Caixa has presented a package of operational changes aimed at reducing risks linked to Pix transactions within Brazil’s lottery network, following mounting complaints from agents over the Special Refund Mechanism (MED).
Caixa is a major state-owned financial institution in Brazil, established in 1861. It acts as the primary agent for federal social programs, housing finance, infrastructure development and the management of Brazilian state lotteries.
The measures were discussed in a meeting with Febralot (Brazil’s Lottery Federation) and the state union.
The MED, regulated by Brazil’s Central Bank, allows banks to block and potentially return Pix funds in cases of suspected fraud or operational failure. Under current rules, payers have up to 80 days to contest a transfer.
Once notified, Caixa must apply a precautionary block while analyzing the case within seven days. If fraud is not confirmed, the funds are released; if the complaint is upheld, the value is returned to the payer.
Lottery representatives argue the framework exposes agents to immediate financial losses, as disputed amounts are debited before the investigation is concluded.
In some cases, agents report having to cover the contested value out of pocket while Pix services remain suspended for up to seven days.
Caixa announced five primary adjustments: a dedicated defense flow for lottery operations, reduction of QR code validity to 10 minutes, mandatory identification of the Pix user from February 23, suspension of Pix Saque (Withdrawal) and Pix Troco (Cash Change) from March 16 and, by March 31, conditioning transaction completion on identification of the same paying user.
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