A 53-year-old commercial manager from São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, was scammed out of R$ 18,500 after falling for a false boleto scheme while trying to pay a bank debt. On Tuesday, he engaged with what he believed was a legitimate bank attendant via WhatsApp after being directed from his bank's app. The scammer requested personal details under the pretense of providing a discounted payment option for the boleto.

The victim, who had just made a previous payment, became suspicious but was persuaded by the scammer's claims and ultimately paid the provided boleto. After attempting to confirm the transaction with his bank, he discovered that he had been deceived and that the payment was fraudulent. The man has since reported the crime to the authorities, specifically to the Central de Flagrantes in Rio Preto.

This incident highlights the increasing prevalence of online scams in Brazil, particularly those targeting individuals through social media and messaging apps. It underscores the need for greater awareness among consumers regarding such fraudulent schemes and better security measures from banks to protect their customers from scams.