How to Report a Scam in Brazil (and Recover Your Money)

Quick answer: If you were scammed by a PIX transfer, open your bank's app immediately and request a refund through the Mecanismo Especial de Devolução (MED) — the official PIX dispute tool. Then file a police report (Boletim de Ocorrência, or B.O.) online through your state's Delegacia Eletrônica. Speed matters most: the faster you flag the transfer, the better your odds of getting money back.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Open your bank app and request a PIX refund (MED) — do this first. Every PIX app in Brazil must offer the Mecanismo Especial de Devolução. Find the disputed PIX in your transaction history and select the option to report fraud or request a return. Your bank then asks the receiving bank to freeze and return the money. Act within minutes if you can — funds are often moved on quickly.
2. File a B.O. at your state's Delegacia Eletrônica. This is the online police report. In São Paulo, for example, choose "Fraude e Estelionato" (fraud and scam) and fill in what happened. The report is valid even though it is filed online, and foreigners can use it too. A B.O. number strengthens your bank claim and is needed for any further legal action.
3. Preserve every piece of evidence. Save the PIX receipt (comprovante), the transaction ID, the recipient's PIX key or account details, and all messages, calls, and links from the scammer. Do not delete anything, even if you feel embarrassed.

How recovery actually works

Brazil has no single national anti-scam hotline — be aware of that. Recovery runs on two parallel tracks. The financial track is the MED, overseen by the Banco Central: you raise it through your own bank, the receiving bank investigates, and if the money has not already been withdrawn, it can be returned, sometimes within days. The MED 2.0 rules, in force since October 2025, let you open the dispute directly in the app and added automatic blocking of accounts flagged as suspicious. The criminal track is the B.O.: it does not by itself return your money, but it creates an official record, supports your bank claim, and feeds police investigations. The hard truth is that recovery depends almost entirely on speed — once a fraudster has cashed out, even a valid claim may come back empty.

What to have ready

• The PIX receipt (comprovante) and the transaction ID (ID da transação / end-to-end ID).
• The amount, date, and time of the transfer.
• The recipient's PIX key, name, and bank/account details if shown.
• Screenshots of all messages, ads, profiles, emails, or websites involved.
• Phone numbers and any links the scammer sent.
• Your own ID document (CPF / passport) for the police report.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one number I can call to report a scam in Brazil? No single national anti-scam hotline exists. For an in-progress emergency, dial 190 (Military Police). For reporting and recovery, use your bank's MED and your state's Delegacia Eletrônica.

Can I get my PIX money back? Sometimes. If you raise a MED claim quickly and the funds are still in the recipient's account, your bank can return them. If the scammer has already moved the money, recovery becomes much harder — which is why filing within minutes matters.

Do I still need a police report if I filed a MED? Yes. The MED handles the money; the B.O. creates the official crime record. Doing both gives you the strongest position and is often required for insurance or legal follow-up.

Sources

• Banco Central do Brasil — PIX and the Mecanismo Especial de Devolução (MED)
• Delegacia Eletrônica — Polícia Civil de São Paulo (online police report)
• Banco Central — MED implementation guide (procedures and deadlines)
• 2024 fraud-loss and digital-scam case figures (industry/public-security data)

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.