Data market: what happens to your CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) after it's leaked?
A personal data leak is just the beginning of a long saga. After the incident, CPF numbers, addresses, credit scores, logins, and other information enter a “parallel economy,” where your identity becomes a commodity traded on dark web forums and used to break into accounts, commit fraud, and more.
After a breach, CPF numbers and other personal data begin circulating in underground markets, where they can be used and resold for years to enable fraud, scams, and cybercrime. This information becomes the “raw material” of organized crime, amplified by AI and sophisticated phishing schemes. The impact extends far beyond the initial harm, creating financial and legal risks—as well as compliance obligations—for companies. Victims must respond quickly, and liability for the breach may fall on those who failed to adequately protect the data.
