The Pix system implemented a new security measure starting this Tuesday (the 1st), changing the deadline to contest fraudulent refunds through the Special Return Mechanism (MED). This period was increased from 30 to 80 days.
This modification aims to combat a type of scam that has impacted merchants, service providers, and small businesses. In these schemes, criminals use the mechanism itself, created to assist victims of fraud in recovering their funds.
The MED is intended for situations of fraud, scams, or operational failure, allowing the injured party to request the bank to attempt to recover the funds. Previously, anyone who received a legitimate Pix and subsequently had the amount reversed due to a fraudulent contestation had only 30 days to file a complaint; now, this time has been extended to 80 days.
Pix now operates with two identical deadlines, but applicable to different scenarios. One example of a scam involves a merchant receiving a notification from an alleged customer claiming an incorrect Pix transfer and requesting a refund. Instead of using the original transaction's return function, the scammer asks for a new Pix to a different key.
The merchant makes this new transfer believing they are correcting an error. Simultaneously, the fraudster may contest the initial payment with the bank, claiming to have been a victim of fraud. If this request is accepted and there are available funds, the money can be returned via MED, resulting in a double gain for the criminal and a loss for the merchant.
Given this, the guidance provided is clear: when receiving a refund request, the merchant must exclusively use the specific function linked to the original transaction within the banking application, refraining from making a new Pix to any key provided by the other party.
Additionally, the system has been enhanced with MED 2.0, which has been operational since May 2026. This tool offers a more comprehensive tracking scope, enabling monitoring of the flow of resources through multiple layers of transfers. Previously, the search for recovery was limited to the account primarily involved in the fraud, hindering the location of balances if the money had already been moved.
With MED 2.0, the system can now identify potential routes followed by the funds after new movements, which increases the chances of blocking and recovery, although this does not guarantee the return. If the money has been withdrawn, transferred again, or is unavailable, recovery may not occur. An operational update detailing the level of tracking in communications between institutions has been rescheduled for October 26, 2026.
Anyone who identifies a fraud should contact their bank as soon as possible and request the MED. Although the deadline is 80 days, delay can decrease the chances of finding available funds for blocking. It is also advisable to preserve all receipts, conversations, advertisements, and data of the recipient, and a police report can be filed according to the situation.
It is important to emphasize that MED is not equivalent to a standard Pix cancellation. Its application does not cover purchase regret, key errors, or mere commercial disagreement; it is strictly reserved for cases of scams, fraud, or operational failure, without guaranteeing the recovery of the money.
