A educação financeira como escudo contra golpes e pirâmides: A relevância do conhecimento para preservação do patrimônio

This article analyzes financial education as a tool for wealth preservation in the face of the growing number of scams and pyramid schemes in Brazil and internationally. The study begins with the observation that the absence of financial knowledge increases individuals’ vulnerability to fraud, affecting not only their assets but also institutional trust and social stability. The main objective was to investigate how financial education acts as a shield against fraudulent practices, contributing to more conscious decision-making. The methodology adopted is qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive, based on bibliographic and documentary research, with data from the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the OECD, and reference works such as Andal, Lusardi and Mitchell, and McDonald. The results show that the incidence of scams is significantly higher among people with low levels of financial education, reaching 42%, compared to only 8% among those with high knowledge. In addition, national programs and international experiences, when structured and continuous, contribute to reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening social trust in the financial system. It is concluded that financial education should not be understood only as an individual competence, but as a collective good, essential for wealth preservation and economic stability.