Brazil authorities warn of debt renegotiation and job recruitment scams

Authorities in Brazil are warning the public about various fraudulent schemes involving identity theft and fake services.

In one scam, criminals are using the names and logos of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Finance on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) to promote fake debt renegotiation opportunities. A study by NetLab/UFRJ identified 544 fraudulent ads between April 1 and June 14, noting that 38% were created using artificial intelligence. Many ads falsely referenced a non-existent program called “Libera Brasil.” Official debt renegotiation is conducted only through banking institutions and official government portals; the government does not send links or SMS messages for this purpose.

Separately, scammers are impersonating the Institute for Strategic Health Management of the Federal District (IgesDF) and the Hospital de Base of the Federal District (HBDF) to offer fake job openings and training courses. Victims are being instructed to pay fees for professional training courses to participate in selection processes. Authorities emphasize that all official IgesDF recruitment and training processes are free and follow transparent, monitored criteria.