Financial scams involving Pix are projected to increase fivefold over the next three years, surpassing R$11 billion in losses for bank customers, according to a report by ACI Worldwide, a U.S.-based technology company specializing in payment services. The Scamscope Fraud Report, released on Tuesday (21), highlights Brazil as the global leader in scams involving digital payments.
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Brazil in Second Place
If ACI’s calculations are confirmed, Brazil alone will account for 25% of the total volume of digital scams applied in the six countries analyzed in the study. The leader in the projection of countries most affected by cybercrime by 2028, the United States leads the ranking with R$18.6 billion in losses. It is followed by Brazil (R$11.4 billion), Australia (R$7 billion), the United Kingdom (R$4.9 billion), India (R$3.3 billion) and the United Arab Emirates (R$181.5 million).
Scams in 2023
According to ACI, in 2023, more than R$2.2 billion were stolen in online scams in Brazil, with Pix being the primary method used by fraudsters. The rapid adoption of real-time payments worldwide has transformed financial transactions, allowing for faster payments and greater financial inclusion. However, scammers exploit this immediacy to steal funds before they can be traced, says Vlademir Santos, head of the Brazilian division of ACI Worldwide.
Main Scams
In Brazil, the most common scams involve purchase transactions (22%), investments (21%), and advance payments (17%). Concerning advance payments, scammers send what appear to be genuine payment requests from trustworthy companies, such as mobile phone or television service providers, but with the funds being sent to bank accounts other than those of the real companies.
IPVA Scam Alert
The 2025 IPVA (Motor Vehicle Property Tax) payment period is being exploited by criminals to carry out scams. Kaspersky has identified at least 15 fraudulent domains used to send SMS messages that direct victims to fake websites disguised as official platforms, often using a “.org” domain. The scam begins with an SMS offering a supposed discount of up to 45% on the tax payment. The link in the message leads to a counterfeit website that mimics an official vehicle lookup service. When the victim enters their license plate number, the site displays all relevant vehicle data, creating a false sense of legitimacy. The site then requests the victim’s CPF under the pretense of settling outstanding tax debts, but in reality, this information is harvested for future fraud. Finally, the website prompts the victim to make a payment via Pix QR Code, which transfers the funds directly to the scammers’ accounts.
Increase in Scam Victims
A global survey conducted by data analytics company Fico found that 33% of bank account holders in Brazil reported financial losses due to scams in 2024, marking a 6% increase from 2023. More than 3% of victims reported losing over R$10,000. The survey, which included 12,000 participants from 14 countries, with 1,000 respondents from Brazil, also found that 25% of Brazilians had been targeted by real-time scams involving the purchase of goods, services, or investments that were never delivered—representing a 3% increase from the previous year. More than 30% of these fraudulent transactions involved small amounts under R$500, making them harder to detect and report.
Scam Victims and Public Perception
Another concerning trend is the growing number of people who know someone affected by scams. In 2023, 65% of respondents reported that friends or family members had been scammed, but in 2024, this number rose to 75%. Among victims of cybercrimes, 45% admitted they felt personally responsible for transferring money to scammers, highlighting the need for greater awareness and fraud prevention efforts.
Analysis:
The sharp rise in Pix-related financial scams highlights growing vulnerabilities in Brazil’s instant payment system. According to ACI Worldwide, losses from these scams are expected to surpass R$11 billion over the next three years, making Brazil the second most affected country after the United States. Criminals exploit the speed of real-time transactions to bypass tracking mechanisms, making it difficult to recover stolen funds. Common scams, such as fraudulent purchases, investment schemes, and advance payment fraud, demonstrate increasing sophistication, with criminals using social engineering techniques to deceive victims. Scammers are also adapting by targeting lower-value transactions under R$500, making them harder to detect and report.
Beyond financial losses, the psychological impact on victims is significant. This underscores the urgent need for stronger fraud prevention measures, including improved transaction monitoring and stricter law enforcement against cyber criminals. Financial institutions, authorities, and cybersecurity experts must collaborate to combat the growing sophistication of these scams, ensuring a more secure digital payment environment.
