Since September 1, someone who receives a Pix payment and later sees the money returned by the bank has 80 days, not 30, to contest it. The change, made by Brazil’s central bank, targets a scam that turns the fraud-protection system against its own users.
The scam that uses MED against you
MED, the Special Refund Mechanism, is the tool that lets people claw back a Pix sent because of a scam. Criminals learned to use it in reverse. According to Tecnoblog, they send a Pix to the victim, say it was a mistake and ask for the money back. The person returns it in good faith. Then the scammer files a MED request and gets a second refund. The person who did the right thing ends up out of pocket.
With 80 days, the original recipient has time to spot the problem and contest it, gathering evidence such as chats and receipts.
How MED works
For scam victims the path is unchanged, and the 80-day window to request a refund already existed. The victim contacts the bank used for the Pix and opens the request. The recipient’s bank is notified and may block the funds while both sides review the case. The review should finish within seven days. If fraud is confirmed, the money returns within 96 hours, provided the account has funds.
A refund can be full or partial. When funds are short, new blocks can happen as money comes into the account, up to 90 days after the original Pix. Xataka notes that MED 2.0, mandatory since February 2026, lets banks trace money beyond the first account, since scammers tend to move it fast.
What MED does not cover
Not covered: a Pix sent to the wrong person, buyer’s regret, disputes between buyer and seller, a product different from expected and late delivery with no sign of fraud. A case where the victim made the transfer but was pushed into it by social engineering, a false identity or coercion can be covered.
Another change: from October 1, contactless Pix drops its own R$500 per-transaction limit and follows the limit rules of other Pix payments. You can ask your bank to adjust daily and per-transaction limits.
How to protect yourself
- Request MED fast. Contact your bank as soon as you notice the scam, and file a police report, as the central bank recommends.
- If someone says they sent a Pix by mistake, do not return it yourself. Ask your bank to reverse it through the official channel.
- Keep evidence. Chats, receipts and screenshots help the review and any contest.
- If the case is not resolved, go to Procon, the courts or file a complaint with the central bank.
- Review your Pix limits in your bank’s app, especially the nighttime and contactless ones.
