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Expats and all foreigners are seen as people who have money and are gullible, and this alone makes them a target for scammers.

Most scammers are just opportunists, but some are "professional scammers", this means they've optimized their tactics and are making a living out of scamming others and even advertise their services as "immigration consultants" or such.

Justice in Portugal is very slow, any complaint is almost pointless, and only if you are lucky enough to figure out how to complain. Most victims don't bother.

Just avoid being a victim.

You'll find scammers in all social cricles: from the poor & exploited workers in bars & restaurants cheating on your bill, to the realtors, lawyers and solicitors up for hire, and the immigration officers that are overworked and underpaid.

Any chance to make a few extra bucks is a chance worth taken... for some.

Example: an expat asked for a recommendation for a solicitor on a FB group to help him navigate the process of buying a home in Portugal. The recommended solicitor charged 10 times more than the going rate, and... did not advise the buyer that half of the property was an illegal extension, and the first floor was also added to the original house without any license or paperwork.

This was more than evident from the property documents, so why didn't the solicitor bring it up with the client? Maybe because he was hopping the expat would buy (and he did) and latter would come back to him again to solve the legal nightmare. He could overcharge him again while claiming to give him a "discount", as he did first time.

Another solicitor highly recommended by expats on social media was asking 2000 Euros per adult and 1000 Euros per child to get a D7 visa for a family of 4, when they didn't have enough passive income to qualify for that visa.

Apparently this solicitor knew someone at the immigration services who could get round the rules, for a fee. She promised they'd be successful and they bragged about it on social media and even posted her contact when asked by other interested expats.

Another family explained that when their visa application was rejected twice because they lived in a campervan and had no fixed address and no proof of income (from dealing) the same solicitor asked them how much they could afford, and asked 3000 Euros to arrange an appeal with the immigration services. On the date the solicitor went to the appointment with the expats but they needn't bother: when they were called in, the solicitor told them to wait in the waiting area and went in alone. Ten minutes later she came out with the D7 visas approved for the whole family, all smiles!

Is Portugal a corrupt country?

Yes, very much so. But there are plenty of portuguese people who will deny it trying to push the muck under the carpet, pretending we are all very european & very civilized. And the government is in no hurry to fight corruption when the rot starts with them.

Renting scams are another very, very, very long story... with plenty of victims.

Fortunately we are EU citizens living in Portugal. This means that we don't have an issue with visas, where lots of the scams seem to take place.

For us the most common scams are overcharging. This can be avoided by checking your e.g. restaurant bills. For a start, we avoid the very touristy places, because we are not tourists. Plus we know what the "normal" prices are.

When it comes to trades people, we go with tried and trusted ones that are recommended by neighbors and friends and we shop around to get an idea about prices. Plus we have a look at their previous work.

From our personal experience we couldn't say that Portugal is very corrupt. However ...

@Mariza.says

Hello,

Can you please tell me who is this female solicitor that knows someone at immigration and letting everyone know. I want to make sure I do not get her. I would appreciate this information.

Thanks

@Mariza.says

Yes it would be good to have her name posted here so folks can be aware.  Sadly this happens in all countries, so nothing really new, it's just makes things even more stressful and harder.   Thank you.

@bilkis53

I'm afraid it's against the rules to post names and contacts here. But...

1) If you want to "avoid" her (or anyone like her) just don't hire any solicitor that guarantees a Visa in exchange for a very large fee = their work + bribe to immigration officials. If they say lack of documents such as income, address, rental contract etc. is not a problem to get a visa, you'll know what they are up to.

2) But if you want to "(un)avoid" her... that's easy!... Just look at old posts in similar expat forums to this one where folks post names & contacts, and look also through Youtube videos and FB groups about visas & moving to Portugal, and her name & contact is all over social media, multiple times. It seems she was "efficient".

Alternativelly post your own querry: "Looking for a solicitor for a quick visa, no proof of income, no proof of address" and she may reply herself.

That said, I haven't seen her name lately, maybe the PJ has caught up with her, there's been several arrests lately. She used to"work" with SEF before they were dismantled (because of same issues) and replaced with AIMA and brand new immigration officers. By now others will have had time to establish inside contacts and they are easy to find & very eager... 😎

I was expecting more folks would post here about their experiences of scams but I understand that most victims will not feel brave enough to put their heads above the parapet. So I'm posting some I've heard about in the hope that newcommers are more prepared.

Here's a scam that went on for over a year and caught hundreds of victims:

An expat rented a small 1 bed flat in Arroios, Lisbon and started issuing fake residency certificates to anyone who needed one for their visa application, on the basis that each applicant was living there in a flatshare: 1500 of them in a 1 bed flat!

More than 1500 certificates were issued netting  around 300 to 500 Euros each to the scammer,  depending if folks also wanted a NIF number as well. No probs...!

The local Junta de Freguesia reported them to the police but nothing happened for over a year... till the Junta refused to stamp any more certificates for that address and contacted the TV news.

Only then did the government move to close the loophole: now all residency certificates need to be accompanied by the original rental contract and landlord's permission to sublet, with all documents signed and notarised.

A Brit explained in her YT channel that she had gone the "Arroios way" because she was moving around a lot and did not have  a permanent address at the time. She paid 500 Euros for a residence certificate plus a NIF number.

She got the residence certificate on the day, but the NIF number was posted to the scammer's address and when she later contacted him to get it, he asked another 500 Euros... She paid up thinking that it would be the end of the story.

But later she realized that she also needed the Code / Password for accessing her online NIF account, also sent by the Finanças to the scammer's address... she contacted him again and... had to pay another 300 Euros to get the code.

Nice little income stream for an expat... till the guy got arrested and his money & assets were frozen. He won't get any back. Ever!

Did not stop another guy doing exactly the same this winter in Porto area. And guess what? He was also caught after just a few dozen fake certificates. Shame, init? 😂

Now folks that got visas this way may be relieved thinking that since they were not (yet) contacted by the PJ they are good to go...

Well, they may get a bit of a surprise sometime when they need to renew their visas or get that so prized permanent residency in Portugal.

Just saying...

Avoid renting rooms with *** The comany is run by a Portugal based Brazilian lawyer who is a scammer. for the negative reviews.

Avoid renting rooms with ***. The comany is run by a Portugal based Brazilian lawyer who is a scammer. for the negative reviews. - @James M76

True. The company "***" (also known as Modoramo Lda) appears to have a problematic and very negative history, according to opinions and complaints found online, especially on the Portal da Queixa (Portuguese Complaint Portal).

The main recurring complaints and points of dissatisfaction include:

- Undue retention of security deposit

- Lack of professionalism and poor service

- Misleading information: Some users mention that the room images on the website do not match reality

- Problems with contracts and cancellations

- Infestations and hygiene problems

...

@JohnnyPT

Esteemed Sir/Madam/etc.

Shirley any prospective renter would have viewed before any sign of paperwork so taking some of those conditions of property and area etc. into accounts?

@Mariza.says

I fully believe what you are writing despite that it didn't happen to me. Sometimes I think that the biggest scam is marketing Portugal as the most wonderful holiday and immigration destination. Portugal is marketing itself all around the world (e.g. road shows in California), but nothing in Portugal is prepared for the masses of tourists and immigrants. The SNS is over its tipping point, the courts are there as well, AIMA isn't able to handle the many visa applications, it takes forever to get a new driver's license and Portuguese living in Porto and Lisbon are financially pushed out of their neighborhoods. Tourists from outside the EU stand for hours at immigration checkpoints, which makes Portugal a horrible choice for a short trip.

I am also surprised that so few people bother writing about their own experiences.

@TGCampo,

Your post is out of context. Your favourite subject, which is California (and everything that follows with the remainder of your argumentation), always comes up regardless of the topic of the thread. It's recurrent... but that's OK.

The problems in the NHS have to do with the transfer of doctors from the public to the private system. It's not about expats. And as you can imagine, you don't expect these expats to come and use the NHS for free, because they all generally have health insurance and use private health system.

As I've told you several times, the problems of AIMA and airports are being solved. AIMA had a big problem caused by the previous government (extinction of SEF and open door policy for +600 000 immigrants from countries other than the EU) and it's now practically solved by this new government.

Regarding the gentrification of the main cities, it is true that there is a housing problem in the country, which is not to do with expats, but with insufficient social housing policies for people on low incomes. The conversion of houses in city centres to higher income targets may be contributing to this problem, but it's not the main cause. Many of the houses had been on standby for many years by the owners themselves, or had been sold to real estate funds a few years ago, which they have now sold to realise capital gains. Gentrification is a problem in many european cities. London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, etc. have great housing problems too, mainly for people who want to live in city centres but are denied the chance because of their insufficient income and price speculation, made even worse after the pandemic.

@TGCampo,
Your favourite subject, which is California, always comes up regardless of the topic of the thread. - @JohnnyPT

Could you please be so kind and remind me how frequently I mentioned "California" (one of the places where Portugal tries to lure expats into the country) on this website? I guess you have the tools to track all post of all members in this site. 😂

Overall I am happy to be informed that all issues are in hand and will be sorted shortly.

I don't wish to align myself generally with TG, but am I the only person who bristles when they are told that, via AIMA, this government has "practically solved" the deficiencies of its immigration bureaucracy? It always sounds as if the speaker has no direct skin in the game.

As somebody who has been looking longingly at holidays abroad that I cannot enjoy because of AIMA's ongoing woes for nine months now, I don't agree that they are "practically solved", and there are many people out there forced into making greater sacrifices due to restrictions on their movements.

Your preference for centre-right politics is obvious, but as they get more cosy with the far-right, I'm not sure how you will be able to present them as representing the interests of immigrants, in terms of ideology or delivery.

As somebody who has been looking longingly at holidays abroad that I cannot enjoy because of AIMA's ongoing woes for nine months now   -sr_ianbell

@sr_ianbell,

What's your problem? Have you read this?

Renewal of Residence Permits

/en/forum/europe/p … ml#6064063

(Post #15)

That is quite patronising! Yes I have been aware of this: it was the only thing keeping me in employment here for most of the last year.

Can I ask if you have you read this?

That really couldn't be more clear:

The extension of the validity of these documents and visas is limited to Portugal and is binding to the Portuguese authorities, with entry and movement in other Schengen Area complying with the Schengen Borders Code.

and even once you have an application receipt

The receipt proving the application for a residence permit is not a travel document. Therefore, it cannot be used to travel to other Schengen Areas.

This is what I mean about the lived experience of migrants versus those who can afford to only follow headlines. To spell it out, without a valid residency card, I may be refused entry to any other Schengen zone country because I have spent more than 90 days out of the last 180 day period in the Schengen zone, i.e. in Portugal, my home.

Example:

That is quite patronising! - @sr_ianbell

???!

I can see from your profile that you're English citizen.

1. Are you really English citizen? If so, I'm sure you're aware of this:

Short-Term Visits (up to 90 days)

Visa-Free Travel: You can travel to the Schengen Area for tourism, business meetings, short-term studies, or medical treatment for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing a visa.

The 90/180-day rule: This is a crucial point. Your total stay across all Schengen countries must not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period. This is a "rolling" period, meaning border officials will look back 180 days from your date of departure to ensure you haven't overstayed.

Passport requirements: Your UK passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area and must have been issued within the previous 10 years.

2. If you are resident in Portugal, and have a valid residence permit to live in this country, this does not mean that you have the right to move around the Schengen countries as long as you want, without complying with predefined rules stipulated by the country where you have a residence permit. If you want to live in one of these schengen countries, you have to apply for a residence permit in that country, and not use Portugal as a springboard for your travelling and business....

Yes, I'm not sure what point you are making. (Where does #2 come from and how does it apply here? I want to (continue to) live in Portugal but travel to Italy, Belgium etc.)

I hold a UK passport that entitles me to 90 days in the Schengen zone in any 180-day period.

While I had a valid Portuguese Titulo de Residencia (i.e. up until September 2024), this restriction could be disregarded and I could move freely through the Schengen zone. Once the Titulo expired - and the decree / extension does not apply beyond Portuguese borders as indicated above - not only am I subject to those 90/180 day restrictions, but time spent in Portugal counts as part of the 90 days. I either have to remove myself from Portugal (my home) for over three months so I can enter other Schengen countries, or I cannot visit those countries.

(The 90 days don't even start ticking on expiration, they include the time spent in Portugal prior to the expiration.)

I have tried travelling in the Schengen zone during this time: diligent border officials have taken me to task for it in the early days - checking back in my passport, as you describe - and I got very lucky. I will not risk expensive holidays now that I only have a Titulo that expired ten months ago. The Weiwei case serves as an example.

(Apologies to those who were interested in the original topic of scams, but I feel the point needs to be made and understood.)

Travelling for 90 days every 180 days seems very reasonable to me. If you spend most of your time abroad, I don't see the point of having tax residency in Portugal...

Anyway, I'm not saying that's the case of you, but many of the people complaining here about not having the rights of EU citizens are the ones who voted fervently for Brexit and strongly support the UK out of the Schengen zone.

As I said to you, AIMA was solving last year the problems left by the previous government. It's very likely that situations like yours will be solved in the next three to six months.

Travelling for 90 days out of every 180 days certainly seems reasonable to me. I would simply like to spend a week in France every now and again, and that's not an option until AIMA gets its act together.

And yes, the irony is not lost on me: those who voted for Brexit, those that I moved here to get away from, can pop over to France or Germany whenever they like!

I hope you are right about AIMA, but don't share your optimism.

those that I moved here to get away from, can pop over to France or Germany whenever they like! - @sr_ianbell

Yes, they can go 90 days every 180. Like you.

And yes, the irony is not lost on me: those who voted for Brexit, those that I moved here to get away from, can pop over to France or Germany whenever they like!

- @sr_ianbell

And from next year they will have to pay €20 every 3 years.

I hope you are right about AIMA, but don't share your optimism. - @sr_ianbell

If it was only AIMA one could possibly be optimistic. However, it is also the SNS and the IMTT (driver's licenses) and Court System and the airport (I hear the new one is soon to be ready for the past over 30 years). I don't even want to know how it is to deal with GNR or Financas (the website is great!).

For the non-EU Expats especially AIMA must be really frustrating.

Yes, they can go 90 days every 180. Like you.

Okay.... I give up. You just don't seem to understand the difference!

Yes, they can go 90 days every 180. Like you.
Okay.... I give up. You just don't seem to understand the difference! - @sr_ianbell

I'm not sure YOU understand. I'm British and I have no trouble.

Best advice in a nutshell: emphasis on personal, face-to-face, agreements (trust your gut but remember you're an 'outsider' anyway). & don't trust the agreement unless you have a 'bulletproof' strategy (eg paying somebody right after work, not before works; eg agreeing half now - half after pre-payment system for major installation / transit services, etc). Everything gets delayed by 4x longer - this is normal. Speaking to people after they ate lunch - effective.