GNR registered 193 scams with false police and ASA inspectors And

A GNR recorded 193 crimes of fraud by a false employee, using the use of identity of security forces and criminal police bodies between January 2024 and May 31, 2026.

Of the total number of occurrences, 69 were registered in 2024, 76 in 2025 and 48 in the first five months of 2026, states the security force in a statement, which highlights that the districts of Porto, with 33 crimes, Lisbon, with 23, and Setúbal, with 18, concentrated the highest number of occurrences involved.

According to the GNR, the alleged scammers mainly resort to the simulation of authority and oversight functions, posing as inspectors of the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE), the Judicial Police (PJ), the Public Security Police (PSP) and the guard itself.

The false elements of the ASAE were associated with 69 cases, the false PJ inspectors were identified in 67 occurrences, the scams with false PSP elements totaled 22 cases and those involving false GNR military members totaled 17.

“ Other entities or claims (orders, credits, miscellaneous coercions) were the cause of 18 occurrences,” adds GNR, stating that the alleged scammers resorted to psychological manipulation, false sense of authority and digital disguise technologies (‘caller ID spoofing’) to coerce traders and citizens.

The telephone and phone were the main means of contact, used in 142 of the 193 cases.

GNR alerts the use of caller ID spoofing technology, which allows a real phone number to appear on the victim’s screen of a guard post, a PSP station or a PJ department.

According to the data, about 75% of the crimes occurred during the day, with 74 cases in the morning and 72 in the afternoon, and the days with the highest incidence of this type of crime were Thursdays, with 45 occurrences, and Fridays, with 33.

As for the places of approach, the GNR clarifies that the interior of private residences concentrated 88 occurrences, followed by commercial and restoration establishments, with 56 cases, and the public road, with 30 approaches, nine of which in 2026.

Among the 172 victims identified, the most represented age groups were those from 51 to 64 years old, with 49 victims, and from 41 to 50 years old, with 33.

Suspects resort to threats of imminent inspections, alleged infractions or false criminal investigations to pressure victims to make payments or transfer money to alleged security accounts.

In other cases, “they contact citizens, preferably elderly, claiming that a family member was involved in a serious accident or was arrested, demanding payment of compensation”.

The guard advises the population not to make immediate payments or provide personal or banking data by telephone, stressing that there are no discounts for the payment of fines or fines on time by telephone or digital.

It also advises to require formal identification of supervisory officers and, in the face of calls with urgent demands of money, to shut down and contact the authorities directly through official channels.

In the event of fraud, GNR recommends that the authorities be contacted as soon as possible, that information and testimony be collected and that any traces be preserved.

The security force stresses that denunciation is essential for monitoring this type of crime.