Whenever online shopping is mentioned, there's no way to avoid mentioning something that is a nightmare for both consumers and merchants: fraud. And it's no wonder, since data from the "The State of Fraud and Abuse 2024" report shows that losses from these virtual scams are projected to exceed US$343 billion by 2027. However, just as wrongdoers are becoming increasingly creative in developing criminal initiatives, companies are also taking excellent steps to ensure a safe environment for their consumers. In this way, can we say that 2025 will be a year in which e-commerce fraud will decrease?
A study by BigDataCorp showed that the digital security index of Brazilian e-commerce reached over 95% at the beginning of 2024, thanks to the increased use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which uses encryption to protect internet users' data. Furthermore, the consumer himself is more alert and has been able to identify more easily when a transaction is fraudulent.According to a survey by Opinion Box, 91% of users have already abandoned an online purchase due to suspicion of scams.
Another point in favor of fighting fraud is Artificial Intelligence. Through its combined use with data analysis and machine learning, for example, many retailers are able to define patterns for a normal transaction and act proactively when they detect a suspicious purchase. Technology can be based on various topics such as recurrence, purchase location, most used payment method, customer profile, etc.
Furthermore, AI is capable of profiling suspicious users, blocking their access to the e-commerce platform, and preventing future scams. In this case, the technology, also related to machine learning, is based on various information such as online behavior and profile analysis, monitoring email address, IP, and phone. With this data, the retailer is able to track that individual's intentions, checking for the possibility of identity theft, account hacking, and even the history of default.
Due to this range of possibilities, a survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and SAS shows that 46% of anti-fraud professionals in Latin America already use AI and machine learning in their daily work. Furthermore, an EY study indicates that technology has approximately 90% accuracy in detecting spam, malware, and network intrusions.
While there are no complete data yet on the amount of fraud in e-commerce during 2024, since we are still at the beginning of 2025, 2023 saw a significant decrease of 29% in scam attempts on these platforms, according to data from the 2024 Fraud X-Ray survey. This ignites hope, showing that technology has been an ally and contributes to a more optimistic outlook for the sector.
In this way, we can say that the fight against online fraud is becoming increasingly effective, with technologies that inhibit the actions of criminals. Although it seems quite challenging, the outlook for 2025 is positive, with greater confidence and security on the part of retailers. Although it is difficult to confirm whether the frauds will actually decrease this year, we are confident that the players are updating themselves so that online scams become an increasingly rare reality, giving way to an excellent customer experience on the platforms.
