# Fake link scam: how it works and what to do · Bipe A link leads to a page that copies the bank's site, gov.br or a shop. What you type there goes to the scammer. Type the address yourself, or open the official app. **The fake link scam: the page copies the bank, gov.br or a shop** Also called: phishing, fake link, fake bank site. ## How it works 1. A rushed message arrives: account blocked, suspicious purchase, a prize, a discount. 2. The link opens a page that looks real, with an address that looks close. 3. The page asks for a password, card or code, and the scammer uses it at once. ## How to spot it - The address has a swapped letter, an extra word or a different ending. - The message has a short deadline or threatens a block. - They ask for a password or code, which an official site does not ask for by link. ## What to do - Do not use the link. Open the app or type the official address. - Never type a password or code on a page that came by message. - Typed it? Change your password, talk to your bank and file a police report. ## How Bipe helps Each item shows where it stands on iPhone and Android. - [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. - [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. **What Bipe does not solve here:** Bipe warns when a link copies a bank, a government body or a well-known company, also with short names like bcb, gov and inss in the address. It does not check yet whether a domain is new. 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 - [Golpe do link falso (Phishing - Pescaria Digital)](https://portal.febraban.org.br/DetalheAntifraude/8/pt-br/) (Febraban) - [Golpes: Evite Fraudes (Cartilha de Segurança para Internet)](https://cartilha.cert.br/fasciculos/golpes-evite-fraudes/fasciculo-golpes-evite-fraudes.pdf) (CERT.br, NIC.br) - [Alerta de golpe: jamais clique em links suspeitos](https://www.gov.br/inss/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/alerta-de-golpe-jamais-clique-em-links-suspeitos) (INSS) ## 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 government body](https://bipe.chat/en/scams-in-brazil/fake-government-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/) - [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. - [Golpe do link falso (Phishing - Pescaria Digital)](https://portal.febraban.org.br/DetalheAntifraude/8/pt-br/) (Febraban, 2025-01-21) - [Alerta de golpe: jamais clique em links suspeitos](https://www.gov.br/inss/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/alerta-de-golpe-jamais-clique-em-links-suspeitos) (INSS, 2026-08-31) - [Golpes: Evite Fraudes (Cartilha de Segurança para Internet)](https://cartilha.cert.br/fasciculos/golpes-evite-fraudes/fasciculo-golpes-evite-fraudes.pdf) (CERT.br, NIC.br, 2026-03) ## 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