Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
13 comments 
Million-Dollar Frauds Shake Military Pensions in Brazil, Exposing Bold Schemes and Losses of R$ 54 Million. Living “Dead”, False Widows, and Cunning Manipulations Reveal the Deficit in Public Treasury. While Control Attempts Advance, Machiavellian Minds Continue to Challenge the System.
Billions at Stake: Frauds in Military Pensions Reveal Million-Dollar Scheme and Expose Fragility of the Brazilian System
The history of military pensions, which began as a form of protection for the families of combatants, is now one of the biggest financial scandals faced by the Brazilian Armed Forces. The problem lies not only in the million-dollar figures but also in the loopholes that allow fraudulent practices and the impacts on public finances.
Recent data shows that the Army and the Navy have faced losses exceeding R$ 54 million due to pension frauds between 2019 and 2024.
However, the amount may be even higher, as the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has not disclosed complete information regarding cases involving fraud in its pension system.
-
The United States wants to assemble a fleet of laser-armed drones capable of destroying missiles in mid-flight — the Pentagon has already reserved $452 million and the director of missile defense said he is “all in” on the idea.
-
U.S. Air Force tests its autonomous combat drone Fury for the first time with real military personnel in command and reveals plan for a fleet of a thousand artificial intelligence-controlled aircraft that will fly alongside F-35 and F-22 fighters without any pilot on board…
-
US-UK company launches for the first time liquid-fueled ramjet projectile from a 155mm NATO howitzer, reaches 150 km at Mach 3.5 and promises to extend precision firepower at lower cost and without modifying existing platforms
-
Saildrone has just unveiled a 52-meter drone ship that hunts submarines autonomously and can fire missiles without any crew on board — each unit costs US$ 40 million and the US Navy already wants to buy it.
How It All Began: The Origin of Military Pensions in Brazil
Military pensions have their roots in Decree No. 695, dated August 28, 1890, enacted by then-President Marshal Manoel Deodoro da Fonseca.
At that moment, the decree established a voluntary pension system, known as montepio, to support the families of deceased military personnel.
Initially simple, this model evolved into the current system, but it also brought controversies and loopholes that were exploited inappropriately.
As military prosecutor Mário Porto explains, pensions are not necessarily privileges. Military personnel and public servants contribute to the pension system, paying for the benefits their families may receive.
However, Porto highlights that the current model faces challenges due to the disproportion between those who pay and those who receive. “The contributor base is shrinking while the top is expanding,” the prosecutor stated.
Frauds That Haunt the Brazilian Army
Between 2019 and 2024, the Brazilian Army recorded 65 pension cancellations due to fraud in administrative processes. These actions generated a loss of R$ 21.4 million, according to data collected by the Metrópoles portal.
Additionally, inquiries in Military Justice revealed crimes of social security fraud resulting in additional losses of R$ 5.2 million.
The irregularities include improper withdrawals after the beneficiary’s death, document forgery, and even complex frauds involving simulated stable unions.
In some cases, relatives used the pension money for personal or business expenses, taking advantage of the system’s slow response in detecting deaths and terminating payments.
Navy Faces Million-Dollar Claims
In the Navy, the situation is equally alarming. The Navy Veterans and Pensioners Service (SVPM) identified 187 cases of fraudulent or improper receipts since 2014. These episodes resulted in losses exceeding R$ 27.4 million, without inflation adjustments.
The Navy emphasized that detailed verification of cases depends on judicial analyses, as many processes are ongoing.
Multiple frauds were only discovered years after payments began, highlighting the difficulty of adequately controlling and supervising the system.
Fraud in the Air Force: An Unresolved Mystery
Despite being one of the main military institutions, the FAB has not provided precise data on the impact of pension frauds.
The Metrópoles attempted to obtain this information, but the Air Force claimed it does not have a consolidated database capable of compiling the numbers.
Nevertheless, isolated cases reveal how frauds impact the FAB. In one notorious example, a woman married her schizophrenic father-in-law to gain widow’s pension rights.
After his death in 2015, the fraud was discovered five years later, when she had already received R$ 360,000 improperly.
Stories That Shock: “Doubles” and Fake Documents
Some frauds stand out for the creativity of those involved. An emblematic case occurred in Piauí, where a daughter used a “double” to impersonate her deceased mother and continue receiving pension payments.
The fraud lasted for 17 years, causing a loss of R$ 230,000 to the public treasury. The ruse was uncovered when the “double” also died, and the accused tried to replace the imposter with another person.
Another notable case involved a “daughter-in-law” who maintained a romantic relationship with the son of a FAB lieutenant while marrying the elderly military personnel to obtain the pension. The scheme was only discovered thanks to a report from another daughter of the military personnel.
Challenges to Combat Frauds
The Armed Forces have implemented internal audits and collaborated with the Military Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPM) to identify irregularities.
When frauds are detected, cases proceed to investigations, inquiries, and often judicial processes.
According to prosecutor Mário Porto, despite control efforts, the complexity of the system and the creativity of fraudsters make it difficult to completely eliminate these crimes.
One proposed solution would be to improve the Death Control System (Sisobi) to expedite the communication of deaths to military institutions.
Furthermore, Porto suggests that notaries should automatically inform the death of pensioners to the relevant agency, facilitating the immediate suspension of benefits.
Financial and Social Impacts
Although frauds represent a relatively small percentage compared to the total number of pensioners, the financial amounts involved are significant.
Moreover, the diversion of resources affects the credibility of the Armed Forces and hinders legitimate families’ access to benefits.
Many of these families rely solely on the pension for survival, especially when the geographic mobility of military personnel prevents spouses from developing careers.
A System in Check
Pension frauds expose weaknesses that go beyond legal loopholes. They highlight the need for modernization in oversight and transparency processes. In the meantime, the losses continue to impact public treasury and undermine trust in the system.
Will Brazil ever be able to eradicate frauds in the military pension system?
Quando leio alguns desses comentários concluo que está tudo certo em nosso país tropical, abençoado por Deus e bonito por natureza.
Falcatruas, trapaças, são sempre bem-vindas. Alguns passando-se por indignados ensaiam justificar a mão grande dos fardados apontando para os togados.
Ok! Concordo! E as outras esferas do poder, quando vais divulgar!
Não é defensável, nenhum tipo de fraude, que qualquer desinformado sabe que fraudes são cometidas contra o erário público, um bem de todos, fazer alarde de que o exército brasileiro pratica fraudes, é sabida estratégia da esquerda de denegrir esta instituição. Uma sugestão, abre a caixa preta do judiciário, vão ver que os tais 54 milhões desviados na forma de pensão, vai virar trocado frente aos penduricalhos do judiciário. Vai encarar? Duvido.