FRAUD AND ITS IMPLICATIONS: THE CONSTANT GROWTH OF VIRTUAL SCAMS

Abstract

It is known that the crime of fraud, as defined in Article 171 of the Brazilian Penal Code, is a fraudulent practice that aims to obtain an illicit advantage, through deceit or manipulation, to the detriment of another person. With the advancement of technology and the popularization of the Internet, fraud has begun to be practiced in a virtual environment, which makes its detection and investigation more complex. The problem to be addressed in this work is to know what are the difficulties in effectively committing and preventing the types of virtual fraud? The general objective is to analyze the crime of fraud, with emphasis on its manifestations in the digital age and on the virtual forms of this offense. The specific objectives are to identify the main forms of digital fraud in Brazil, such as scams related to the PIX instant payment system, counterfeit bank slips and false loan promises, assess the social and economic implications of these crimes and examine public policies and current legislation that address these practices, as well as investigate the main types of virtual fraud, focusing on the analysis of the most frequent scams and their consequences. The research is justified by the need to better understand the types of digital fraud and seek solutions to minimize the impact of this type of crime, which affects both individuals and the economic sector in a broad way. The social and economic implications of digital fraud are significant, causing financial and emotional losses to victims, in addition to impacting trust in digital transactions and e-commerce. The distrust generated by these crimes can delay the adoption of new financial technologies and inhibit innovation in the sector. The methodology used is bibliographical and documentary in nature, including the analysis of academic articles, reports from bodies specialized in digital security and legal documents. The research also presents an overview of public policies and legislation in force in Brazil, highlighting the challenges in implementing these measures. The study concludes that combating digital fraud in Brazil requires a joint effort between society, the private sector and the government. Measures such as digital education for the population, the implementation of advanced security technologies in online transactions and the strengthening of cybercrime laws are essential to reduce the incidence of these crimes. International cooperation is equally important, as many cybercrimes are transnational, making it difficult to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable. Finally, the study emphasizes the need for greater awareness among the population about the risks of digital transactions and best security practices to prevent cyber scams.