Fake messages sent by SMS asking people to pay up for motorway tolls are being sent to mobile phones across the country.
Brisa said today that "in no case should people reply to anonymous messages that ask for the payment of money relating to toll fees."
Brisa came clean today and issued the warning to media to help advise users of Portugal’s motorways that the scam is out there and is a convincing one, but has not said who the scam is targetted at - the general public or its own Via Verde customers.
The fake messages mention an ATM reference for recipients to use when making the requested payment. Brisa warns that these messages are not being sent by the company and if people pay up, it’s pretty much down to them.
“The only SMS messages we would send would relate to advising customers of irregularities and we would not ask for payments."
Brisa and Via Verde warns recipeints of a scam SMS that "in no instance should you reply to anonymous messages that require payments relating to tolls."
Brisa also said with a degree of mystery that it will "react lawfully and in accordance with Portuguese law, to ensure their interests and those of its customers."
It is not yet known whether the Brisa database has been hacked into and mobile phone records accessed, or whether other phone records are being used from another source.
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If in doubt customers should use the following contacts:
Customers Via Verde: email: gestao.clientes@viaverde.pt;
707 500 900
Customers Brisa (without Via Verde):
e-mail: servico.cliente@brisa.pt;
808 508 508
Comments
Surely this reference can be diverted back to the SMS recipients account .... by the bank ?
Ricardo Salgardo .... he would know all about this kind of 'diversion' - where is the man when you want him?
Possibly in London. According to the Evening Standard - he was positively seen last week by a Portuguese on the 10.23am No 88 Vauxhall to Clapham Junction bus. Downstairs (remember he is getting on a bit so not up top), squashed up against a rather large Jamaican lady.
However - neither Portuguese had paid so both got thrown off.