A fraud scheme known as “Urubu do Pix” is getting more and more attention online. Cybercriminals promise astronomical profits, trying to lure victims with the promise of quick and easy profits. However, after the transfer, the “invested” money does not return to the victim’s pocket. Learn more about this type of scam below and learn how to protect yourself.
Recently, the scam has had repercussions on several social networks such as Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. With the help of tempting publications, fraudsters try to persuade new users to participate in “investment”. Hacked accounts are also used to spread scams, usually by catching victims off guard through referrals from people they know.
How does Pix Urubu Scam work?

The mechanism of the scam is quite simple, which makes it effective. Criminals share a spreadsheet on social media with “investment” values and corresponding promised returns, usually promising returns of up to 1,000%. In practice, if the victim hands over R$200 to the scammers, they are promised that they will get back R$2,000.
Social engineering techniques such as creating a sense of urgency and no-nonsense offers are commonly used to pull off the scam. Once the victim decides to participate, simply click on the link to start a WhatsApp conversation where the Pix key will be provided for transfer. However, after the transaction is completed, the “deposited” money is not returned to the victim, but remains in fake accounts or stolen by fraudsters.
What to do if you fall for a scam?
If, unfortunately, you have fallen for the Urubu do Pix scam, the first thing you should do is go to the police to make a report. You can then try to get your money back through the Special Refund Mechanism (MED), a Central Bank tool set up to help victims of Pix-related fraud. It is important to remember that the refund request must be registered with the bank within 80 days of the date the Pix was made.
How to protect yourself from scammers?
Fraudulent practices involving Pix have increased significantly since the Central Bank’s payment system went live across Brazil in 2020. Being suspicious when faced with offers of easy money or immediate profit investments online is one way to get involved.
It is very important to always get information from reliable portals, search the websites of the Central Bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) to check whether a given investment opportunity is legitimate or a scam.