SCAM ALERTS
The fake lawyer and fake relative scams with cloned voices
With public court data and a few seconds of audio, criminals imitate the voices of lawyers and relatives to ask for Pix transfers. See how the scam works, how to protect yourself and what to do if you already paid.
IN 30 SECONDS
- AI clones voices from published audio and video.
- Always confirm through a channel you already knew.
- A Pix request to “release” court money is a sign of fraud.
- If you paid, dispute it in your banking app right away and preserve the evidence.
Two old scams have a new weapon. In the fake lawyer scam, the criminal poses as your lawyer and says there is money from your court case to be released, for a “fee”. In the fake relative scam, a family member has “changed numbers” and needs an urgent Pix transfer. Now both can arrive with the person’s real voice, cloned by artificial intelligence from a few seconds of audio posted online.
How the scam is put together
- Real data
Case numbers and the names of the parties and the lawyer are looked up in public sources. Photos and voice come from social media, videos and audio messages. - A convincing contact
The message arrives on WhatsApp with the lawyer’s or relative’s photo, quoting true details. - Cloned-voice audio
A short audio with the person’s voice and way of speaking breaks down suspicion. - Urgency and Pix
There is always a rush: “the court order expires today”, “I can’t access my bank”. Payment is by Pix to a third party’s account.
The scam is already the target of large operations. In May 2026, São Paulo’s Civil Police, supported by the São Paulo Bar Association (OAB-SP), executed 26 search warrants in Operation SP Advocacia Mais Segura against a group that used AI to reproduce lawyers’ voices and moved around R$ 10 million in six months.
How to protect yourself
- Confirm through another channel
Call the law firm number you already had, or your relative on their old number. Never use the contact that sent the message. - Distrust any charge to release money
A Pix request for “court costs”, a “release fee” or “tax” to receive money from a case is a classic sign of fraud. - Agree on a safe word
A word only your family knows settles the doubt in seconds, even with a perfect voice. - Expose your voice less
Avoid talking to unknown numbers and reduce public audio and video of whoever handles the family’s or company’s finances.
If you have already paid
- Dispute it in your banking app right away
MED 2.0, in force since February 2, 2026, lets you dispute through the app and traces the money into the accounts it was passed on to. The sooner, the better the chance of a freeze. - Preserve the evidence
Export the chat, keep the original audio files, the numbers, the receipt with the transaction ID and screenshots with date and time. - File a police report
Include the Pix details, the receiving account and the number used in the scam. - Alert whoever was impersonated
The lawyer should notify their state Bar section; the family should warn other relatives.
A voice does not prove identity
With AI, hearing someone’s voice is no longer proof that it is them. For payments, the rule is: always confirm through a channel you already know.
Quick checklist
- Contact confirmed through a channel you already knew
- Safe word agreed with the family
- No Pix transfers to “release” money
- Dispute filed in the banking app, if you already paid
- Evidence preserved and police report filed
HOW CiBER DETETiVE CAN HELP
Fraud & Scam Tracking
Scam tracing and evidence preservation to recover funds and hold those involved accountable.
For information only. This does not replace a professional review of your specific case. Legal references reflect the rules in force on the publication date (Brazilian law).