Rio de Janeiro legislature approves bill to combat false lawyer scams

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) has approved the second discussion of Bill 6.560/25, which proposes a state policy to prevent and combat the ‘false lawyer scam’ and other electronic procedural frauds.

The initiative aims to protect citizens, lawyers registered with the OAB/RJ, and state public institutions from digital fraudulent practices. Criminals typically access case numbers through online platforms to monitor legal proceedings and then contact victims while impersonating lawyers or law firm staff. These scammers often request payments, frequently via Pix, under the guise of fees required to release sentences or appeals.

If sanctioned by the Governor, the policy will include permanent educational campaigns to help the population identify fake contacts and verify the authenticity of lawyers. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation between the Judiciary, the OAB/RJ, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Public Defender's Office, and financial institutions. Proposed measures include identity verification protocols for legal communications and the potential for judicial orders to preventively block funds in proven cases of digital fraud.