Government determines that Google and Facebook remove misleading ads from 'Desenrola Brasil'
The government program was created with the purpose of tackling national defaults and offering financial assistance to families in Brazil. Both companies were given a 48-hour deadline to remove the fraudulent ads from their platforms.
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A National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) issued an order for Google and Facebook to immediately remove misleading ads related to the federal government debt renegotiation program, entitled "Desenrola Brasil". In the event of non-compliance with this measure, both companies will be subject to fines in the amount of R$ 150,000.
Notification
The determination was published this Wednesday (26) in the Official Gazette. The Public Prosecutor's Office has recently begun an investigation into the creation of fake websites that apply scams using the name of the program. Both Google and Facebook were given 48 hours to remove the fraudulent ads. In addition, Senacon requested that companies implement measures to prevent the publication of fraudulent content in the future.
Adverts
Ads from alleged companies, which pretend to be facilitators for people to join the program, are circulating among the various web pages made available by both technology companies. In certain cases, these advertisements redirected users to deceptive websites that simulated a query about the person's eligibility for the program. In addition, other advertisements direct users to personalized service on WhatsApp, however, this service was also false and misleading.
Unwind Brazil
Desenrola Brasil was instituted by means of Provisional Measure nº 1.176/2023, on June 5th of this year, with the objective of fighting default in the country and providing financial relief to Brazilian families. Currently, the program is available to individuals with an income of up to R$ 20,000. In the next phase of the program, which will begin in September, negotiations will take place exclusively through the "Gov.br" website, without the need for intermediaries. However, to access this platform, citizens, in addition to having to register, will also have silver or gold accounts on the site.This initiative aims to ensure a more efficient and straightforward trading process for program beneficiaries.
Alert
According to the government, those interested in renegotiating their debts through the Desenrola program should avoid seeking intermediaries. The proper procedure is to carry out the service directly at the bank where the debt is registered. The government has emphasized the importance of being alert and cautious of potential fraud attempts. If you receive any suspicious message or proposal for renegotiation by third parties related to Desenrola, it is always recommended to contact the bank directly before taking any decision and that it is essential not to access suspicious links and never to provide personal data to strangers.
If there are suspicions of fraud, the citizen must report the occurrence, registering the incident with the police authorities, contacting the Procons, the Central Bank and the communication center of the bank to which the debt is linked.
