A small knock against your car is an unlucky moment on an otherwise ordinary drive, the kind of thing you’d be frustrated at, deal with and move on from. Recently, however for dozens of drivers, that same small knock has turned into a nightmare that emptied their bank accounts.

An “accidental” collision

Officers from Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) have flagged a new twist on the fake traffic accident scam, after more than 50 complaints landed on their desks in just one single month reporting cumulative losses exceeding €200,000 . Criminals stage a minor knock between two vehicles on purpose, choosing a moment and location that allows them to approach a driver directly. Greater Lisbon has seen the bulk of reported cases so far.

Once the bump has happened, fraudsters turn hostile and aggressive fast. Loud accusations and a confrontational manner are used to fluster the driver, who is told they caused the collision and now faces losing points off their licence or a lengthy insurance dispute. Anxiety builds quickly, and that’s exactly the goal the scammers want.

How the card swap catches drivers out

A supposed way out gets offered almost immediately, choose to pay a modest sum on the spot and the whole matter disappears. Scammers carry a portable card reader or a phone rigged to take contactless payments, making the transaction feel routine rather than suspicious.

Real theft happens the instant a PIN gets entered. While attention stays fixed on the keypad, an accomplice swaps the genuine bank card for a near-identical fake one. Scammers then leave the scene and use the authentic card to withdraw huge sums before anyone realises what’s missing, let alone manages to freeze the account.

Older drivers targeted deliberately

According to the PSP victims aged between 70 and 90 who were driving alone make up most of the cases recorded. Criminals appear to be selecting older motorists specifically, betting on hesitation, politeness and unfamiliarity with this particular con working in their favour.

What police want drivers to do

Handing a bank card to anyone else should never happen, regardless of pressure applied or excuses given, officers insist. Suspicious situations call for an immediate call to police rather than a hurried payment.

Anyone caught out is urged to note whatever details they can, including the suspects’ appearance, vehicle model and registration plate, then report the incident without delay. Families are also being encouraged to pass this warning on to elderly parents and grandparents and friends. A five-minute conversation now could prevent a much costlier one later.

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Families have fled their homes, holidaymakers have escaped by boat and thousands of firefighters remain locked in a desperate battle as three major wildfires continue to rage across southwestern France. More than 40,000 people have now been evacuated as the fires sweep through the Gironde and Landes departments, forcing French authorities to call on the European Union for emergency aerial support in one of the country’s largest wildfire responses in recent years.

With flames advancing towards homes, campsites and popular tourist destinations, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France had activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, bringing firefighting aircraft and helicopters from across Europe into the battle.

Holiday paradise turns into an evacuation zone

One of the worst-hit areas is the Cap Ferret peninsula on France’s Atlantic coast, a destination that normally attracts thousands of visitors during the summer season. Instead of beaches filled with tourists, roads became packed with vehicles leaving the area as thick smoke darkened the sky and flames advanced through pine forests. Many holidaymakers were forced to leave behind caravans, tents and holiday accommodation with little more than the belongings they could carry. Others escaped by boat across Arcachon Bay after authorities organised evacuations from the peninsula as conditions deteriorated.

The largest blaze has already destroyed thousands of hectares of woodland, while firefighters continue working to stop it reaching more homes and businesses. Further south, another major fire near Biscarrosse has continued to spread despite the efforts of hundreds of emergency crews, while a third large wildfire has stretched resources even further across the region. Together, the three fires have created one of France’s biggest wildfire emergencies this summer.

France turns to Europe for help

As the scale of the disaster grew, France requested assistance through the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism. The appeal brought an immediate response, two firefighting aircraft from Croatia and Portugal were deployed alongside Black Hawk helicopters supplied by the Czech Republic and Slovakia, providing vital aerial support to exhausted French crews battling the fast-moving fires. The reinforcements arrive as firefighters face extreme conditions created by high temperatures, dry vegetation and shifting winds capable of changing the direction of a wildfire within minutes.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that emergency services were dealing with exceptionally difficult conditions as crews worked around the clock to protect towns and prevent the flames from spreading into new areas. Local farmers have also joined the effort, using tractors and water tankers to help firefighters reach remote locations where every minute can make the difference between containing a blaze and losing control of it.

Communities caught in the path of the flames

Beyond the dramatic images of smoke and burning forests, thousands of people remain uncertain about when they will be able to return home. Residents have been forced to leave properties with little warning, while campsite owners, tourism businesses and local shops face an uncertain future during what should be the busiest weeks of the summer season.

For many families, the evacuation is not simply an inconvenience. It means leaving behind homes, pets, businesses and livelihoods without knowing what they will find when it is safe to return. Authorities have urged people to stay away from affected areas, warning that changing weather conditions could quickly place more communities at risk. Air quality has also deteriorated across parts of southwestern France as thick smoke continues to spread far beyond the active fire zones.

Another devastating summer for southern Europe

France’s wildfire emergency comes as several southern European countries continue battling destructive blazes driven by prolonged heat and exceptionally dry conditions. Spain has also endured major wildfires in recent days, including the massive blaze that merged across Madrid and Ávila, forcing tens of thousands of evacuations and prompting its own request for European assistance.

Portugal, Greece and other Mediterranean countries have also faced repeated outbreaks, leaving Europe once again relying on shared firefighting resources as multiple countries battle simultaneous emergencies. The growing need for cross-border support reflects the scale of today’s wildfire seasons, where several nations can find themselves fighting major blazes at the same time.

A battle far from over

Despite the arrival of European aircraft and helicopters, firefighters have warned that the battle is far from won. Forecasts suggest hot, dry weather will continue over the coming days, raising fears that even small changes in the wind could push flames towards new communities or reignite areas that have already been brought under control. For the thousands forced from their homes and holidays, the immediate priority remains safety.

For firefighters on the front line, the mission continues around the clock. And for Europe, France’s wildfire emergency is another reminder that today’s fires are no longer isolated national disasters. They have become cross-border crises that demand a united response, with countries increasingly relying on one another as extreme wildfire seasons become an ever more familiar part of the European summer.