[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":362},["ShallowReactive",2],{"page-en-\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fsafety":3,"guides-en":278},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":269,"extension":270,"meta":271,"navigation":272,"order":273,"path":274,"seo":275,"stem":276,"__hash__":277},"content_en\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fsafety.md","Safety: phone, cards, scams",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":257},"minimark",[9,13,19,24,40,44,47,58,75,79,115,119,127,131,155,159,167,171,188,192,195],[10,11,12],"p",{},"The typical risks for newcomers are phone theft in the street, an extra amount charged on a terminal, and offers to \"earn\" with your own card. Below are protective techniques that residents of Rio de Janeiro write about. This is no guarantee of safety: danger depends on the district and the time of day.",[10,14,15],{},[16,17,18],"em",{},"Checked on 8 October 2026. Insurance and bank terms are as of the post date.",[20,21,23],"h2",{"id":22},"in-short","In short",[25,26,27,31,34,37],"ul",{},[28,29,30],"li",{},"Carry a \"street\" phone that you will not mind handing over, and leave your main one at home.",[28,32,33],{},"Before tapping your card, check the amount on the terminal.",[28,35,36],{},"Do not give your card details to anyone who offers to \"receive money and keep part of it\".",[28,38,39],{},"If you are robbed, hand over what is demanded and do not resist.",[20,41,43],{"id":42},"a-second-phone","A second phone",[10,45,46],{},"It is common in Brazil to have two phones: a valuable one at home and a cheap one for the street. The street phone should not hold:",[25,48,49,52,55],{},[28,50,51],{},"anything hard to restore (eSIMs of other countries, originals of documents);",[28,53,54],{},"apps with access to your main bank accounts, crypto exchanges and main e-mail;",[28,56,57],{},"passwords, seed phrases and other confidential information.",[10,59,60,61,68,69,74],{},"One or two banking apps such as PicPay or iti Itaú with a small balance for a day or two and a linked virtual card are enough, and it is better to create a separate cloud account on it (",[62,63,67],"a",{"href":64,"rel":65},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F563",[66],"nofollow","post, 15.01.2025",", ",[62,70,73],{"href":71,"rel":72},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F130",[66],"post, 20.02.2025",").",[20,76,78],{"id":77},"protection-in-the-bank-app","Protection in the bank app",[25,80,81,93,104],{},[28,82,83,87,88,74],{},[84,85,86],"strong",{},"Modo Rua at Nubank"," (February 2023): while the phone is not connected to your home Wi-Fi, no more than an amount you set can be spent or transferred (",[62,89,92],{"href":90,"rel":91},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F125",[66],"post, 13.02.2023",[28,94,95,98,99,74],{},[84,96,97],{},"A temporary virtual card"," at Nubank lasts 24 hours and suits a dubious website or paying for a friend (",[62,100,103],{"href":101,"rel":102},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F339",[66],"post, 04.01.2024",[28,105,106,109,110,74],{},[84,107,108],{},"Phone insurance"," (in December 2023 through the Nubank app): it covers theft or robbery (a boletim de ocorrência is needed), accidental damage, including water damage, and up to R$ 5,000 on the Nubank account if the phone is stolen. It does not cover deliberate damage, loss, or transactions made more than 24 hours after the theft. It starts 30 days after activation and also works abroad. For an iPhone 14 Pro it cost R$ 127 a month with a R$ 770 deductible (",[62,111,114],{"href":112,"rel":113},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F297",[66],"post, 08.12.2023",[20,116,118],{"id":117},"at-the-terminal","At the terminal",[10,120,121,122,74],{},"Check the amount on the terminal's screen before you tap your card or enter the PIN. A channel author reports a case in Rio's south zone (especially Copacabana) where US$ 2,000 was charged instead of US$ 4 (",[62,123,126],{"href":124,"rel":125},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F572",[66],"post, 14.08.2026",[20,128,130],{"id":129},"scammers-schemes","Scammers' schemes",[25,132,133,144],{},[28,134,135,138,139,74],{},[84,136,137],{},"A \"dropper\" on your card."," In chats people are offered to hand over their card details so that money lands on the card: keep part, withdraw the rest and send it in cryptocurrency. This is stolen money: the card and the account get blocked within a couple of days, it ruins your credit history, and in the worst case you can be charged with complicity in money laundering (",[62,140,143],{"href":141,"rel":142},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F219",[66],"post, 18.07.2023",[28,145,146,149,150,154],{},[84,147,148],{},"Scammers posing as birth support."," See ",[62,151,153],{"href":152},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhealth\u002Fpregnancy-birth","Pregnancy and childbirth",".",[20,156,158],{"id":157},"if-you-are-robbed","If you are robbed",[10,160,161,162,74],{},"Do not play the hero: in one case resisting was answered by a second attacker and a concussion. Hand over what is demanded and carry the minimum of valuables (",[62,163,166],{"href":164,"rel":165},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F224",[66],"post, 22.07.2023",[20,168,170],{"id":169},"a-map-of-the-area","A map of the area",[10,172,173,174,177,178,68,183,74],{},"The ",[84,175,176],{},"Fogo Cruzado"," app shows shooting statistics on a map of Rio and four other states: the number of incidents, casualties and whether it was a police operation. The @russo_no_brasil author also shares a map marking districts controlled by gangs. The completeness and currency of such data depend on the district (",[62,179,182],{"href":180,"rel":181},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F19",[66],"post, 12.12.2024",[62,184,187],{"href":185,"rel":186},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F128",[66],"post, 18.02.2025",[20,189,191],{"id":190},"sources","Sources",[10,193,194],{},"Personal experience (channels @brazil_lifehacks and @russo_no_brasil, in Russian):",[25,196,197,203,209,215,221,227,233,239,245,251],{},[28,198,199],{},[62,200,202],{"href":64,"rel":201},[66],"A phone for the street, 15.01.2025",[28,204,205],{},[62,206,208],{"href":71,"rel":207},[66],"A second phone, 20.02.2025",[28,210,211],{},[62,212,214],{"href":90,"rel":213},[66],"Street mode at Nubank, 13.02.2023",[28,216,217],{},[62,218,220],{"href":101,"rel":219},[66],"A temporary payment card, 04.01.2024",[28,222,223],{},[62,224,226],{"href":112,"rel":225},[66],"Phone insurance, 08.12.2023",[28,228,229],{},[62,230,232],{"href":124,"rel":231},[66],"Street fraud, 14.08.2026",[28,234,235],{},[62,236,238],{"href":141,"rel":237},[66],"Fraud news, 18.07.2023",[28,240,241],{},[62,242,244],{"href":164,"rel":243},[66],"News of a Brazilian mugging, 22.07.2023",[28,246,247],{},[62,248,250],{"href":180,"rel":249},[66],"Fogo Cruzado, 12.12.2024",[28,252,253],{},[62,254,256],{"href":185,"rel":255},[66],"A map of gangs, 18.02.2025",{"title":258,"searchDepth":259,"depth":259,"links":260},"",2,[261,262,263,264,265,266,267,268],{"id":22,"depth":259,"text":23},{"id":42,"depth":259,"text":43},{"id":77,"depth":259,"text":78},{"id":117,"depth":259,"text":118},{"id":129,"depth":259,"text":130},{"id":157,"depth":259,"text":158},{"id":169,"depth":259,"text":170},{"id":190,"depth":259,"text":191},"How to protect money and your phone in Brazil: a street phone, limits in bank apps, phone insurance, checking the amount on the terminal and scammers' schemes.","md",{},true,3,"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fsafety",{"title":5,"description":269},"en\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fsafety","7YbUKP-Bfm2eZcyZONCuZX5F-QoUImliD_cHFXQgu0U",[279,284,288,292,297,302,306,310,314,319,321,325,329,333,337,341,342,346,350,354,358],{"path":280,"title":281,"description":282,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fbuy-car","Buying a car","How a foreigner buys a used car in Pernambuco: from a dealer or a private seller, checks, DETRAN transfer, IPVA, insurance and driving licence.",1,{"path":285,"title":286,"description":287,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fcnh","Exchanging a licence for a Brazilian CNH","How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Brazilian CNH in Rio de Janeiro: documents, translation, medical and psychological checks, prices and timing; category A.",{"path":289,"title":290,"description":291,"order":273},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fowning","Running a car: IPVA, fines, tolls","What a year of owning a car in Rio costs, IPVA rates, how to pay a fine, toll tags, fuel, renting and limits on bringing a car in.",{"path":293,"title":294,"description":295,"order":296},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcin-rg","CIN (RG) and a child's documents","The Brazilian ID card CIN: how to get it for a child, how long it is valid, trips around South America and leaving the country with a child.",5,{"path":298,"title":299,"description":300,"order":301},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcitizenship","Citizenship — naturalisation","How a foreigner becomes a Brazilian citizen: residence period, proof of Portuguese, documents, real timelines and what to do after the portaria.",4,{"path":303,"title":304,"description":305,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcpf","CPF — the tax number","How a foreigner gets a CPF: the free route, documents, steps, and the SIM card and bank pitfalls.",{"path":307,"title":308,"description":309,"order":273},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fresidence","Residence — grounds and documents","The grounds for a residence permit in Brazil: a child, marriage or stable union, digital nomad, property; the document set and what to check in advance.",{"path":311,"title":312,"description":313,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Frnm","RNM \u002F CRNM — registration with the Federal Police","How to get the CRNM migration card: filing deadlines, fees, booking with the Polícia Federal, documents and real-world timing.",{"path":315,"title":316,"description":317,"order":318},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Ftranslations","Translations and apostille","How to prepare foreign documents for Brazilian offices: apostille, sworn translation, spelling of names and a child's birth certificate.",6,{"path":152,"title":153,"description":320,"order":259},"How to register for pregnancy care, where to give birth under SUS or privately, what it costs, how to get the birth certificate, doulas and protection from scammers.",{"path":322,"title":323,"description":324,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhealth\u002Fsus-and-private","SUS, the UBS clinic and private insurance","How healthcare works in Brazil for a foreigner: free SUS and the UBS clinic, vaccinations and the certificate, a private health plan and real prices.",{"path":326,"title":327,"description":328,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhousing\u002Fbuying","Buying a home","How buying a flat in Brazil works: an off-plan contract, ITBI and cartório fees, the realtor's commission, a consórcio instead of a mortgage and price benchmarks.",{"path":330,"title":331,"description":332,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhousing\u002Frenting","Renting a home","How a foreigner rents a flat in Brazil: short-term lets, a long-term contract, deposit, fiador and insurance, payments, furnishing and checks before moving in.",{"path":334,"title":335,"description":336,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Feveryday","Daily life: sockets, transport, shops","Everyday details you learn after arriving: voltage and sockets, public transport and intercity buses in Rio, lift buttons, returning goods and complaints to the city.",{"path":338,"title":339,"description":340,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fmobile-internet","Mobile service, internet and apps","SIM card and eSIM, home internet, what to do if your CPF is rejected, how to install Brazilian apps and why banking apps dislike a VPN.",{"path":274,"title":5,"description":269,"order":273},{"path":343,"title":344,"description":345,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fmoney\u002Fbank-account","Bank account, Pix and deposit protection","How a foreigner opens an account in Brazil, what Pix is, the banks and neobanks, the Serasa Score, FGC deposit insurance and what to do when a bank refuses.",{"path":347,"title":348,"description":349,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fmoney\u002Ftransfers","Sending money to Brazil","How to bring money in from abroad: SWIFT, cash dollars, crypto exchange; real fees, timing and why large sums get frozen.",{"path":351,"title":352,"description":353,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fprologue\u002Farrival","Entry, extending your visit and the first weeks","The tourist period and extending it at the Polícia Federal, how to fly to Brazil, what an airport transfer costs and where to start after arriving.",{"path":355,"title":356,"description":357,"order":259},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fwork\u002Fdomestic-staff","Housekeeper, diarista and nanny","When you need an employment contract with a home helper, what it costs the employer, how a diarista differs from a permanent housekeeper and how to find a nanny.",{"path":359,"title":360,"description":361,"order":283},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fwork\u002Fincome-tax","The income tax return (IRPF)","When a foreigner becomes a Brazilian tax resident, who must file an income return, how to prepare the first one and what a late filing costs.",1792334099894]