Bahia women face decade of issues due to duplicate CPF numbers

Two rural workers in Bahia, Brazil, have faced a decade of administrative complications due to being registered with the same name and the same CPF (individual taxpayer registry) number. Both women, named Marinalva de Souza Barreto and born on June 21, 1959, reside in different areas: one in the rural zone of Cachoeira and the other in Ipecaetá.

The error, which reportedly originated at a registry office in Santo Antônio de Jesus, has caused significant disruptions to their lives. One woman reported being denied retirement benefits by the INSS because the system incorrectly indicated she was already receiving them. She also faced credit issues due to unauthorized loans, electricity service suspensions, and bank account freezes due to suspected fraud.

The second woman has experienced the suspension of Bolsa Família benefits due to fraud suspicions and difficulties accessing banking services. Additionally, the identity duplication has interfered with democratic processes, as one woman was previously prevented from voting because the electoral system recorded that she had already cast her ballot.