The GNR will carry out on September 13 a community policing operation dedicated to the prevention of scams, with one of the actions taking place in Lousada, at Jardim de Lousada, in Praça da República, starting at 10:00 AM. The Porto Territorial Command registered 1,779 scam crimes in the first half of 2026, with May being the month with the highest number of incidents.
The initiative aims to alert the population to the increasing sophistication of this type of crime, namely requests for immediate payments and attempts to access accounts or banking data. According to GNR data, the age group between 41 and 64 is the one with the highest incidence among scam victims, and the increasing use of digital means has contributed to the adaptation of methods used by scammers.
During the operation, the military personnel will promote community contacts and provide information on the main warning signs, recommending that contacts involving urgent requests for money, transfers, or provision of personal, banking, or access codes be viewed with suspicion. When faced with a suspicious situation, the recommendation is not to make any payment or provide information without first confirming the identity and legitimacy of whoever is making the contact.
The Lousada action may be covered by media outlets, with statements from Second Lieutenant Davide Chaves, from the Felgueiras Territorial Detachment, planned. The GNR recommends that any suspicious approach or scam case be reported immediately to the authorities or presented at the nearest Territorial Post.
