More than 32 million Brazilians—nearly one in five people (19.1%) aged 16 or older—reported being threatened or blackmailed by criminals using their personal or family data to demand money over the past 12 months. The financial impact of these schemes was estimated at R$24.2 billion. This form of crime has become the most common type reported by the population, signaling a shift in the profile of property crimes in the country. While robberies continue to decline, fraud, scams, and extortion are rapidly expanding as the primary concern.
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Victims
The scale of the problem is vast: on average, 5,300 people were contacted every hour with attempts at extortion or fraud. In total, 46.4 million Brazilians said they had been targeted by phone calls or text messages from criminals posing as “security centers” during the period between July 2024 and June 2025. The study also points to a socioeconomic disparity: individuals with higher incomes were more likely to be targeted than those in lower-income groups. These findings are drawn from the second edition of the Survey on Victimization and Perception of Public Security in Brazil, conducted by Datafolha and commissioned by the Brazilian Public Security Forum. Researchers interviewed 2,007 people aged 16 or older in 130 municipalities between June 2 and 6, 2025, with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Cell Phone Theft
With an increasing number of essential functions tied to mobile devices, victims of cell phone theft are disproportionately exposed to fraud. The survey shows they are nearly four times more likely to be scammed than the general population. Although theft and robbery rates are declining overall, criminals have shifted their focus to exploiting stolen devices and digital data for financial gain. According to the survey, 11% of Brazilians reported being robbed, with one in four of those cases (25.2%) involving a firearm. In addition, 9.3% of respondents had their cell phone stolen or robbed. The estimated average loss per victim was R$1,700, resulting in an overall loss of R$26.7 billion nationwide.
Scams
While the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook records a downward trend in robberies, fraud is expanding at alarming levels. In 2024, 2.16 million cases were registered, which translates to 247 scams per hour. The research illustrates the diversity and sophistication of these crimes: among those who had been robbed, 35% said they later fell victim to a Pix scam or fraudulent bill. Furthermore, 11.4% of the adult population, equivalent to around 19.2 million people, reported that criminals impersonated them to commit fraud. Another 7% said they had their digital identity or social media accounts blocked or taken over. These findings reflect the migration of criminal activity into the digital sphere, where financial damage can be both extensive and difficult to recover.
Prevalence in the Upper Classes
Scams disproportionately affect wealthier Brazilians. Among classes A and B, 27.6% of respondents reported being targeted, compared to 16.4% in classes C, D, and E. According to Forum CEO Renato Sérgio de Lima, this demonstrates that criminals are deliberately selecting victims based on purchasing power. Wealthier individuals offer a larger potential payout, making them prime targets for sophisticated operations.
Production Lines
The organized nature of these schemes has led to what experts describe as “production lines” of crime, fueled by access to detailed information and technological tools. According to Lima, these structures are linked to high risks of money laundering operations involving powerful criminal factions such as the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command (CV). He further warned that the Brazilian state remains poorly equipped to face this evolving reality, both in terms of resources and legal frameworks. The lack of coordination between states, the federal government, and municipalities has created major gaps in the country’s ability to respond effectively to digital crime and its integration into broader organized criminal networks.
Analysis:
The latest survey results reveal a profound transformation in Brazil’s criminal landscape, with fraud, extortion, and digital scams surpassing traditional street crime as the most widespread threats. The sheer scale of the problem—tens of millions targeted and billions lost—shows how organized crime has adapted swiftly to technological and social changes. Unlike robberies, which are more visible and easier to measure through police data, digital crimes operate in a dispersed and less traceable environment, complicating both prevention and enforcement.
Equally concerning is the organized nature of these operations, structured like production lines that exploit personal data, digital platforms, and financial systems with increasing sophistication. Wealthier Brazilians are deliberately singled out, suggesting a calculated approach by criminal groups to maximize profit while leveraging networks potentially tied to major factions such as the PCC and CV. This intersection between cyber fraud and organized crime has far-reaching implications, not only for financial security but also for governance and public trust.
Sources: A Folha de SP.
