Two men were convicted of WhatsApp credit fraud in Lajes, Serra Catarinense. The court decided that they would have to return to the victim the amount of 4.5 thousand reais paid by her in a farce. The amount plus interest and monetary adjustment will be paid as property damage.

Fraudsters offered a fake loan through a messaging app – Photo: Freepik

The decision was published by the 3rd civil court of the region and made public on Wednesday (28). The verdict is still subject to appeal.

puff

According to the TJSC (Santa Catarina Court), the duo offered a fake loan through a chat app and used the name of the two financial institutions to scam the victim.

“To add credibility to the procedure, the scammers used the logo of one financial institution and the brand name of another in a simulated contract without the knowledge and permission of the companies,” TJ said.

Also, according to the court, the victim said that the woman gave him the phone number of the credit company. Contacting the number via the app, the duo offered a supposed loan of R$20,000.

However, in order to unlock this amount, the victim had to deposit various amounts into the scammers’ accounts, which totaled 4,500 reais. But the victim did not receive the promised amount.

Solution

The verdict was released by Judge Francisco Carlos Mambrini, who stressed that the evidence suggests that the person who filed the lawsuit was the victim of a rough blow, believing he was taking out a loan from an official credit operator.

“It is very strange for this decision that the author, allegedly in need of a loan of 20,000 reais, to be repaid in smooth and distant 70 installments, managed to deposit almost 5,000 reais in favor of the scammers in the interim. in just three days. Obviously, those who need borrowed money do not have a sufficient reserve for the immediate payment of a significant amount, ”the justice of the peace reflected in the decision.

The two financial institutions that the scammers used to defraud the victim are also defendants in this case. However, the judge rejected the claims for compensation for moral and material damage due to passive illegitimacy.

beware of scams

Criminals are getting bolder and more inventive when it comes to fraud. In Brazil, several types of fraud are used.

There are those that are practiced personally, such as card machines – scammers forge and transfer values ​​​​higher than reported to the victims.

Another scam is Pix, in which scammers make purchases and present a fake transfer receipt on the screen of their mobile phone that mimics payment. Or they also make scheduled payments through Peaks, which are canceled after leaving the establishments with the goods.

But through the electronic media and the Internet, the field of action of criminals is even more extensive. There are cases when social media accounts get hacked, and scammers use them to extort money from contacts, posing as account holders. They pretend that they have some difficulties and ask for money.

In other situations, they use victim profiles to advertise products that are well below market value. Some users end up believing the sale is real and paying for an item that will never be delivered.

There is also a false writ scam, nude body scams, and more that people should be on the lookout for.