Andorra Police Warn of SMS Phishing Scams Impersonating Bank and Commune

Andorra Police are alerting residents to ongoing SMS phishing scams impersonating MoraBanc bank and Andorra la Vella commune, with fraudulent messages arriving en masse and sparking numerous verification calls.

The campaign targeting MoraBanc clients started on January 8, 2026. Scammers sent texts warning that accounts would be disabled unless recipients updated personal details through a provided link. MoraBanc quickly notified all clients by email, confirming the messages were fake and advising against accessing online banking via any external links received by SMS, WhatsApp, or email. Police reinforced this guidance, urging people not to click links or share data. Similar messages continued circulating into January 9.

By January 9, fraudsters turned to the Andorra la Vella commune, dispatching texts claiming unpaid traffic fines and including bogus payment links. The notices threatened additional administrative or legal measures if ignored, prompting a flood of inquiries to the commune. Officials from both the commune and police stressed that neither entity ever contacts citizens via SMS for payments or notices. They pointed out that the links feature non-official domains, often lacking the legitimate ".ad" extension, and advised immediate deletion without inputting information.

Police shared warnings on social media, including a post stating: "This SMS is arriving massively. It's fake. Neither we nor Andorra la Vella commune would contact you this way to claim a fine payment." The commune issued similar alerts, noting the messages—sent in Catalan and Spanish—falsely invoked its Circulation Department and clarifying that official notifications always include full details and never demand urgent payments via text.

This is the third major SMS scam wave in under a month, following one impersonating police late last year. Authorities recommend verifying accounts or fines solely through official websites or offices, reporting suspicious messages to support investigations, and exercising caution with any urgent payment demands. No data on affected individuals or financial losses has been disclosed, and inquiries continue.