Digital fraud concerns rise in Brazil amid evolving cyber threats

Digital fraud has become a primary security concern in Brazil, with a survey by the Brazilian Public Security Forum and Datafolha indicating that 83.2% of the population fears losing money to internet or mobile scams.

Legal frameworks in Brazil, specifically Article 14 of the Consumer Defense Code, establish the objective responsibility of service providers for damages caused by service defects. According to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) Precedent 479, banks are held objectively liable for frauds and crimes committed by third parties when they are classified as 'fortuito interno'—events related to the inherent risks of banking activities.

However, reimbursement is not automatic. Liability may be waived if the consumer's own conduct breaks the causal link, such as voluntarily performing operations without minimum caution. Experts warn that criminals are increasingly using sophisticated methods, including artificial intelligence to mimic voices and creating false urgency through malicious links, fake stores, and phishing to induce impulsive actions.