Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
77 comments 
Victim Sought Loan of R$ 1,5 Thousand and Was Used as a “Proxy” in Scheme of R$ 275 Million Against INSS Beneficiaries.
A scam that exposes the vulnerability of INSS retirees shocked the country. Francisca da Silva de Souza, a 72-year-old illiterate woman, is facing more than 200 lawsuits and had her assets frozen after being used as a “proxy” in a fraud exceeding R$ 275 million. The case, initially reported by InfoMoney, reveals how the retiree was deceived while trying to take out a simple loan of R$ 1,5 thousand.
What seemed to be the solution for an immediate financial need turned into a legal nightmare. Francisca, who lives on an income of R$ 900 in Fortaleza (CE), signed documents that, without her knowledge, named her president of the National Association of Retirees and Pensioners (AAPEN), an entity investigated for unauthorized deductions from thousands of benefits.
The Origin of the Scam: The R$ 1,5 Thousand Loan
According to information from InfoMoney, Francisca’s drama began in a banal way: the need for a small amount (R$ 1,5 thousand). Being illiterate, she relied on third parties for the loan process. It was at this moment that the criminals acted, presenting her with a complex contract that, instead of releasing personal credit, placed her as the central figure of AAPEN.
-
The government will pay R$ 1.20 for each liter of diesel that Brazil imports and for the first time in history requires distributors to reveal how much they profit — those who hide their margins will face fines of up to R$ 500 million…
-
The pink ankle bracelet project for aggressors of women gains momentum in Brazil and raises an urgent debate about combating domestic violence.
-
A little-known rule in the Civil Code allows for other relatives to be called to the support action when the person who should pay first cannot cover everything alone.
-
Government enacts new law requiring ex-couples to share custody of pets in case of divorce, with rules for time of cohabitation, veterinary expenses, and loss of ownership in cases of animal abuse.
The National Association of Retirees and Pensioners (AAPEN) is the pivot of the investigation. The entity is accused of making unauthorized deductions directly from the payroll of pensions and retirement benefits. This type of fraud exploits a loophole in the system of payroll loans and automatic debits linked to INSS benefits, harming thousands of seniors who often do not even notice the small amount deducted monthly.
The Scale of the Fraud: R$ 275 Million and the Role of the INSS
The investigation, conducted by the Federal Police (PF), the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), points to a robust scheme that moved R$ 275 million. InfoMoney highlights that the investigation suspects the involvement of INSS employees, who allegedly received bribes to facilitate the operation of the association and the mass registration of the deductions.
For Francisca, the consequence was immediate and devastating. With her assets frozen by the courts, she went from a simple INSS beneficiary to a defendant in more than 200 civil and labor lawsuits filed against AAPEN. Her income of R$ 900, which barely covers her basic expenses, also suffered the unauthorized deductions she is now fighting to reclaim.
The Judicial Battle of the Public Defender
The Public Defender of Ceará has taken on the case and is working to prove the obvious: Francisca is a victim, not a criminal. The main line of defense, as reported by InfoMoney, is that she was misled and used as a “proxy” precisely because of her condition of extreme vulnerability (elderly, illiterate, and low income).
The action filed by the Public Defender seeks, first and foremost, to annul the act that made her president of AAPEN, dissociating her name and CPF from the fraudulent entity. Additionally, it seeks the immediate unfreezing of her assets and reimbursement of the amounts that were improperly deducted from her INSS retirement.
The case of Francisca exposes the fragility of the INSS control systems and the cruelty of fraudulent schemes targeting the most vulnerable. As investigations into AAPEN and the diversion of R$ 275 million continue, the retiree fights a daily battle to clear her name and regain her financial stability.
This story raises an urgent debate about the security of retirees’ data. Have you or any family member experienced unauthorized deductions from an INSS benefit? How do you think the government should protect illiterate seniors from such scams? Share your opinion and experience in the comments.
O sistema em si está corrompido, não sabemos a quem recorrer mais, é corrupção em todos os órgãos do governo, até a classe política está envolvida, a ganância financeira não respeita ninguém, os pobres são o principal alvo desses desonestos, agora para você receber de volta os valores descontados é um sofrimento grande a morosidade do sistema em nosso país ajuda a esse tipo de golpe pois eles **** já sabe disso e como são dos altos escalões estão blindados com as punições
EM QUE ANO OCORREU? O mais importante não informou.
Primeiro punindo com penas severas esses monstros maligno que faz isso com uma pessoa na situação dessa senhora que muita da vezes não tem o comer e fazer uma varredura nesse INSS que e uma vergonha colocar pessoas de bom caráter pra trabalhar em prol do povo