Brazil internet users face high rates of data-driven scams

A new study by Cetic.br reveals that approximately 32% of internet users in Brazil aged 16 and older—roughly 45 million people—have experienced attempted scams involving their personal data. Furthermore, 20% of respondents reported being actual victims of such crimes.

The findings were presented at the 17th Seminar on Privacy and Personal Data Protection in São Paulo. The research, conducted in December 2025, investigated perspectives on privacy, perceived risks, and the use of personal data by third parties.

Scammers utilize various communication channels to target users. Messaging apps are the most frequent method, cited by 84% of those reporting attempts, followed by phone calls (79%), fake websites or apps (71%), SMS (71%), email (69%), and social media (67%).