During the five days of Carnival, from 1st to 5th March, Serasa Experian, the first and largest datatech company in Brazil, estimates 182,154 fraud attempts involving documents, personal information, and mobile devices. If successful, these attempts could result in a loss of R$ 1,019,699,175.48 for consumers and companies. The festive period, marked by high transaction volume, is one of the most critical for scams, making it essential to adopt stricter preventive measures.
“During periods of high economic activity, such as Carnival, criminals take advantage of increased transactions to carry out various types of scams. With the digitization of payments and the popularization of digital wallets, fraud attempts are growing significantly. Both consumers and companies must pay extra attention to avoid financial losses. The best defense against these crimes is to adopt secure practices and stay informed. With security technologies and awareness, it is possible to minimize these negative impacts during the celebration”, alerts Serasa Experian’s Director of Authentication and Fraud Prevention, Caio Rocha.
According to the Fraud Attempt Indicator, monthly released by the datatech, there was one fraud attempt every 2.4 seconds in March 2024. The month also marked the first of the year to exceed 1 million fraud attempts, highlighting the intensification of criminal activity during the period.
Here are some essential tips for consumers:
• Ensure that your documents, cellphones, and cards are well kept and secure, with strong passwords for accessing the apps;
• Do not provide passwords or access codes outside the bank’s website or the app;
• Be careful with cards in face-to-face purchases, avoiding exchanging when making payments in bars, restaurants, and street vendors;
• Always check the card after the transaction and protect the password when entering it;
• Keep your cell phone security with biometrics and two-step authentication;
• Check the reputation of stores and websites before making any purchases, and provide your personal information and card details only if you are sure it is a secure environment;
• Be suspicious of offers with very high discounts or that require advance payments;
• Be cautious with links shared in social media message groups or SMS;
• Do not lend or sell your data;
• Do not make transfers to friends or relatives without confirming by phone call or in person that it is really the person in question, as the person’s contact may have been cloned or falsified;
• Create secure passwords and update them frequently;
• Monitor your CPF frequently to ensure you have not been a victim of any Pix fraud.
• Use only secure payment methods and always activate two-step authentication whenever possible.
For companies, the recommendations are:
• In an increasingly digital and interconnected business environment, where frauds evolve and expand rapidly, invest in layered fraud prevention technologies to protect the integrity and security of your company’s operations;
• Ensure the quality and veracity of data from fraud prevention solutions that constantly improve in the face of fraud changes and threats;
• Deeply understand your user profile and constantly seek to minimize friction points in their digital journey, ensuring a smooth experience without compromising security.
• Use fraud prevention as a lever to generate revenue, implementing intelligent orchestration of solutions that maximize security, reduce losses, and enable a more agile and reliable shopping experience for the customer.
Methodology
Serasa Experian estimated the risk of fraud during the 2025 Carnival based on data from the same period in 2024, when there was a fraud attempt every 2.4 seconds.
