Leiria, Portugal, Feb. 2, 2026 (Lusa) - The GNR, PSP and Municipality of Leiria are warning the population about scams and have advised that in reconstruction contexts such as the current one, due to Storm Kristin, there may be cases of people posing as public entities.
"We have information that there are people going to homes on behalf of various public entities, including the municipality, and providing false information and, in some cases, asking for money," the local authority said on social media.
The council has asked citizens not to open their doors or provide personal details, and has also urged them not to sign any documents or accept any supposed service checks or payment requests.
If in doubt, contact the municipal services or the authorities directly; the local authority recommended.
The Leiria Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard (GNR) told Lusa that, "although no such incidents have been reported to date" in its area of intervention, "it is common in contexts of reconstruction and fragility" for malicious individuals "to pose as service technicians, institution employees or representatives of authorities to extort money or gain access to residences".
The GNR clarified that it "has intensified its presence on the ground", with "active surveillance in the areas most affected" by the storm, door-to-door contact with "the elderly and isolated citizens, providing personalised safety advice", and continuous alerts on social media.
To avoid becoming victims of fraud, the GNR recommended that citizens not allow strangers into their homes, "even if they identify themselves as repair technicians (electricity, water, gas)" or government officials, without having requested the service in advance".
On the other hand, it advised them to "always ask for professional identification" and, if in doubt, to contact the company or entity that the person claims to represent before opening the door.
In addition to not handing over money, the GNR urged people to be suspicious of immediate cash payments for “urgent fees”, “debris clearance” or “compensation processes”, to keep neighbours informed whenever a stranger approaches them and to always report suspicious behaviour to the authorities, either to the GNR or via the national emergency number, 112.
The Leiria District Command of the Public Security Police said it was "very important that people do not be fooled by the excessive helpfulness and voluntarism of strangers", asking them "to identify people and, if they are unknown, to call the police".
The PSP warned "against false construction service providers, sellers of materials and equipment, in particular generators, insurance experts, municipal or social assistance employees".
"You should only accept help from people who are known and clearly identified, and report any suspicious situations, trying to collect physical descriptions and vehicle registration numbers of the vehicles used by these people," recommended the PSP, insisting that strangers should never be allowed into the home.
The passage of Storm Kristin through mainland Portugal on Wednesday caused at least five deaths, according to Civil Protection, several injuries and displaced persons. The Marinha Grande City Council also reports another fatality in the municipality. On Saturday, two other men died after falling from roofs they were repairing, one in the municipality of Batalha and the other in Alcobaça. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a man died in the municipality of Leiria from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator.
Fallen trees and structures, road closures and transport service disruptions, particularly on railway lines, school closures, and power, water, and communication outages are the main material consequences of the storm.
Leiria, where the storm entered the country, Coimbra and Santarém are the districts that have suffered the most damage.
The Government declared a state of emergency, which was extended on Sunday after a cabinet meeting, until Sunday.
SR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
