This week, Procon Carioca launched a brochure containing advice for Rio residents and tourists to avoid falling into the trap of scams, which are increasing at the end of the year. The guide provides practical advice to consumers and can avoid abuses and pitfalls during New Year’s Eve and summer holidays.
- New Year’s Eve 2026 in Copacabana: The Rio metro will have a compulsory bracelet to return home; find out how it will work
- New Year’s Eve 2026: the assembly of the 19 ferries with the fireworks that will light up New Year’s Eve in Copacabana enters the final stretch
The booklet emphasizes that information constitutes the main tool for consumer protection and warns against the recurring practices recorded today. It is common for fraudsters to take advantage of the rush, volume of purchases and people’s lack of knowledge to commit fraud.
Among the most common scams are “Emergency Pix,” in which criminals pose as family members or friends and ask for emergency money. There are also cases of New Year promotions with unrealistic prices, usually associated with party and travel packages or fake links to tickets and events, which imitate official websites. It is also necessary to be aware of fake QR codes, used in bars, taxis and parties, which can be a gateway for a virus to enter your cell phone.
The booklet then presents golden rules of security, such as being wary of urgent messages, avoiding clicking on links received by applications, always checking the recipient’s name before making a payment and being wary of offers deemed “too good to be true”.
The booklet also highlights that consumers can use tools such as verifying their CNPJ with the Federal Revenue, checking the reputation of companies and verifying data before paying bills to avoid falling into the trap of scams.
If the consumer falls victim to one of these scams, Procon Carioca’s advice is to act quickly. It is essential to immediately register the complaint on official agency channels, gather evidence, chat fingerprints, receipts, links and any other evidence of fraud.
In addition, the consumer must notify the bank or financial institution as soon as possible to try to block the transaction and reduce losses. Rapid action increases the chances of holding those involved accountable and strengthens Procon Carioca’s inspection and prevention actions.
About The Author
