Brazil authorities warn of legal impersonation and financial scams

Authorities in Brazil are issuing warnings regarding new fraudulent schemes involving the impersonation of legal and judicial officials.

The Public Defender's Office of the Union (DPU) has alerted the public to a scam where criminals pose as members of the institution, prosecutors, or judges. In one recent instance, victims were lured into fake video conferences where criminals used official photographs to gain legitimacy. Under the guise of ‘access validation’ via QR codes, victims were manipulated into performing Pix transfers, loans, and other financial operations. The DPU emphasizes that its services are free and that it never requests Pix payments, transfers, or investment redemptions to validate identity or access legal processes.

Simultaneously, the ADUFC-S. Sind union has warned members about scammers impersonating union leadership and legal teams via WhatsApp. These criminals contact professors claiming there are funds available from won lawsuits or retroactive payments. The union and its legal firm, Sociedade de Advogados Câmara e Uchôa, clarified that they do not request transfers via Pix, bank slips, or cash deposits to release funds. Victims are advised to report these incidents to the police via electronic reports.