Fake SNS 24 Texts Demand an "Overdue Payment": The Health Service Never Asks for Money by SMS, and What to Do if You Clicked

Fraudulent text messages using the name of SNS 24, the National Health Service's contact centre, are telling people in Portugal they have an overdue payment and must settle it within days. SNS 24 issued an alert on social media, reported by Notícias ao Minuto late on 24 October, saying the texts lead to fake websites and that it never sends payment requests.

"SMS messages with fake websites posing as SNS 24 and asking for undue payments have been circulating," the alert said. "We remind you that SNS 24 never sends payment requests and provides free information and services only on its official channels: the Portal, the Line (808 24 24 24), the App and the SNS 24 Counters."

What the messages say

According to the examples SNS 24 published, some texts refer to a "pagamento em dívida de urgência" (an urgent overdue payment) and say the recipient has "5 dias para efetuar o pagamento" (five days to pay), followed by a link. Others skip the link and send an amount with payment details straight away.

The pattern is not new. The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS) has published several fraud alerts this year. On 6 August it warned of texts about fines for late payment of SNS services, carrying a link that then asked for bank card details. On 14 August it described texts giving a Multibanco reference to pay a variable "overdue" amount within five days, in the name of an entity called MIN.SAUDE. That alert also mentioned fake texts offering refunds or claiming debts and tax enforcement proceedings.

How to tell it is fake

• SNS 24 does not ask for money. The ministry describes SNS 24 services as public and free for everyone.
• Check the link. SNS 24 says its official address is sns24.gov.pt "and only this one".
• Urgency is a warning sign. The Bank of Portugal's guidance on digital channels notes that fraudulent contacts usually push for speed so you act before thinking.

If in doubt, SNS 24 advises calling 808 24 24 24 or emailing the SPMS incident response team at [email protected]. If you need a hand in person, an SNS 24 counter can help with the official services.

If you clicked, paid or shared details

• Call your bank at once. The Bank of Portugal tells customers to contact their institution immediately about any movement they did not authorise, and reminds them that a bank never asks for homebanking or app login details by phone, email or SMS. Our earlier piece on fraud losses and bank complaints covers what tends to happen next.
• Protect MB WAY. SIBS, which runs MB WAY, says on its security page never to share your six-digit PIN, never to follow a stranger's instructions to join or pay, and never to follow links received by SMS. More on the app's rules is in our report on the Portalegre MB WAY scam cases.
• Report it to the police. Fraud (burla) is one of the crimes that can be reported online to the PSP or the GNR through the Queixa Eletrónica system, which is open to Portuguese and foreign nationals living in or present in Portugal. It is not for emergencies; for those, call 112.
• Do not reply, and delete the message. The ministry's advice is short: do not pay, do not open suspicious links, do not give personal or bank details.

The ministry said in August that it was working with the competent authorities on the fake messages.