A fraudulent WhatsApp message impersonating the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil claims that the recipient has a 'serious pending issue' related to their Income Tax declaration. The scam message includes personal information, such as the recipient's name and CPF (Individual Taxpayer Register), which can easily mislead individuals into believing the legitimacy of the message. The text warns the recipient that failure to address this issue could result in restrictions on their financial operations and access to banking services.

The message falsely informs users that they are at risk of being blocked from using financial services and warns of severe consequences, creating a sense of urgency. The link included in the text purportedly leads to a site for resolving these serious issues, but it serves to collect personal information from unwitting victims. This tactic of using legitimate-sounding threats and impersonating official figures is a common method employed by cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting individuals.

Authorities are advising the public to be cautious and recognize that such messages are fraudulent. After being alerted by readers, G1 conducted investigations to verify the authenticity of these claims and alerted the public to the ongoing scam circulating on WhatsApp. This incident highlights the importance of vigilance against scams, especially those using real names and personal information to appear credible.