# Fake government body scam: how it works and what to do · Bipe A message in the name of a government body talks about money to claim, a cut benefit or a fine, and sends a link. Public bodies do not send payment links by SMS or messaging app. **The fake government body scam: money to claim, a cut benefit, a fine** Also called: fake government message, unclaimed money scam. ## How it works 1. An SMS or message arrives with a government body's name: money to claim, proof of life, a suspended licence. 2. The link opens a page that copies gov.br or the body's site. 3. The page asks for your CPF, password, bank details or a payment to release the money or avoid the cut. ## How to spot it - The message has a link and a short deadline. - The site address does not end in gov.br. - They ask for a payment to release money that would be yours. ## What to do - Do not click. Type the gov.br address yourself or open the official app. - Check money to claim only at valoresareceber.bcb.gov.br. INSS only through Meu INSS or 135. - Gave data or paid? Talk to your bank and file a police report. ## How Bipe helps Each item shows where it stands on iPhone and Android. - [Reserved names](https://bipe.chat/en/features/reserved-names/) (iPhone: Coming soon; Android: Coming soon): Bank, government and Bipe names are kept for the institution's verified account. - [Disguised letters](https://bipe.chat/en/features/lookalike-letters/) (iPhone: Coming soon; Android: Coming soon): The name check treats some lookalikes, such as O and 0, as the same letter. It does not cover every similar name. - [Scam warnings](https://bipe.chat/en/features/scam-warnings/) (iPhone: In the test app; Android: In development): A warning shows under a message that looks like a scam, such as a rushed Pix, a new number or a boleto. It is on by default, with nothing to set up. **What Bipe does not solve here:** Most of these arrive by SMS and e-mail, outside Bipe. On Bipe, public bodies' names are reserved, and the warning shows on links that use bcb, gov, inss, receita or detran without being the official site. Bipe only protects the chats that happen in Bipe. If someone in the family still uses another app, a scammer can write to them there. ## Who describes this scam - [Valores a Receber: Consultas foram retomadas](https://www.bcb.gov.br/detalhenoticia/609/noticia) (Banco Central do Brasil) - [INSS não envia SMS para informar sobre corte de benefício por falta de Prova de Vida](https://www.gov.br/inss/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/inss-nao-envia-sms-para-informar-sobre-corte-de-beneficio-por-falta-de-prova-de-vida) (INSS) - [Detran-PR alerta para golpe com mensagens falsas referentes à suspensão da CNH](https://www.detran.pr.gov.br/Noticia/Detran-PR-alerta-para-golpe-com-mensagens-falsas-referentes-suspensao-da-CNH) (Detran-PR) - [Glossário de Tipologias de Fraudes e Golpes Digitais](https://www.gov.br/mj/pt-br/assuntos/alianca-nacional-de-combate-a-fraudes-bancarias-digitais/glossario_final_iniciativa_1-8_v10.pdf) (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública e Febraban (Aliança Nacional de Combate a Fraudes Bancárias Digitais)) ## Other common scams - [Fake relative](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-relative-scam/) - [Taken number or account](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/cloned-number-scam/) - [Fake bank call centre](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-bank-call-scam/) - [Pix and fake boleto](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/pix-scam/) - [Fake shop](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-shop-scam/) - [Threats with your data](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/threat-scam/) - [Fake acquaintance](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-acquaintance-scam/) - ["I sent you a code by mistake"](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/code-by-mistake-scam/) - [Romance scam](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/romance-scam/) - [Fake lawyer](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-lawyer-scam/) - [Fake delivery fee](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-delivery-fee-scam/) - [Fake job and task scam](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/task-job-scam/) - [Fake support](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-support-scam/) - [Fake second-hand sale](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-seller-scam/) - [Fake buyer and fake receipt](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-receipt-scam/) - [Fake rental](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-rental-scam/) - [Wrong Pix](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/wrong-pix-scam/) - [Fake boleto](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-boleto-scam/) - [Fake loan](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-loan-scam/) - [Fake investment](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-investment-scam/) - [Betting and "tigrinho"](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/betting-scam/) - [Fake link](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-link-scam/) - [Phantom hand and fake app](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/remote-access-scam/) - [SIM swap](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/sim-swap-scam/) - [Fake kidnapping](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-kidnapping-scam/) - [Sextortion](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/sextortion-scam/) - [Group chat scam](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/group-chat-scam/) - [Fake fundraiser](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-charity-scam/) - [Scams in Brazil in numbers](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/) ## Where these numbers come from Researched on 13 October 2026. We only use numbers that have a source. Surveys by a company or a private association are marked as such. - [Glossário de Tipologias de Fraudes e Golpes Digitais](https://www.gov.br/mj/pt-br/assuntos/alianca-nacional-de-combate-a-fraudes-bancarias-digitais/glossario_final_iniciativa_1-8_v10.pdf) (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública e Febraban (Aliança Nacional de Combate a Fraudes Bancárias Digitais), 2025-10) - [Valores a Receber: Consultas foram retomadas](https://www.bcb.gov.br/detalhenoticia/609/noticia) (Banco Central do Brasil, 2022-02-15) - [INSS não envia SMS para informar sobre corte de benefício por falta de Prova de Vida](https://www.gov.br/inss/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/inss-nao-envia-sms-para-informar-sobre-corte-de-beneficio-por-falta-de-prova-de-vida) (INSS, 2026-08-12) - [Detran-PR alerta para golpe com mensagens falsas referentes à suspensão da CNH](https://www.detran.pr.gov.br/Noticia/Detran-PR-alerta-para-golpe-com-mensagens-falsas-referentes-suspensao-da-CNH) (Detran-PR, 2024-11-19) ## Download - Install on iPhone: https://testflight.apple.com/join/k3ycEfzk (Test version, through Apple TestFlight.) - Download for Android: https://bipe.chat/baixar/android/bipe.apk (Test version. Download the file and open it on your phone. Android asks you to allow the install. Notifications do not work yet.) An experiment by Envisioning: https://envisioning.com ## Source code - iPhone app: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-ios - Android app: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-android - App rules and text: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-shared - Invites and @ directory: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-api - This site: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-web - Colours and styles: https://github.com/bipe-chat/compound-design-tokens - On-device scam model: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-ml - Business bridge and inbox: https://github.com/bipe-chat/bipe-business