Every hour, 4,678 people are targeted by attempted financial scams in Brazil through messaging apps or phone calls, usually with criminals posing as bank employees. In the same period, around 2,500 people pay for products online that end up not being delivered. The numbers were estimated by Datafolha and the Brazilian Public Security Forum, based on a survey in all regions of the country.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
More than the Official Data
The estimates lead to a higher number of crimes than what is seen in the official data. However, the Datafolha survey also shows a high rate of underreporting of cybercrimes and even cell phone thefts and robberies. Only 30% of the interviewees who admitted to having been victims of scams involving Pix or fake bills say they filed a police report, and 55% of those who had their cell phones stolen say they filed a police report, for example.
How It Works
This fraud — popularly known as the “0800 scam”, purchase confirmation scam, or fake call center scam — involves a communication (made by message or phone call) in which a fraudster pretends to be an employee of a company and tries to convince the victim to buy something or transfer money.
Financial Loss
Brazilians suffered an estimated loss of R$71.4 billion over 12 months. Scams applied via Pix and fake bills represent a financial loss of R$25.5 billion, this is the estimated value based on the reports of those interviewed. Cell phone robberies and thefts, in turn, caused an estimated loss of R$22.8 billion from July 2023 to June of this year.
Card Machine Scam
Even those types of crime that are less frequent, according to Datafolha, affect a large number of victims. The adulterated card machine scam, for example, victimized 2.6% of those interviewed. However, this represents a population of 4.2 million and 482 cases per hour, on average. This case is among those with the greatest potential for financial loss. Victims of this crime reported to the institute that they lost R$1,142 by falling for this scam, on average.
Most Affected
Virtual scam attempts, especially via messaging apps and phone calls, affect more victims among those who earn between 5 and 10 minimum wages, have higher education, and live in cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants. Among those who have already had their data leaked on the internet without their consent, 22% earn more than ten minimum wages.
Import Scam
The Brazilian Post Office issued a warning about a new scam against consumers who make purchases online. Criminals send a message to the victim’s cell phone with a warning informing that the package was being held and that a fee would need to be paid to be released. Scammers also send notices with detailed information, such as the real delivery address and even the real order number placed by the victim. And even those who have not made purchases abroad have been the target of scam attempts.
Official Website
An important piece of advice is to use technology to track the order that was made. Use the Correios app on your cell phone and the company’s website. If the person has purchased on an international website, they should go to the official website and look for the ‘my imports’ option. There, it is possible to identify whether there is something to be paid, or taxed by the Federal Revenue Service.
Analysis:
The results show why crime remains among the biggest concerns of Brazilians, even with the drop in homicide rates since 2018. They also highlight the lack of preparation of government agencies to investigate and prevent these crimes, he says.
There has been a shift, a migration from property crimes involving violence to those that occur in the virtual, cyber world, in which the cell phone is a central element. Therefore, it is necessary to observe very carefully how investigations are being conducted in Brazil, as well as the quality and impact that the low quality of investigations — or the lack of investigation of property crimes — has on society and the economy.
When the profits made by criminals and other expenses caused to the victim — such as the cost of a new cell phone to replace a stolen device — are added, the estimated total loss from these property crimes reaches R$186 billion in the last 12 months, according to Datafolha. This total loss estimated by the institute is greater than the amount spent by the Union, states, and municipalities in the area of public security. Last year, the combined spending of the three spheres of government on security was R$138 billion, according to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook.
