The Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) warned retirees and pensioners that scammers are impersonating the agency to steal personal data [1].
This alert comes as fraudsters attempt to exploit the annual "prova de vida" — a mandatory proof-of-life verification — to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts. Because this process is a requirement for maintaining benefits, beneficiaries are particularly vulnerable to urgent requests for information.
The INSS issued an initial public alert on May 9, 2026 [1]. The agency later reiterated these warnings throughout the month, with further communications on May 18 and May 27 [2, 3].
Fraudsters are utilizing multiple channels to reach victims. Some criminals are sending fake messages via WhatsApp pretending to be agency officials [2], while others are making direct phone calls to request the proof-of-life verification [4]. The agency said these communications are fraudulent and that beneficiaries should verify all requests through official channels.
Officials said the scams are happening nationwide across Brazil, with specific reports of activity in São Paulo [5, 6]. The primary goal of these criminals is to harvest sensitive data that allows them to compromise the financial security of the elderly.
To protect themselves, the agency said beneficiaries should avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages or providing personal details over the phone. The INSS maintains that official communications regarding the proof-of-life process follow specific protocols and will not involve requests for passwords, or bank transfers via messaging apps [4, 5].
“Scammers are impersonating the agency to steal personal data.”
The surge in these scams highlights a recurring vulnerability in government administrative processes where mandatory compliance creates a window for social engineering. By mimicking a required legal procedure like the proof-of-life verification, attackers leverage the fear of losing benefits to bypass the skepticism of elderly citizens.
