Portuguese authorities warn of fake bank card mail fraud

The Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) has issued an alert regarding a sophisticated banking fraud scheme involving fake bank cards sent via mail. Scammers use highly professional-looking letters that appear to be legitimate communications from financial institutions, often including a personalized card with the victim's name to increase credibility.

The fraudulent correspondence claims the card is a replacement for an expiring card and instructs the recipient to activate it urgently to avoid account blockage. The scheme utilizes a technique known as ‘quishing’, a variant of phishing that employs QR codes. When victims scan the provided code, they are redirected to a fraudulent website designed to mimic an official banking portal, allowing criminals to harvest sensitive personal information and drain accounts.