The fake lawyer scam: "your case was won, there is just a fee"
Someone poses as your lawyer and says the case was won. To release the money, they ask for costs or a fee up front. The case details are real, taken from public records.
Also called: fake lawyer scam, won case scam.
The numbers
4,388
reports of the fake lawyer scam to the São Paulo bar association, in a little over a year and a half
to Feb 2026 · Source: OAB São Paulo
How it works
- The scammer takes the case number, names and amounts from public court systems.
- They write with your lawyer's or the office's photo and name, saying the case was won.
- They ask for a Pix for costs, tax or a fee to release the money, to someone else's account.
Where it usually starts: messaging app.
How it arrives on Bipe. Simulation with sample people and messages.
The real message
The real company never asks for a code, a password or a Pix to a personal key. On Bipe, it will show the seal and its CNPJ (coming soon).
The real message. Simulation with sample people and messages.
How to spot it
- They ask for money before you receive what you won.
- The contact comes from a number that is not your lawyer's.
- There is a rush: the release order expires today, the judge demands it now.
What to do
- Call your lawyer on the number you already had.
- Check the lawyer on ConfirmADV, the bar association's lookup.
- Already paid? Talk to your bank, ask for MED and file a police report.
How Bipe helps
Each item shows where it stands on iPhone and Android.
Business seal
A company, school or association proves its CNPJ and gets a seal with the name on the federal register.
iPhone: Coming soon · Android: Coming soon
Verified seal
A seal with a name verified through Pix or gov.br, so you know who is on the other side.
iPhone: Coming soon · Android: Coming soon
Scam warnings
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.
iPhone: In the test app · Android: In development
A pause before paying
On a suspicious money request, copy and pay stay locked for 5 seconds, to break the scam's rush.
iPhone: Coming soon · Android: Coming soon
What Bipe does not solve here
The scammer uses real data from public cases. Bipe does not check that data and does not know who your lawyer is.
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
Official pages with the scam's script and what to do.
- OAB lança campanha nacional e plataforma de verificação contra 'golpe do falso advogado' (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil)
- Glossário de Tipologias de Fraudes e Golpes Digitais (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública e Febraban (Aliança Nacional de Combate a Fraudes Bancárias Digitais))
- Golpe do falso advogado (Febraban)
Other common scams
- Fake relative
- Taken number or account
- Fake bank call centre
- Pix and fake boleto
- Fake shop
- Threats with your data
- Fake acquaintance
- "I sent you a code by mistake"
- Romance scam
- Fake government body
- Fake delivery fee
- Fake job and task scam
- Fake support
- Fake second-hand sale
- Fake buyer and fake receipt
- Fake rental
- Wrong Pix
- Fake boleto
- Fake loan
- Fake investment
- Betting and "tigrinho"
- Fake link
- Phantom hand and fake app
- SIM swap
- Fake kidnapping
- Sextortion
- Group chat scam
- Fake fundraiser
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 (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública e Febraban (Aliança Nacional de Combate a Fraudes Bancárias Digitais), 2025-10)
- Golpe do falso advogado (Febraban, 2026-10-13)
- OAB lança campanha nacional e plataforma de verificação contra 'golpe do falso advogado' (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, 2025-04-29)
- Golpe do falso advogado já soma 4.388 denúncias e acende alerta em todo o país (OAB São Paulo, 2026-02-06)