entire last year.

While Faro ranked first in the country with 6 cases, Lisbon had 4; Three incidents each were recorded in Porto, Viseu and Beja. There are victims who lost more than 15 thousand euros in a single incident.

How Does the Loom Work?

At first glance, the method is constructed as a very innocent and hectic accident. Usually, the moment you leave a shopping mall parking lot or a crowded parking lot, a vehicle follows you. They force you to pull to the right by turning on the flashlight from behind and honking the horn.

When you stop the vehicle, the other party approaches you with a very calm and even extremely friendly attitude. In order to avoid suspicion, they even use teams disguised as families, with women and children in the vehicle. They point to an old scratch or a broken side mirror on their own vehicle and begin to put pressure on them by saying, "You just hit my car when you were leaving." They are trying to get cash by saying, "Let's not call the police, let's not deal with insurance, your premiums will increase, we have urgent business, let's handle it between us."

ATM Era is Over, They Copy Cards with POS Devices

These gangs, who used to take the victims to the nearest ATM and withdraw money, have now taken things one step further. Now they travel around with portable POS devices.

They secretly memorize your password while trying to withdraw the so-called damage fee from you by card. Then, with sleight of hand, they replace your card with a fake card of similar appearance and give it back. While you think you are just making a small payment, your accounts are emptied within minutes with your main card and password. Especially drivers over the age of 60 are made open targets because they are seen as more vulnerable in digital payments and are afraid of legal processes.

What to Do in Such a Situation?

If someone stops you while you're on the road, claiming you've had an accident, stay calm and follow these steps:

Never pay with cash or card: The biggest mistake to make is handing over money at the scene or inserting cards into unfamiliar devices.

Take photos and keep a report: Take clear photographs of the condition and license plates of your own vehicle and the other vehicle. Offer to fill out the standard accident report (Declaração Amigável).

Do not deviate from the official route: If the other party does not accept the insurance report, tell the director that you will call GNR or PSP directly. Most of the time, the moment they hear the word police, they run away from the scene.

Source: Michael Bruxo / With data from GNR

Photo: Volodymyr Dobrovolskyy / Unsplash