Security Advice

Security Advice2023-12-15T15:00:23+00:00

Attention: Misuse of the GLS brand for fraud

Internet and email fraud incidents are on the rise. Fraudsters are misusing the GLS name to send fake emails to both individuals and businesses. If you have received or are still receiving a payment request, do not comply with it under any circumstances. If you have complied with a payment request, we strongly recommend filing a report with your local police. GLS distances itself from such fraud attempts.

Here are some tips to help detect fraud and avoid being victimized:

· We do not transport cash (currency in legal tender), securities or bank checks.

· We do not intervene in economic money transactions, either between individuals or between companies.

· We are not intermediaries or depositories in the sale of second-hand products.

· We do not request payment details by e-mail or SMS to create a customer account at GLS.

· We do not use online platforms dedicated to the sale of products to promote our shipments or services.

· We will never ask recipients by e-mail to pay the purchase price of goods via an online payment system, credit card or bank transfer. In case you are expecting a parcel from a non-EU country or if you are based in a non-EU country you may be contacted to pay duties & taxes by Email, SMS or letter by either GLS or an authorized agent.

· Cash on delivery parcels sent using the GLS Cash Service are only given to recipients against cash payment to the delivery driver.

Please be aware that GLS is not liable for any damage caused by the fraudulent actions of third parties who misuse our company’s name. Your safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your vigilance in preventing fraud.

Types of fraud and communication channels

There are several types of fraud that use different communication channels, here are some examples:

  • Fraudulent emails
  • SMS or WhatsApp
  • Fake sites
  • Social media

GLS is proactive in combating these scams and we appreciate any reports of suspicious activity that may involve the use of our brand. Please inform us immediately if you suspect that an email or SMS may be fake, or if a website or social media account is impersonating us, so that we can take appropriate measures to prevent fraud.

Fraudulent emails2021-04-30T22:15:44+00:00

GLS only sends e-mails to its recipients and customers with information on the delivery of orders and their status. GLS will never request payments using online payment platforms, credit cards or bank transfers.

Indicators you should consider suspicious:

  • The sender pressures the recipient with threats or unwanted consequences. Your intention is that you do not have time to consider the legitimacy of the request.
  • Spelling and/or grammatical errors. Many of these scams are not programmed by Portuguese people and they use online translators, therefore, they make many spelling errors that reveal their fraudulent origin.
  • In the case of containing links, by placing the cursor on it we will be able to see which is the real address that we will be redirected. Be wary if the address is not in line with what would be expected from an official website.
  • The sender’s email addresses come from @gmail, @gmx, @yahoo or others that are not created by GLS.

To effectively combat fraudulent emails, send us the email attached. You can send us screenshots, URLs, suspicious content or other evidence that can help us identify the fraud. Forwarding an email is often not enough as important data is lost. Therefore, sending the original emails attached is the best way to provide the evidence.

SMS or WhatsApp2021-05-19T21:16:08+00:00

If you are receiving fraudulent messages by SMS or WhatsApp, send us screenshots of the conversations, as well as the name of the contact and the phone number of the person who sent them.

Often, the telephone numbers we are contacted on are foreign. This is information that should immediately make you suspicious.

You must contact us to report the fraudulent messages you receive.

Fake Sites2021-05-21T13:10:01+00:00

GLS discovered several fake websites that used our logos, names and content. These were used by criminals to deceive GLS customers and non-customers. These sites are designed to deceive recipients and obtain confidential data, such as access credentials or financial information.

GLS’s main website in Portuguese is www.gls-portugal.com. Any other domain should be considered suspicious and, therefore, should not be opened.

If you are not sure whether the site is legitimate or not, you should check these points first:

  • Does the URL have anything to do with GLS? If the name is not related to our brand, we are probably facing a fake website.
  • Is the connection to the web secure? On the left side of the URL there should be a padlock, which indicates that the website’s certificate is valid and that navigation is secure. This should not be interpreted as a clear sign of the page’s legitimacy. Sometimes it is possible to obtain certificates for fraudulent websites.
  • Review the policies that appear at the bottom of the main page (privacy, legal notice, terms and conditions …). In many cases, criminals do not bother to fill in these sections.
  • Does the site look professional? In general, these sites consist only of the main page, so if you click on other sections, you will not be able to open them.

These various indicators must be evaluated together, as the application of only one of them does not guarantee the legitimacy of the website.

If a site looks suspicious, let us know immediately by sending the link to the site. We will carry out an investigation and take the necessary measures if the illegitimacy of the domain is found.

Social Media2021-05-19T21:15:30+00:00

GLS manages its official accounts on social networks, on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Linkedin. In our accounts, we will only contact you to answer any questions you have asked us.

Here are some indicators for identifying fraudulent accounts:

  • The account was created recently, usually a few weeks or months.
  • The account does not provide official contact or information channels.
  • The account does not include the link to our website.
  • The account actively tries to contact you even if you don’t ask any questions.
  • The account offers special gifts or refers to sites other than www.gls-portugal.com.

If in doubt about the legitimacy of the account, please inform us immediately. If the identity falsification is confirmed, the company that owns the social network will be informed for its elimination.

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