In Brazil and especially in Rio de Janeiro, scams continue to proliferate in the digital environment and outside it. In 2024, only in Rio state, cases increased by almost 20%, with 23,900 new cases leading to a total of 144,118 incidents. Authorities have recently acted to repress such crimes on social networks. They also released a solution to fight a scam that exploits legal services.
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The AGU (Attorney General’s Office) filed a lawsuit on Monday (28) against Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to take measures to prevent the improper use of federal government symbols, images, and videos of public authorities in fake ads published on social media. According to the agency, 1,770 fraudulent pieces were identified between January 10 and 21 — with the aim of committing financial scams against users — that used symbols of official bodies and images of authorities.
The ads promoted false information about amounts to be received and about the rules for sending transaction information via Pix to the Federal Revenue Service, a subject that led to a wave of misinformation in January and made the Lula government back down.
Lawyer Scam
Another scam that has been making many victims is the lawyer scam. It usually starts with undue access to public information about legal proceedings. Criminals pretend to be a lawyer and inform their victims about the amount of a lawsuit that the target has been waiting for. To receive the money, the person has to transfer R$4,000 in income tax via Pix. Only after the fake lawyer stops receiving the messages does the victim realize she/he fell for a scam.
Due to the high number of complaints, the Brazilian Bar Association launched a digital platform to quickly and securely confirm the identity of lawyers.
How to search on ConfirmADV
A simple procedure can help people avoid such scams. People must search for the lawyer’s registry on the Bar Association webpage. The lawyer’s OAB registration number must be inserted, as well as the state of registry and email provided by the supposed professional. Then, an automatic request will be sent to the lawyer’s email, informing them that a client wants to confirm their identity. The professional will have up to 5 minutes to respond and confirm the data. If the confirmation is made within this period, the citizen will receive the lawyer’s validated authentication. If time expires without a response, both the citizen and the lawyer will be notified that the verification was not completed.
Analysis:
The significant increase in the number of cases in 2024 demonstrates an upward trend in the activity of scammers. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the greater digitalization of society, the ease of spreading false information, and the adaptability of criminals to new technologies and contexts.
Scams are not restricted to the digital environment. The example of the “fake lawyer scam” illustrates the persistence of tactics that exploit people’s vulnerability in specific situations, such as pending legal proceedings. This diversification requires a security approach that considers both cyber threats and in-person fraud.
The case of fake ads using government symbols and distorted information about the Pix from the Federal Revenue Service highlights the strategy of criminals to take advantage of trending topics and the confusion generated by fake news to mislead victims. The speed at which information spreads on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp increases the reach of these scams.
Sources: G1; A Folha de SP.
