Fraudulent situations are largely responsible for the increase in the total number of crimes reported to the PSP in 2023, amounting to 17.44%, and are responsible for property losses exceeding 110 million euros, three times the amount recorded in 2022.
A statement from the Public Security Police (PSP) indicated that the total number of fraud cases has been increasing in recent years: 46,836 were registered in 2022, and 61,916 in 2023.
In 2023, the number of fraud cases increased by 21% compared to 2022, representing an increase of 24.3% (15,080) in the total number of fraud cases reported.
In a statement, the PSP said that “despite the high number of reports of fraud, the arrest rate is low given the difficulty of identifying a suspect at the scene of the crime and making an arrest,” adding that it is “a type of crime that is quite complex to investigate, making it difficult to identify potential suspects and subsequently arrest them.”
According to police, 38 people were arrested in 2021, 58 in 2022, and 79 last year.
According to PSP, older people are still the preferred victims when it comes to personal attacks, but in recent years, with the advancement of technology, people of all age groups have become victims.
In a note, the PSP stresses that “the most effective way to avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent crime is to focus on prevention, suspicion and suspicion of people we don’t know, as well as businesses that quickly pay too much dividends.”
PSP also advises victims to report fraud to authorities as this is the only way to begin the criminal investigation process.
In this regard, PSP advises people not to make any money transfers to people who advertise online without being sure that the advertiser is legitimate, and to keep all exchanges of emails, photos and messages in case the rental does not go as agreed or you become a victim of fraud.
It is also recommended not to access email addresses sent from other platforms to conduct business, request links or additional data about products for sale, properties to be rented, or the subject of a contract in general, or to search for advertiser data and contacts.
In terms of in-person scams, PSP advises people to contact the police if they notice any strange movement in a building or area, and not to answer the door if they knock and ask for information, and not to give out personal information.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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