How Leiria Residents Can Spot Fake Utility Workers After Storms

The Portugal Public Security Police (PSP) in Leiria has sounded a fresh alarm over bogus utility workers, a warning that could spare households from costly and even dangerous scams.

Why This Matters

• Spike in fraud after storms: Criminals are cashing in on post-storm repairs triggered by Depressions Kristin and Leonardo.

• Targets are often seniors: Leiria’s ageing population is viewed as easier prey for persuasive impostors.

• Phone first, doorstep later: Most schemes begin with a call seeking personal data before a “technician” shows up.

• Simple checks can block losses: Verifying ID cards and calling customer-service lines cancels nearly every attempt.

Why the Scammers Picked This Moment

Heavy rain tore tiles off rooftops and flooded cellars across the central-coast district. Legitimate electricians and plumbers are now fully booked. That scarcity has created a lucrative gap for fake contractors waving clipboards. By invoking emergency repairs or mandatory inspections, scammers exploit the urgency felt by residents eager to restore power or water.

How the Ruse Works

Cold call: A polite voice claims to be from "Águas do Centro" or the local electricity distributor, insisting a flow-rate test is mandatory.

Data harvesting: Victims are asked how many people sleep at the address and what hours they are home.

Unscheduled visit: Within hours, a van marked with a counterfeit logo pulls up, often carrying two men in reflective vests.

Pressure tactics: They demand an on-the-spot fee—sometimes €150—for a “temporary bypass” or “urgent debris removal.”

Exit strategy: Cash collected, they vanish, leaving behind non-functioning devices such as fake generators that pose a fire risk.

Officials say the crooks sometimes pose as municipal staff conducting a "mini-census," a trick that has already fooled several isolated hamlets north of the A1 motorway.

What This Means for Residents

• No reputable agency will charge at the door for post-storm assessments; invoices arrive by mail or e-mail.

• Professional ID cards are non-negotiable. Genuine PSP-checked technicians carry plastic badges with a hologram and a photo.

• Utilities confirm appointments in writing. If you did not receive an SMS or letter, assume the visit is fake.

• PSP urges note-taking: Write down vehicle plates and physical descriptions—these details have helped crack prior cases.

• Emergency number 112 still applies. Do not hesitate; response times in urban Leiria average 9 minutes, according to PSP data.

Official Response and Next Steps

The Leiria City Council has reinforced its customer-service hotline and published a list of certified contractors on its website. Meanwhile, the Portugal National Civil Protection Authority is working with insurers so that adjusters schedule visits only via traceable digital channels, closing another loophole.

PSP district commander Domingos Urbano Antunes told local radio that plain-clothes patrols will circulate in neighbourhoods hit hardest by the floods, looking for vans with magnetic signs that can be peeled off in seconds—a hallmark of the gang.

Spotting Red Flags in 10 Seconds

• Lack of holographic badge

• Requests for cash or instant bank transfer

• Refusal to let you phone the company while they wait

• Generic phrases such as “municipal directives” without citing an article of law

• Over-friendly insistence on entering bedrooms or storage areas

Households that follow these quick checks are, in PSP’s words, “99% less likely” to fall victim.

End result: A few prudent actions—asking for credentials, making a swift call, and trusting your nerves—can keep your wallet safe and your home secure during Portugal’s long recovery from this winter’s storms.