The fake refund of the INSS deductions scandal
In 2025 Brazil's biggest benefits scandal broke: associations had been taking unauthorised monthly deductions from millions of INSS pensions. The government opened an official refund programme — free, automatic, and claimed only through official channels. Scammers immediately built a parallel fake version: calls, WhatsApp messages, ads and even fake "INSS Ressarcimento" apps offering to "speed up" or "release" the money you are genuinely owed.
The lie works because the underlying story is true and was on every news broadcast. But the real refund needs no fee, no lawyer, no app besides Meu INSS, and no gov.br password given to anyone.
What to do: claim or check the refund only in the official Meu INSS app or site, by phone 135, or at a Correios branch — free, with no middleman. Anyone who contacts *you* about it — whoever they claim to be — is a thief.
Threat examples
Tap the outlined parts of the message to see the red flags
Good morning! I'm calling from the INSS refund programme about the deductions taken from your benefit. Your amount is approved — to release the payment today I just need your gov.br password and a small processing fee by PIX.