It is no news that individual microentrepreneurs (MEI) are constant targets of scams on the internet since some data such as email and phone related to legal entities become public as soon as the companies are opened. However, these practices have intensified in recent weeks and with new disguises, causing more confusion among inattentive or uninformed microentrepreneurs. In just the first half of August, MaisMei, which helps simplify the management and bureaucratic obligations of individual microentrepreneurs through an application, received 88 complaints of unknown charges by small managers, related to a false ‘associative fee.’ To give an idea, in the entire month of August last year, the volume was 57 complaints, a 54% lower frequency.
In July 2024, the difference was even more alarming: 190 complaints, a significant increase of 442.86% compared to the same month in 2023, which recorded 35 complaints.
In some of these cases, MaisMei managed to warn possible victims that they were scams before improper payments were made, but often complaints are made after the crimes have been committed. ‘It is common for the responsible for the CNPJ to be exposed to several fraud attempts shortly after the company is opened because this process and the volume of information can be confusing at first. And in this context, many entrepreneurs start receiving various emails, calls, and offers of services that you did not know existed or were necessary before,’ explains Mateus Vicente, cofounder, and CEO of MaisMei.
The scam of the ‘membership fee’ is the most common and recently started circulating with some changes to confuse micro-entrepreneurs even more. As the name itself suggests, the ‘annual membership fee’ refers to a fee paid to commercial or business associations. In fact, there are several of these organizations, practically one for each activity, in which the entrepreneur can join aiming for improvements in their business.
However, the contribution or payment of fees to associations and unions, for example, is not mandatory. That is, if you have not joined any institution or requested the service, you should not make any payment. Therefore, it is a fake document.
“The issue is that numerous micro-entrepreneurs have been receiving an email demanding payment, stating that there is a debt in the system that normally ranges from R$159.00 to R$300.00 reais, referring to the ‘SINGLE ASSOCIATIVE FEE – (Single Payment). Also, a ticket is sent to settle this supposed debt, which has the characteristics of an official document, with signatures and emblems of government agencies. This really catches the manager by surprise and often, the message contains false legal threats as well. Always disregard this type of contact or demand, and if you still have doubts, seek the help of an accountant professional or security agencies,” warns Mateus Vicente.
More recently, the term ‘ASSISTANCE CONTRIBUTION FEE’, related to the same criminal practice, has begun to be used by scammers more frequently.
‘By the book’ damages
“Unfortunately, this also harms us because on consumer defense websites and those that evaluate companies’ reputation, such as Reclame Aqui, many victims end up searching for the term “MEI” when associating a company with a complaint, and our name or the names of other companies in the segment, which have nothing to do with scams, appear as an option,” says the manager of MaisMei.
Mateus Vicente also says that, although having no connection to the collection of the “Assistance Contribution Fee” or other scams, the company has taken the stance of investigating each reported case to guide MEIs about risks and appropriate actions.
At the end of July this year, the Federal Government issued a warning note about another spreading fraud attempt, related to a fake MEI guide generator.
“The Federal Revenue Service warns citizens about the existence of fraudulent websites that simulate the Simplified National Program Generator Document for Individual Microentrepreneurs (PGMEI). These fake sites can direct users to false document generator programs, causing financial losses and legal obligations for taxpayers.
Make sure to access official channels to generate PGMEI documents or to access other services. The service access domain should contain receita.fazenda.gov.br in the link, says the statement, which also recommends the correct link for such procedure.
Among other common frauds are:
– National Business Registration Scam: Alleged collection of a CNDE (National Business Registration) fee of R$497.00, claiming it to be an ‘annual contribution’, under the threat that failure to make the payment may result in the ‘cancellation’ of the CNPJ. The Federal Revenue does not charge any fees to maintain the CNPJ registration active via email. The only obligations of the MEI are the monthly payment of the DAS guide and the submission of the annual turnover declaration (DASN) once a year.
– Domain Registration Scam: Some companies send entrepreneurs an INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) charge without having requested any service, a Compensation Form, typically simulating an official mandatory fee from the entity. Another strategy is the issuance of false payment slips related to ‘optional maintenance fee for trademark or patent’ or ‘immediate maintenance (or renewal) payment’. These correspondences claim that payment of the fee will result in the publication of the registration in a supposed ‘annual edition of trademarks and patents’, in the ‘sending of publications’ or in other similar actions.
– Golpe da Guia DAS descontado na fatura de energia: O Golpe da Guia DAS MEI acontece com o envio de uma correspondência falsa ou contato via telefone onde os estelionatários afirmam ser da Prefeitura da sua cidade e, nela, aparece como remetente “Simples Nacional” e que a única forma de pagamento disponível é PIX para desconto na conta de energia. A Procuradoria-Geral da Fazenda Nacional não realiza quaisquer tipos de cobranças, parcerias com Prefeituras, empresas privadas, com desconto do pagamento do imposto DAS – MEI em contas de água, luz ou telefone.
Dicas de prevenção
A MaisMei listou algumas dicas importantes para que o microempreendedor não caia em ciladas:
– Não realize pagamentos antecipados,
– Busque os canais oficiais de atendimento da Receita Federal
– Não forneça ou confirme dados particulares por telefone, pois você não sabe quem está do outro lado da linha.
– Desconfie de ofertas generosas
– Evite colocar colocar telefone pessoal ou email na abertura do MEI (uma dica extra é colocar dados neutros como “99 9999-9999” ou “email@email.com”).
Uma ferramenta gratuita que também pode ser utilizada é a “Diagnóstico MEI”, lançada pela MaisMei. Com este recurso, o gestor tem acesso a todas as pendências reais relacionadas ao CNPJ, caso existam. A empresa também disponibiliza assessores jurídicos e contábeis para tirar dúvidas dos microempreendedores individuais.
