IntelliTechs · Oct 20, 2026
If you live in or travel to Brazil and an unknown Pix lands in your account, only refund it using the Return button on the original transaction in your bank app.
Scammers often use a phone number as the Pix key, because it's tied to the victim's WhatsApp profile. According to Brazilian outlet Olhar Digital, the script goes like this:
The MED (Mecanismo Especial de Devolução, or Special Return Mechanism) was created by Brazil's central bank to make it easier to recover money in scams and fraud.
This is a different situation, and the MED generally doesn't apply. According to PagBank, it's meant for scams and fraud, not ordinary mistakes like typing the wrong key.
Per PagBank and Cielo, a MED claim can be filed up to 80 days after the transaction.
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