Portugal police arrest couple for 400,000 euro elderly fraud

fraud elderly exploitation impersonation scams money laundering criminal investigation

Portuguese authorities have reported two distinct trends in criminal activity. In one major case, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) arrested a married couple, aged 38 and 43, under Operation ‘Formíca’. The suspects are accused of defrauding a 90-year-old man of approximately 400,000 euros between 2022 and 2026 in Entroncamento and Santarém. The scheme involved fraudulent real estate and automobile transactions that never materialized. Investigations revealed the victim transferred funds to accounts belonging to the suspects' relatives and friends, which were then moved to the woman’s account. The couple faces charges of fraud and money laundering.

Separately, the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) has issued an alert regarding a rise in ‘false official’ scams. Between January 2024 and May 2026, 193 cases were recorded where criminals impersonated members of the PJ, GNR, PSP, or ASAE. These criminals use psychological manipulation and ‘caller ID spoofing’ to deceive citizens and merchants, often via telephone. The districts of Porto, Lisbon, and Setúbal have reported the highest number of occurrences. Most of these crimes occur during daylight hours, particularly on Thursdays and Fridays, often targeting private residences and commercial establishments.

Entities

Braga · Entroncamento · Guarda Nacional Republicana · Madeira International Airport · Odemira · Operação Formíca · Polícia Judiciária · Polícia de Segurança Pública · Porto · Portugal · Public Security Police · Santarém

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] 12 mobile phones were stolen from a shopping center in Braga.
[● 2 SOURCES] The recovered phones were returned to the owner.
[● 2 SOURCES] Police intercepted a suspect and another person attempting to sell two stolen phones at a different business.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The total value of the stolen phones is 17,694.88 euros.
[● 2 SOURCES] A house search resulted in the recovery of the remaining stolen phones.