Lagos Region records a 441% increase in cases of embezzlement in ten years

Cabo Frio leads fraud records Among the municipalities in the Lagos Region, Cabo Frio had the highest number of fraud incidents in 2025, with 2,492 cases. The following appear: Rio das Ostras: 1,952 records; Araruama: 1,176 records; Saquarema: 1,075 records. Across the state of Rio de Janeiro, 146,981 cases of embezzlement were recorded in 2025, a number 313% higher than that recorded in 2015. According to the president of Firjan, Luiz Césio Caetano, the data shows the need for security policies that consider the reality of each region. "We are delivering an analysis of the last decade and proposing a specific look at what is happening in each region. A view only of the state's consolidated data could mean that public security measures do not combat crimes that, in fact, are penalizing the population and harming the development of each location", he stated. According to the federation, insecurity and illegality generate an estimated cost of R$31.1 billion per year for the economy of Rio de Janeiro. Violent lethality and street robberies fall The study also points to a reduction in violent lethality rates in the Lagos Region. Between 2015 and 2025, 3,929 victims of this type of crime were recorded. The annual number fell from 364 cases in 2015 to 230 in 2025, a reduction of approximately 37%. Street robberies followed the same trend. The occurrences went from 1,318 to 549 in the period, which represents a drop of 58.3%. Extortion also increased As with fraud, cases of extortion have increased in the Lagos Region over the last decade. Records went from 94 occurrences in 2015 to 226 in 2025, an increase of 140.4%. According to Firjan, the increase in fraud and extortion reinforces the need to adapt crime fighting strategies to changes in the profile of crimes, especially those committed in a digital environment. For the entity's general manager of Studies and Strategies, Isaque Ouverney, one of the alternatives is the creation of a permanent forum with the participation of the productive sector, public authorities and civil society. "This is a way to plan and monitor public policies with a regional approach", he stated. He also advocates strengthening fraud investigations, expanding the use of intelligence in combating organized crime and increasing the supply of public data to make security actions more efficient. READ ALSO: Teenager's bicycle stolen while working in Cabo Frio Festival of Our Lady of Amparo will have religious programming this Saturday in Maricá Festival of the Patron Saint of Cabo Frio continues with shows, masses and special programming until Sunday