Lisbon, Oct. 1, 2026 (Lusa) - The Bank of Portugal (BdP) on Thursday warned of a new scam and urged people to stay vigilant if they receive a new ATM card in their letterbox, as it may be fake.

«Always be cautious if you are asked to act immediately, for example, by being threatened with having your account blocked,» the statement reads.

The BdP also urged people to exercise caution and recommended that they assess the contents of the correspondence, even if «the card appears to be genuine and issued by your bank».

«Criminals may have previously obtained some of your details, such as your name, address and the bank you use, which allows them to personalise the correspondence they send by post,» the Bank of Portugal said.

The institution also pointed out that the cards remain valid until the last day indicated on the card itself and «the bank sends a new card in the weeks leading up to this date; it is therefore a timely process that does not require urgent activation».

«Cards can only be activated in three ways: at an ATM, or via your bank's website or app (…) only use the contact details, links, or QR codes provided by your bank to verify that the communication is genuine or to activate the new card,» states the Bank of Portugal's website.

The Bank also warned that the links may lead to fake bank websites that resemble the originals, from which criminals can obtain personal information and even transfer money.

The BdP urged customers to always contact their bank if in any doubt.

AJR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa