Rio Grande do Sul Warns of IPVA 2026 Payment Scams

The government of Rio Grande do Sul is actively warning taxpayers about a surge in scams targeting the IPVA 2026 payment cycle. Criminals are utilizing sophisticated methods, including fake websites that appear in top search results and deceptive links sent through messaging applications, to steal money from unsuspecting vehicle owners. These fraudulent platforms mimic the visual identity of official state channels to trick users into making payments to accounts that do not belong to the government.

According to the Secretaria da Fazenda (Sefaz), the tax authority never contacts taxpayers directly via message or email to request payment. To combat this, authorities have provided specific verification data for the Pix payment system. Taxpayers must confirm that the recipient name is IPVA Sefaz/RS, the CNPJ is 87.958.674/0001-81, and the bank is Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Banrisul). The Polícia Civil has noted an increase in these crimes and stresses that filing a formal report is crucial for police investigations, even if the stolen funds are not immediately recovered.

Scammers are actively targeting vehicle owners during the IPVA 2026 payment window in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the state government, these frauds typically manifest through two primary vectors: fake websites and deceptive links. In the first scenario, criminals create pages that visually imitate official government websites. These sites are often optimized to appear among the top results on search engines, increasing the likelihood that taxpayers will click on them.

In the second scenario, fraudsters send links directly to potential victims via messaging apps. Regardless of the delivery method, the objective remains consistent: diverting payment to bank accounts that do not belong to the state. The Secretaria da Fazenda explicitly states that the IPVA is never solicited through direct messages or emails. Consequently, any communication of this nature should be treated as suspicious. The government advises that payments should only be executed through verified, official channels to ensure the transaction is secure.

To prevent financial loss, taxpayers are urged to exercise extreme caution when completing transactions, particularly via Pix. Before finalizing any payment, it is imperative to verify that the recipient details match the official data provided by the state. The Secretaria da Fazenda has released the specific credentials that must be checked.

The correct payment details are as follows:

• Name: IPVA Sefaz/RS
• CNPJ: 87.958.674/0001-81
• Bank: Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Banrisul)

The guidance is clear: if any of these pieces of information differ from the official list, the taxpayer must not finalize the payment. The government continues to work to remove these fraudulent pages from the internet, but emphasizes that the primary defense against these scams is the vigilance of the taxpayer during the payment process.

The Polícia Civil is closely monitoring the rise in these cybercrimes. Eibert Moreira Neto, the director of the Department of Cybercrimes, highlights the importance of formal reporting. He asserts that filing an official police report is fundamental to the investigation and identification of those responsible for these scams.

Even in instances where the stolen amount is not recovered, the boletim de ocorrência (incident report) serves a vital function. It aids the police in mapping the criminals' operations and assists in the effort to take down the websites used in the fraud. The state government urges anyone who suspects they have been targeted or has fallen victim to one of these schemes to report it immediately to the authorities.