Advance-Fee Scams in Brazil
Classic prepayment fraud adapted for Brazilian audiences, promising lottery prizes, inheritance windfalls, or business contracts that require upfront fees to release.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance-fee scams remain widespread in Brazil, often dressed in local context: unclaimed lottery prizes from Caixa Econômica Federal, inheritance funds from deceased relatives, or government relief program payments that victims are told they are entitled to. The common thread is a fee that must be paid before any promised money can be received.
The scam frequently targets older Brazilians via email and telephone, but younger victims are increasingly approached through Instagram DMs and Telegram channels.
How this scam works on Brazil
A victim receives a message — often appearing to come from Caixa Econômica Federal, Receita Federal, or a foreign bank — informing them they have won a lottery or are entitled to a government benefit. To claim the funds, they must pay a processing fee, legal fee, or tax in advance via boleto bancário or PIX.
Each payment leads to another demand: insurance, customs clearance, anti-money-laundering certification. The promised sum never arrives. Sophisticated versions include fake 'lawyers', 'notaries', or 'government officials' who join calls or email chains to add legitimacy.
Fraudsters also exploit real government programs by sending fake messages mimicking Bolsa Família or Auxílio Brasil notifications, telling recipients they must pay a fee to receive their scheduled benefit.
Common red flags
- Unexpected notification about a lottery win or inheritance from an unknown person
- Request for any upfront payment before receiving promised funds
- Sender impersonates a real Brazilian government agency such as Receita Federal or Caixa
- Growing chain of fees — each payment generates a new demand
- Instructions to keep the transaction confidential
- Contact arrives via personal email or WhatsApp rather than official government channels
How to protect yourself
- Remember that no legitimate lottery, government body, or inheritance process requires you to pay upfront fees
- Verify any claimed government benefit through official apps such as Meu INSS or Caixa Tem
- Check directly with Caixa Econômica Federal or Receita Federal through their official websites if you receive unexpected win notifications
- Never share bank details or CPF with unsolicited callers or message senders
- Report suspicious contacts to family members who may help verify the situation objectively
How to report it
- Report impersonation of government agencies to Receita Federal at rfb.gov.br
- File a complaint with PROCON in your state for consumer fraud
- Report to the Polícia Civil cybercrime unit and provide all correspondence as evidence
Frequently asked questions
I received a message saying I won a Caixa lottery I never entered — is it real?
No. You cannot win a lottery you did not enter, and Caixa will never contact prize winners to request upfront payments. Do not pay anything and report the message to Caixa Econômica Federal.