Government of Pará intensifies oversight and advises consumers against fraud

The Government of the State of Pará, through its consumer protection and public safety agencies, intensifies oversight and guidance actions during Black Friday Week, a period of high sales volume culminating on Friday, November 28. The initiative aims to protect consumers in Pará against fraud and misleading offers, ensuring that the event, known for its discounts, proceeds with transparency and safety.

Black Friday is a commercial event of North American origin that marks the beginning of the year-end shopping season, traditionally occurring on the last Friday of November. In Brazil, the date has consolidated as a moment of great promotions, especially in e-commerce, but it requires heightened attention from consumers.

The actions of the Government of Pará are centralized in the Secretary of Justice and Human Rights (Sejudh), through Procon Pará, and in the Civil Police, through the Consumer Delegacy (Decon). The focus is to act both in the administrative sphere, with conflict mediation and oversight, and in the criminal sphere, with the investigation of crimes against consumer relations.

Misleading Offers – Procon Pará plays a crucial role in preventing abuses. The agency's analysis and complaints manager, Diana Mainieri, emphasizes the need for prior research to identify real discounts.

"Black Friday can be a great opportunity to save, but it also requires attention to avoid misleading offers.” To ensure that the consumer is indeed paying less and making a fair purchase, she advises: to research the price history before buying; compare prices at different stores; check if there were any additional charges not included in the offer; and finally, keep proof and read the offer conditions carefully.

The convenience of online shopping is a motivating factor for many consumers, such as journalist Beatriz Smith, 21, who prioritizes this mode. "I believe that online it is easier to get an overview of prices at various stores, in addition to having a greater variety of products, payment is secure, and there is a right of withdrawal for seven days after receiving the product, without needing to justify the return and with a full refund," explains Smith.

Frauds and Crimes – In the sphere of public safety, the Consumer Delegacy (Decon) of the Civil Police of Pará acts against fraud and scams. The director of Decon, Yuri Vilanova, warns that haste is an indicator of risk and that prevention is the best defense.

“Check the location where the purchase is being made, if there are complaints on specific sites, such as Reclame Aqui or gov.br, check if there are other means of social media communication and if there is a possibility for people to express themselves there,” advises Vilanova.

The director emphasizes that, although there is no specific record of frauds exclusive to Black Friday, scams in virtual purchases are common. He advises consumers to take time to research the company's reputation, checking CNPJ and the existence of a physical store or a clear customer service protocol.

"The purchase, the deal being made, must also require time, attention, and research. A person must set aside some time to do this correctly and avoid making those purchases, always with that indication of speed, especially when that speed is indicated by the store which could be the scam. So, 'buy now in 10 minutes', 'in 5', 'in 30' or 'until today', are indicators that the consumer should be even more alert to make the purchase," warns Vilanova.

Main Complaints - Data from Procon Pará from January to October 2025 indicate that the main occurrences recorded in purchases are non-delivery or delay in product delivery (131 cases) and difficulty or delay in refunding paid amounts (54 cases), totaling 321 complaints during the period. These numbers reinforce the importance of the preventive and oversight actions of the Government of Pará to ensure the fulfillment of consumer rights during Black Friday.

Procon acts in the administrative part, guiding and mediating conflicts, and can impose fines in cases of violations. The Consumer Delegacy acts in the criminal part, investigating occurrences that constitute crimes. This joint action of the Government of Pará is essential to ensure a safer and fairer consumption environment for the population.

Text by Bianca Leão