Card payments in Brazil: real experience from chats

From real experience

• In Rio de Janeiro, travelers should be cautious about credit card payments to avoid potential tourist scams, although such incidents may be less common than in places like Mexico. It is advisable to purchase tours for activities like skydiving, helicopter rides, and paragliding from reputable providers to ensure safety and avoid overcharging. For exploring favelas, hiring a local guide is recommended. Accommodation options like Booking.com and Airbnb are available, with Copacabana being a popular area. While Rio offers vibrant nightlife, exercising standard city safety precautions, especially at night, is advised. Information regarding specific massage parlors is not provided.
• UnionPay cards issued by Russian banks (like RSX) generally do not function for payments or withdrawals in Brazil. If they work at all, the exchange rate is extremely unfavorable. It is recommended to use other payment methods like international bank cards or crypto-based solutions.
• It is generally not possible to withdraw USD from foreign (e.g., Freedom Bank Kazakhstan) cards in Brazilian ATMs in São Paulo or Rio. Most Brazilian banks do not offer USD accounts for individuals. For USD cash, it's advised to bring it or purchase from private individuals. Withdrawing BRL (reals) from ATMs is possible, but not all ATMs support it. Card payments with Freedom Bank are generally accepted.
• When paying by card in Brazil, always choose to be charged in Brazilian Reals (BRL) instead of USD. Paying in BRL can result in an exchange rate that is 10-15% better. Payment terminals often offer a currency choice (BRL or USD). Look for instructions on the screen; typically, a red button might be associated with BRL. Brazilian cashiers might not understand English prompts and may instinctively press the green button, which could default to USD. It's crucial for the user to select BRL.
• When making card payments in Brazil with a foreign bank card (e.g., a USD-denominated card from Kyrgyzstan), it is recommended to instruct the cashier to process the payment as "crédito" (credit) and specifically in "Brazil Real" (BRL) to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). DCC often results in less favorable exchange rates compared to the card's issuing bank rate. However, cashiers may not always understand or correctly implement the request to process in BRL, leading to charges in the card's native currency at an unfavorable rate.
• There is a prevalent risk of card fraud and overcharging in Brazil, particularly targeting foreigners. Scams include inputting significantly higher amounts on card terminals than the actual purchase price. Essential safety practice is to manually verify the transaction amount on the terminal display before finalizing the payment.
• When traveling to Brazil, dollars are generally preferred over euros for exchange. Cards are widely accepted, even by street vendors, but cash might be needed for minor expenses (e.g., public toilets). For card payments, always say 'crédito'. Be aware of card skimming; using digital payment methods like Google Pay or Apple Pay is safer than physical cards. Some non-Brazilian cards (e.g., Kazakhstan's Freedom Card) may not work in all terminals (e.g., ~30% of 'orange' terminals) or require insertion instead of tap. Certain banks (e.g., Halyk) might require prior notification of travel to Brazil for card functionality. Avoid exchanging currency at airports due to unfavorable rates. When bringing USD cash, ensure bills are of the new design; old-style dollar bills may be rejected or exchanged at a significantly worse rate (e.g., a difference of up to 1.5 BRL per USD compared to new bills).
• RSKHB UnionPay cards generally do not work for direct payments in Brazil. However, it is possible to withdraw cash from 'red' ATMs. A fixed commission of 34 BRL is charged per transaction, regardless of the amount withdrawn.
• The functionality of Belarusian bank cards in Brazil can be inconsistent and may not always work for payments or ATM withdrawals. Users have reported issues with cards not being accepted on the same terminal or not working at all. It is advisable to have alternative payment methods available, such as cash or cards from other countries known to have better acceptance.

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