Complaints over World Cup sticker scam top 200 in Portugal

More than 200 consumers have reported being caught up in online scams linked to the sale of World Cup 2026 sticker albums and trading cards, according to new figures released by Portuguese consumer complaints platform Portal da Queixa.

The organisation says it has now recorded 203 complaints from consumers who claim they were deceived by fraudulent websites and social media advertisements posing as legitimate retailers.

The latest figures point to a sharp increase in reports since May, when Portal da Queixa first warned about scams targeting football fans and collectors ahead of the World Cup.

According to the platform, the schemes typically involve fake online stores that imitate recognised brands and use advertising on social media platforms to attract buyers. Victims are often lured by special offers and pressured to act quickly through messages suggesting limited stock or time-sensitive promotions.

Consumers then make payments – often through digital methods – but never receive the products they ordered.

Portal da Queixa says many victims have subsequently lodged complaints with sticker manufacturer Panini, contacted their banks in an attempt to recover payments and reported the fraudulent pages to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

The figures come days after the GNR warned of a rise in World Cup-related online fraud. The force said it had already received six reports linked specifically to the purchase of World Cup stickers through fraudulent websites and social media platforms.

According to Portal da Queixa, Lisbon accounts for the largest share of complaints, representing 21.8% of reported cases, followed by Porto with 19.6% and Setúbal with 15.5%. Aveiro, Braga and Leiria also recorded notable numbers of complaints.

The data also sheds light on who is being targeted. Women accounted for 53.5% of complaints, slightly ahead of men at 46.5%.

The most affected age group was 45 to 54-year-olds, who represented 34.7% of all reports. They were followed by consumers aged 35 to 44 (29.2%) and those aged 25 to 34 (15.9%).

According to Portal da Queixa, the figures suggest the fraud is primarily affecting working-age adults rather than younger collectors.

The consumer platform is urging shoppers to exercise caution when purchasing collectibles and merchandise online. It advises consumers to verify the credibility of websites, check payment methods carefully and consult reputation platforms before making purchases.

Portal da Queixa also highlighted its free Não Sejas Pato tool, which allows users to assess the reliability of online stores before completing transactions.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.