The scam messages arrive via SMS, demanding payments of false energy debts to EDP. The company's recommendation is clear: if you receive a message like this, delete it immediately and, if possible, report the case to the authorities.

According to data released by EDP Comercial, cited by Pplware, until mid-November alone there were around 2,000 fraud attempts. Compared to the same period in 2023, when 1,700 cases were reported. In the month of October, attempted scams soared to more than 3,000, compared to 1,800 the previous year, representing a growth of 65%.

In a statement, EDP Comercial explained: “In the months of October and November, EDP Comercial recorded a significant increase in reports by customers of fraud attempts, at various stages of the energy bill payment process and invoking the company's name in order to obtain a payment, allegedly due to EDP, which does not exist.”

These fraudulent messages target a growing number of consumers, taking advantage of those who are unaware of EDP's legitimate contact methods.

The scheme is relatively simple but effective. Customers receive messages on their phones warning about alleged debts with EDP. The messages usually contain a payment link or reference, asking for urgency to avoid sanctions or power cuts.

To mitigate the impact of this type of scheme, EDP Comercial has been reinforcing security messages among more vulnerable customer groups. For example, in places where fraud attempts are detected, an additional SMS is sent warning of the dangers.

To avoid falling into these SMS traps, EDP recommends that customers remain alert and adopt the following practices:

- Be wary of messages that require urgent payments, especially if they contain links.

- Do not click on suspicious links and always confirm the authenticity of messages through official EDP channels.

- Consult your invoices directly in the customer area on the company's website or app.