Know how to protect yourself from FGTS 2022 scams at Caixa Tem

The worker with the right to withdraw up to R$ 1,000 from the extraordinary FGTS (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) will find it easy to access the amounts, with the possibility of moving the money online, through Caixa Tem. However, if you are not extra careful, you can be a target for scammers.

Specialists in digital security and Caixa Econômica Federal itself, which manages the fund and is responsible for releasing the withdrawal —allowed by provisional measure 1,105—, warn about what to do to avoid being a victim of a scam.

Scammers act on two fronts

Fraudsters operate on two fronts: with data already available after the mega-leak that took place over a year ago, which exposed information on 223 million Brazilians, or through data collection by sending false links to workers.

Fake links arrive through WhatsApp, SMS, emails and even social media. Against this type of action, Caixa makes the main warning. According to the bank, the financial institution does not send messages requesting passwords, data or personal information.

“It also does not send links or ask for device confirmation or access to the account by email, SMS or WhatsApp”, informs a note.

According to the lawyer Alexandre Berthe, specialized in consumer law, even in the case of the most careful citizens, scams can occur, since data leakage is, today, what he calls a “pandemic”. “The chances of anyone being a victim are very high,” he warns.

According to him, whoever has the money withdrawn through scams should immediately file a police report and look for the banking institution to refund the amounts. The lawyer states that there is a period of ten days for a response. If there is no position from the financial institution, it is possible to look for consumer protection agencies and even Justice.

Fernanda Garibaldi, a lawyer in the areas of fintech and means of payment at Felsberg Advogados, states that there are regulations through the Central Bank, as well as control of financial institutions that work with digital payments, with the aim of ensuring digital security in means of payment. modern.

For the lawyer, what happens in Brazil is the result of generalized violence, often caused by social inequality, which makes the action of thieves and forgers place the client as a victim. “Users need to be aware and do what they already know, which is to use their bank’s official app, always on their cell phone or computer, never on public devices, and verify you in two steps,” she says.

It guides the citizen who is a victim of a scam to initially seek the financial institution’s ombudsman. If the case is not resolved, it will be necessary to go to the location. “The institutions are regulated and under supervision. There are also consumer protection mechanisms.”

Banks spend more than BRL 25 billion a year on digital security

To ensure the digital security of users in modern means of payment, banks annually spend around R$25.7 billion on technology, according to data from Febraban (Brazilian Federation of Banks). Of the total, 10% are focused on internet security.

In a note, Febraban informs that those who are victims of a scam must follow the rules of reimbursement of their bank or financial institution. “We inform you that each financial institution has its own analysis and return policy, which is based on in-depth and individual analysis, considering the evidence presented by customers and information from the transactions carried out.”

Among the main scams highlighted by the institution are the fake motoboy, in which a scammer calls the customer’s house, asking for a password and says that the card needs to be cut, but leaving the chip intact and then a motorcyclist goes to the house. of the citizen and withdraws the card; the fake telephone exchange, which also requests data; and phishing attacks by sending suspicious links.

Data from October 2021 show that, in the pandemic, the fake motoboy scam grew by 271%, that of the fake telephone exchange increased by 62% and that of fake links, an increase of 26%.

See ten digital security tips

1. Never use personal data as a password: birthday, license plate or numbers in a row and don’t even write down the password on paper or computer
2. Never click on links of very advantageous promotions, with requests for updating or maintaining a token
3. Never make transfers to regularize or reverse values in your test account
4. Always notify the bank if your cell phone is stolen
5. Check all data before paying a boleto, making transfers or making a Pix
6. Never access your account or register your Pix key, clicking on any link you receive in messages; to do this, use your cell phone or your computer
7. never transfer money for a friend or family member who made the request by whatsapp without first calling to confirm with the person
8. activate the two-factor authentication in your accounts
9. Enable tracking function from the cell phone to erase the data from the device remotely and activate chip lock from the operator with the PIN and have the imei code in case of theft
10. If you receive contact on behalf of the bank asking you to call the trend center, use another cell phone to do so, as it may be blow

Extraordinary FGTS is released according to schedule

FGTS money began to be released on April 20th for workers who have their birthdays in January. The second batch will drop on Saturday (30), for those born in February. Payment will continue until July 15, according to the calendar determined by Caixa. In all, 42 million citizens should benefit, who will be able to move up to R$ 30 billion.