The Public Security Police (PSP) dismantled a fraud scheme involving the “PagAqui” payment system in Oeiras. A man was identified and subjected to a term of identity and residence.
In a statement, the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP noted that the events occurred on September 8 when the suspect entered a commercial establishment in Barcarena, “appearing to be a regular customer.”
After selecting several food items and placing them on the counter, he “requested that the owner process, through the ‘PagAqui’ payment system, his alleged car insurance payment, providing a handwritten note with the entity, reference, and amount,” totaling 177 euros.
After completing the operation, the suspect attempted to distract the seller and requested a second payment using the same method. “He then took a juice box from a shelf and, under the pretext of consulting his supposed son at the store entrance, fled, taking the paid amount and the food item worth 50 cents,” PSP continued.
Last Saturday, November 21, authorities conducted searches at residences and other locations as part of an investigation directed by the Public Ministry, “aiming to gather evidence related to the repeated fraud and theft crimes,” targeting local merchants through this fraudulent scheme. The suspect’s house and vehicle, “known to be used in his criminal activities,” were searched.
In this case, the correlation between the victim’s testimony, surveillance footage from the establishment, and seized handwritten documents allowed authorities to “unequivocally” identify the suspect as the perpetrator.
The man is already known to authorities for repeated crimes of the same nature, “having an extensive criminal record, mainly for frauds and thefts.”
The investigations also led to the seizure of relevant evidence, including handwritten documents related to the modus operandi employed.
The suspect has been identified and subjected to a term of identity and residence.
