Many Ukrainian and Russian immigrants in Portugal have been targetted by phone scams. The scammers pretend to be officials from the PJ Judicial Police (PJ) and they speak Russian. They ask for sensitive information such as bank account details. The Association of Ukrainians in Portugal has reported this to the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD). They believe there has been a data leak.
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Ukrainians And Russians Targeted By Phone Scams In Portugal
Russian immigrants especially those critical of Moscow have also been targeted. President of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal Pavlo Sadokha shared these concerns. He said the scam has made many people feel unsafe.
What Is Vishing?
This type of phone scams is called vishing. Vishing happens when criminals make phone calls to trick people so that they share their personal details. These can include passwords, bank account numbers or credit card information. The scammers try to create fear and urgency so that victims act quickly.
Pavlo Sadokha himself received such a call. He said:
About two months ago, I got a call from a Portuguese number. A woman spoke in Russian and said she was a PJ inspector. She claimed there was a scam involving my bank account. She asked me to confirm my details. I realized it was fake and hung up
Sadokha’s contact information is public because of his role. But many Ukrainians reported similar calls on social media soon. This led the association to take action. Sadokha estimates that hundreds of immigrants have been targeted.
Victims To These Scams
The people who have been affected are mostly Ukrainians but some Russians have also been attacked. Often, scammers said that they are PJ agents. They also claim to be bank employees or even public prosecutors.
The callers seem to have detailed information. They know the names and surnames of the people they call. This suggests that they are using stolen personal data.
Sadokha explained:
The victims share nothing in common except being Ukrainian or Russian immigrants. Their numbers are not in our database. This means the data was likely stolen elsewhere.
Victims say the scammers become aggressive if they refuse to share information. However, the scammers do not mention politics. They only focus on getting bank details.
How The Association Responded
The Association of Ukrainians in Portugal has filed a complaint with the CNPD. They believe this is due to a major data leak. They suspect someone has stolen personal data which includes phone numbers, names and nationalities. This raises serious concerns about data security.
Sadokha noted that many victims are not connected through shared platforms. This makes it clear that the data came from an external breach. The association is urging authorities to investigate the matter.
Similar Scams in the Past
The PJ warned about a similar scam in 2023 in which the scammers spoke in English. The police advised the public not to share personal information over the phone. Public should not record the number of any suspicious calls and to report these incidents to the authorities.
They also emphasized the importance of being cautious with urgent or threatening language meant to scare victims into acting quickly.
The National Cybersecurity Commission (CNCS) also offers advice. They warn against clicking on suspicious links or attachments in messages. They also advise never to share sensitive data over the phone.
How To Avoid Such Scams
This scam shows the need for better data protection. Immigrant communities are especially vulnerable. Ukrainians and Russians in Portugal rely on digital platforms to stay connected. But these platforms can expose them to risks if their data is not secure.
Sadokha expressed concern about the emotional impact. He said:
It is not just about the money. These scams create fear and mistrust. People worry if their personal information is safe. This can affect their daily lives.
Several steps can be taken to prevent such scams in the future. Raise awareness among immigrants about vishing scams is crucial. This can be done through workshops and social media campaigns. Organizations must prioritize data security by using encryption, conducting regular security checks and training staff.
Victims should feel safe reporting scams as this helps authorities track and stop fraudsters. Finally, international cooperation is essential as scammers often operate across borders. Authorities in Portugal should work with other countries to combat these crimes effectively.
The targeting of Ukrainians and Russians in Portugal is alarming. No one has lost money yet but the psychological impact is significant. The Association of Ukrainians has taken a strong step by filing a complaint. But more must be done to protect immigrants from these scams.
