Report Virtual Crimes: Estelionato

Virtual crimes are increasingly present in our daily lives, and one of the most common is estelionate. In this blog, let’s talk about how to report this type of crime and what are the measures that can be taken to protect yourself.

What is estelionate?

Estelionate is a crime provided for in the Brazilian Penal Code, in article 171. It consists of obtaining illicit advantage, inducing or keeping someone in error, through device, ruse or any other fraudulent means.

In the digital age, estelionate also occurs virtually through the internet. Criminals use sophisticated techniques to deceive victims and get personal information, bank passwords and even money.

how to report virtual estelionate crimes?

If you have been the victim of virtual estelionate, it is important to report the crime so that the authorities can investigate and take appropriate action. See below the steps to make the complaint:

1. Get all the evidence: Save conversations, emails, screen prints and any other evidence proving the crime;
2. Register a police report at the closest police station to your residence;
3. Enter the crime to the competent authorities, such as the Civil Police and the Federal Police;
4. Seek help from a lawyer specializing in virtual crimes;
5. Also report crime to consumer protection bodies, such as Procon;
6. Communicate what happened to banks and credit card operators so that they can take security measures in relation to their accounts;
7. Share your experience in forums and social networks to alert others about the blows.

Measures to protect yourself from virtual estelionate

In addition to denouncing crime, it is important to adopt measures to protect yourself from virtual estelionate. See some tips:

• Keep your antivirus up to date: a good antivirus can help identify and block malicious websites and emails;
• Do not click suspicious links: Avoid clicking links sent by unknown emails or suspicious messages;
• Be wary of very advantageous offers: scammers often offer products and services at prices far below the market to attract victims;
• Use strong passwords: Create complex passwords, with uppercase, tiny, numbers and special characters;
• Check the security of the websites: Before entering personal or banking data on a site, make sure it has a security certificate (https);
• Be wary personal information requests: Never provide personal or banking information by phone, email or messages;
• Be aware of your financial transactions: Regularly check your bank extracts and credit card invoices for suspicious movements.

By following these security measures and denouncing virtual crimes of estelionate, you will be contributing to the reduction of these criminal practices and protecting yourself and others.

Remember: Prevention is the best way to avoid being a victim of virtual estelionate. Always be aware and be wary of suspicious offers and requests.