The Judicial Police say Operação Harpia concerns a loss that may exceed 17 million euros in national and EU funds for small businesses, below the 20 million first reported. Two people were detained; no one has been charged.
The Judicial Police searched companies in three districts over money from Banco Português de Fomento that allegedly ended up with managers. The bank says it was not searched and puts its exposure at 17.3 million euros across two funds.
Complaints to the Bank of Portugal over transfers customers say they never authorised rose from 583 to 1,232 in 2025, yet it found irregularities in only 9.2 percent of closed cases. What the law says about refunds, and what to do if fraud empties your account.
The EU Court of Justice says a bank cannot refuse an immediate refund of an unauthorised payment by blaming the customer's gross negligence. It must pay by the next business day and can claim the loss back only if it proves that negligence.
About 145 buyers in an alleged off-plan fraud in Palmela want deposits insured and every promissory contract registered. What the Civil Code and land registry already offer a buyer, where the gaps are, and what to check before paying.
Texts in the name of SNS 24 claim you owe an urgent payment and have five days to settle it. SNS 24 says it never sends payment requests. How to spot the fake, and what to do if you clicked or paid.
The European Commission is investigating whether Booking.com did enough against fake listings and phishing that exploits guests' booking data, and whether boosted listings are labelled as ads. How to avoid payment scams and where to complain in Portugal.
