With the arrival of Carnival in March, there is an increase in online and in-person financial transactions using contactless credit/debit cards and Pix, raising the risk of fraud and scams. Among the most common situations for businesses and consumers are card cloning, fraudulent banking transactions involving online data theft, and fake websites.
According to Monisi Costa, Director of Payments & Banking at Vindi, ‘protective measures are essential for both businesses and customers. Online and offline, it is crucial to double down on caution to prevent sharing data on fake websites or unauthorized contactless payments.’
The expert from Vindi, LWSA’s financial solutions hub, has compiled 12 essential tips for businesses to protect their e-commerce platforms and for consumers to prevent fraud.
Businesses: Protection for e-commerce and customers
- Use an anti-fraud system: careful investment in security is necessary. Utilize AI-powered solutions to analyze purchasing behavior and identify suspicious transactions.
- Obtain security certifications:certificates like SSL are important for encrypting customer data, ensuring protection. Additionally, sites with ‘https’ are more reliable and convey trust to consumers.
- Avoid redirecting payments:maintain a simple and secure checkout, avoiding redirects that may expose customers to fake websites. A transparent checkout, for example, allows the completion of purchases in the same environment, making it safer.
- Monitor transactions:real-time monitoring is essential to identify potential fraud, such as purchases with unusual patterns—like multiple high-value transactions in a row or orders from suspicious IPs.
- Payment and refund policies:your e-commerce site should maintain an easily accessible page with clear information on return, refund, and order cancellation policies. This helps prevent disputes and builds consumer trust.
- Comply with security standards: it is imperative that your e-commerce follows security regulations like PCI-DSS to ensure customer financial data protection and avoid penalties and reputational risks.
Consumers: Avoid scams and fraud
For consumers enjoying Carnival on the streets or indoors, extra caution is needed with wallets and phones to prevent theft and unauthorized use of cards or mobile devices for payments and transfers.
- Be careful on the street:avoid using your phone and carrying multiple payment methods during street parties. Verify receipts and amounts when making payments on card machines, and be cautious of unauthorized contactless payments via phone or card. You may disable this payment option as a precaution.
- Theft/Loss:in case of theft or loss of cards and phones, contact your bank and mobile provider immediately to block everything, and file a police report.
- If shopping online:research the store’s reputation, check if the company has a CNPJ (tax ID) and customer service channels. Be wary of overly attractive offers with prices significantly below market value. Also, check for complaints on sites like Reclame Aqui.
- Passwords and access:use strong passwords, lock your phone and apps, enable two-factor verification, and other security measures to prevent unauthorized use of your phone and apps, as well as password changes by third parties with access to your device.
- Secure networks, sites, and links:avoid making purchases and Pix transfers over public Wi-Fi networks and ensure your devices have updated antivirus software. Verify if a site or link is secure before entering financial details. Sites with‘https’ and Security Sealsare more trustworthy.
Keep receipts and track transactions: saving or printing online purchase receipts is essential, especially if issues arise later. Alongside keeping these receipts, monitor your bank transactions after online purchases to detect potential unauthorized charges.
