Fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp scams target citizens in Brazil and Portugal

Authorities in Brazil and Portugal have issued warnings regarding new phishing scams targeting citizens through WhatsApp and SMS.

In Brazil, fraudsters are impersonating the National Social Security Institute (INSS) via WhatsApp. These messages claim that beneficiaries must perform a ‘proof of life’ update to avoid benefit suspension. The scams use urgent language and fraudulent links to trick retirees and pensioners into providing sensitive information, such as CPF numbers and addresses, or transferring money.

In Portugal, the National Health Service (SNS 24) has warned of fraudulent SMS messages claiming there are outstanding payments or overdue invoices. These messages direct users to fake websites designed to look like official portals to steal banking details and personal data. Officials emphasize that the SNS 24 never requests payments via SMS and advises citizens to only use official domains.