Don't Fall for the "PIX Scam"
As per the interview given to R7 Newspaper by our Lawyer Nelson Alexander Schepis Montini.
PIX was introduced to revolutionize payments and bring agility to banking transactions, but it is already being misused by scammers and fraudsters.
Scammers take advantage of the speed of PIX payments, which are virtually instantaneous. Therefore, upon receiving the funds, scammers typically allocate these funds quickly, such as paying digital bills or making withdrawals, thus beginning to make the money disappear.
Currently, the Central Bank has security systems in place to ensure that money transfers from one account to another, but it does not control whether the transaction is legitimate or not; this is up to the user.
Be aware that PIX is a form of cash payment, as if it were physical money.
But, how can you avoid falling for the scam?
Always pay attention to the shopping site. Sites ending in ".com" usually have lower costs for scammers to acquire and can be an indication of fraud - unless the shopping site is indeed American;
The ".br" ending of a site can be an indication of a safer site for shopping, but it is not a rule;
When concluding an order online, before entering a credit card, pay attention to the term "https" at the beginning of the site. This term indicates that the information transacted on the site is encrypted, i.e., protected.
If the site is not well-known, research it on consumer complaint sites, look up the store's address, or check the CNPJ to see if it exists or if the site's address information matches the CNPJ;
When using a credit card, always prefer to use so-called single-use or temporary virtual cards, where a card number is generated that, in the event of card fraud, limits the damage that the consumer can suffer, since it can only be used once.
If there is an advantage in making payments via PIX, prefer to do so through an intermediary platform, such as Mercado Pago, PagSeguro, never directly to the supposed store.
If the buyer is purchasing from a company (CNPJ), without intermediaries, never make a PIX to an Individual (CPF) or to phone codes, email, or random key, always prefer to make it to the same CNPJ you are purchasing from, so you ensure you are paying the right company, minimizing the chances of scams.
If you realize that you have fallen for a PIX Scam, gather all emails, order number, record the website through screen capture or print, save messages via WhatsApp and any vouchers you have, immediately file a police report, and seek a lawyer specialized in the area;
We are here to help you, contact us, and we will assist you in recovering your values.
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HTTPS is an implementation of the HTTP protocol over an additional layer of security that uses the SSL/TLS protocol. This additional layer allows data to be transmitted through an encrypted connection and verifies the authenticity of the server and the client through digital certificates.
Nelson Alexander Schepis Montini
OAB/SP 316.892
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