With the arrival of Carnival in March, the volume of online and in-person financial transactions using contactless credit/debit cards and Pix increases, raising the risk of fraud and scams. Among the most common situations for businesses and consumers are card cloning, fraudulent bank transactions through 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 in-person, it is crucial to double down on caution to avoid sharing data on fake websites or unauthorized contactless payments.”
The expert from Vindi, LWSA's financial solutions hub, has gathered 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. Use solutions with artificial intelligence to analyze purchasing behaviors and identify suspicious transactions.
- Have security certifications: certificates such as SSL are important for encrypting customer data, thus keeping it protected. Furthermore, websites with “https” are more reliable and convey security to the consumer.
- Avoid redirecting payments: have a simple and secure checkout, avoiding redirects that may expose customers to fake websites. Transparent checkout, for example, allows the purchase to be completed in the same environment, making it more secure.
- Monitor transactions: real-time monitoring is essential to identify potential fraud, such as purchases with unusual patterns, like several consecutive high-value purchases or orders originating from suspicious IPs.
- Payment and refund policies: your e-commerce must maintain an easily accessible page with clear information about exchange, refund, and order cancellation policies for the customer. This way, disputes are avoided, and consumer trust is strengthened.
- Comply with security standards: it is imperative that your e-commerce follows security regulations such as PCI-DSS, as this ensures the protection of customers' financial data and avoids penalties and reputational risks for your company.
Consumers: avoid scams and fraud
For consumers who will enjoy Carnival on the street or in a closed space, it is necessary to redouble care with wallets and cell phones to prevent theft and misuse of their cards and phones for payments and transfers.
- Caution on the street: avoid using your cell phone and carrying numerous payment methods during street parties. Check receipts and charged amounts when making payments on card terminals, in addition to being cautious about unauthorized contactless payments from your phone or card. One possibility is to disable this payment option.
- Theft / Loss: in case of theft or loss of cards and cell phones, contact your bank and cell phone carrier and block everything immediately, in addition to filing a police report.
- If shopping online: research the store's reputation, whether the company has a CNPJ (Brazilian business ID) and customer service channels. Be wary of very attractive and advantageous offers with products at prices far below market value. It is also worth checking complaints on websites such as Reclame Aqui.
- Passwords and access: use strong passwords, lock your phone and apps, have two-factor verification and other security measures can prevent misuse of your phone and apps, as well as password changes by third parties in possession of your phone.
- Secure networks, websites, and links: avoid making purchases and Pix transfers through public Wi-Fi networks and always use devices with updated antivirus software. Verify if the website or link you are about to access is secure before entering financial data. Websites with “https” domain and Security Seals are more reliable.
Keep receipts and monitor transactions: saving or printing receipts of online purchases is essential, especially if any issues arise later. In addition to keeping these receipts, monitor your bank transactions after making online purchases to detect possible unauthorized charges.
