Online Scams & Fraud in Brazil
Brazil continues to see an increase in the number of scams. The country continues to be one of the most targeted for phishing and identity threats, with email scams being the most common. Over 55% of Brazilians have been targeted for either email scams or phone scams.
Both the federal and state governments have developed mechanisms to fight scams. There are close to 1000 consumer protection agencies, otherwise known as PROCONs, which are funded by both the state and local municipalities.
Read on to find out more about where you can report scams in Brazil and everything else you need to keep safe while browsing online.
Scam Statistics in Brazil
The key statistics on online fraud in Brazil, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 209.3 million | 211 million | 212.6 million | 214 million |
| Internet Penetration | 70% | 94.9% | 71% |
75% |
| # of Scams | 5.3 million | 613,450 | 125 million | 117.7 million |
| Scams / 1,000 | 25 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 550 |
| Scams / 1,000 | €100 million | € 95 million | € 438 million | €726.2 million |
| Money Lost / Capita | €0.50 | € 0.45 | € 2.06 | €3.39 |
| Money Lost / Report | €19 | € 155 | € 3.49 | € 6.17 |
The figures in the table differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in Brazil?
Scam victims in Brazil can report their cases to:
- Federal Police (Polícia Federal): The Federal Police in Brazil handles cybercrime investigations. You can report online scams to the Federal Police by visiting their website or contacting your local Federal Police office. They have a Cybercrime Division that deals with internet-related offenses.
- Centro de Estudos, Resposta e Tratamento de Incidentes de Segurança no Brasil (CERT.br)- You can report any phishing attempt or any phishing attempt that has been made against your email or phone. You can reach them through your cert@cert.br
- SaferNet Brazil: SaferNet is a Brazilian non-governmental organization that combats Internet crime in partnership with the Federal Public Ministry. They have a helpline for reporting internet crimes, including online scams.
How to Report a Scam in Brazil?
Reporting a Scam is crucial. At the moment only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0,05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in Brazil
There is limited information about where scam victims can get support in Brazil. That being said, you can try reaching out to the nearly 1,000 PROCON organizations found throughout the country for support.
How to Check for a Scam in Brazil
One of the ways you can check for scams is through ScamAdviser.com. Nevertheless, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services. Here are some helpful places you can check;
- The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil)-This is part of the Ombudsman's Office and people can visit to check if a company is a scam.
- The Central Bank of Brazil (BCB)- They warn the public against most forms of investments and financial-related scams.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- Consumidor.gov.br: The national consumer secretariat, also known as SENACAN, allows consumers to file complaints, mostly against companies. The secretariat has continued to see an increase in the number of complaints filed by consumers.
- Posso Confiar: which loosely translates to “Can I Trust?” is a non-profit initiative designed to help customers identify scams and fake websites by providing all the necessary information.
- ReclameAqui: This is a commercial initiative designed to help consumers rate and leave reviews of companies and services they receive. It's one of the most popular review websites in Brazil.
- Ministério Público: As a government body responsible for safeguarding the public interest, you can reach out to them to file a complaint. They will keep your communication details anonymous.
Popular Scams in Brazil
Pix Scams
The Pix payment method has made life easier for millions in Brazil, but it has also opened doors for scammers. Since Pix Payment is done through mobile phones, it has become quite easy for people to send, receive, and make payments.
There was an increase in kidnapping cases, with the police estimating that about 40% of the cases have been attributed to PIX. To curb this, the Central Bank introduced a cap on P2P payments of around $200 at night, when most kidnappings happen.
Scam News From Brazil
Photo by Chris Boland
Report a Scam!
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
Scam Categories
Help & Info
Popular Stories
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the
