Brazil authorities alert public to rising legal and banking scams

Law enforcement and judicial authorities in Brazil are issuing widespread alerts regarding several types of electronic fraud and social engineering scams targeting citizens.

In Santa Catarina, the Court of Justice (TJSC) has warned of the “false lawyer” and “false Special Court” scams. Criminals use real judicial process information to contact victims via messaging apps or phone calls, falsely claiming that payments are required to release legal settlements or benefits. Authorities note that the judiciary never requests advance payments or transfers to release funds.

In Paraná, the Civil Police (PCPR) is alerting the public to the “false banking center” scam. In these cases, fraudsters pose as bank employees reporting suspicious activity and pressure victims into making Pix transfers to “security accounts” or installing remote access applications.

In Goiás, the Civil Police reported that the “false lawyer” scam has caused financial losses reaching up to R$ 1 million. Criminals exploit the anticipation of legal payouts to extort money from victims. Authorities recommend that citizens verify all requests through official channels and contact their legal representatives directly before making any payments.