The sale of fake tickets for concerts, festivals and sporting events through fake profiles on social media is one of the main schemes used to deceive consumers in Portugal. In Porto, the Judicial Police recently dismantled the Showbizz operation, a network that sold non-existent tickets, mobile phones and promotional stamps through online platforms. The scammers attracted victims with ads at attractive prices or tickets for sold-out shows, but nothing they offered actually existed.
Tourists visiting Porto are also targeted by accommodation-related scams. The high demand for rooms and apartments in the city, which received more than three million visitors in the first half of 2026, creates opportunities for deceptive offers. The PSP has already warned about situations where users are redirected to payments outside the usual channels of platforms like Airbnb, or where ads show real photos but correspond to non-existent properties. Even after a legitimate reservation, false messages have appeared, seemingly sent by owners or platforms, informing of payment problems.
Scammers frequently steer victims away from official platforms to communicate through apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, where it is easier to convince them to make direct payments. Phishing emails and QR codes are another common lure, leading to fake pages that collect passwords or banking details. Travelers also use public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports and cafés, which represents additional risks for data privacy, especially when accessing accounts or performing sensitive operations.
To avoid being scammed, the recommendation is to buy tickets only through organizers or authorized sellers, pay for accommodations through official platforms, not follow unexpected links sent by email, SMS or WhatsApp, and always confirm website addresses before entering passwords or banking details. Using a VPN on public networks is also suggested as an additional security measure.
