Journalist José Trajano, founder of ESPN Brasil, won a first-instance court case against Banco Bradesco. The court ordered the bank to restitute R$ 34,799.99 lost in a scam and pay R$ 5,000 in moral damages. The December 2024 decision is subject to appeal.
José Trajano, a 79-year-old sports journalist and founder of ESPN Brasil, fell victim to a scam in February 2025 when his stepdaughter's phone was stolen. The stepdaughter, who managed his bank accounts due to his age, enabled criminals to drain the account through PIX transfers and investment withdrawals. The operations involved at least three transfers between R$ 4,900 and R$ 10,000.
On December 19, 2024, the São Paulo Court of Justice ruled against Bradesco, ordering it to restitute the updated amount of R$ 34,799.99, plus R$ 5,000 in moral damages and legal costs. The judge noted that the transactions did not match the profile of a 79-year-old client, which the bank should have verified before approval.
Bradesco's defense denied security flaws in the app, blaming the victim exclusively. However, the magistrate held the bank contractually liable for the restitution. Trajano told the court that the funds were withdrawn one day after the phone theft on February 16, 2025.
The bank has not commented on the ruling, which is appealable. The case underscores financial institutions' duties in preventing fraud, particularly for out-of-pattern transactions.
