With the arrival of Carnival in March, the volume of online and physical financial transactions using contactless credit/debit cards and Pix increases, raising the risk of fraud and scams. Among the most common situations for companies and consumers are card cloning, fraudulent bank transactions with online data theft, and fake websites.
According to Monisi Costa, Director of Payments & Banking at Vindi, “protection measures are essential for both companies and customers. Online and in-person, it is essential to take extra care to avoid sharing data on fake websites or contactless payments.”
The expert from Vindi, LWSA's financial solutions hub, has put together 12 essential tips for companies to protect their e-commerce and for consumers to protect themselves against fraud.
Companies: protection for e-commerce and customers
- Use an anti-fraud systemIt is necessary to have careful investment in security. Use artificial intelligence solutions to analyze purchasing behaviors and identify suspicious transactions.
- Have security certifications:SSL certificates are important to encrypt customer data, which in turn remains protected. Additionally, sites with "https" are more trustworthy and convey security to the consumer.
- Avoid redirecting payments:Have a simple and secure checkout, avoiding redirects that could expose customers to fake sites. The transparent checkout, for example, allows the purchase to be completed in the same environment, making it safer.
- Monitor transactions:Real-time monitoring is essential to identify potential frauds such as unusual purchase patterns, like multiple consecutive high-value transactions or orders coming from suspicious IPs.
- Payment and Return Policies:Your e-commerce needs to keep an easily accessible page with clear information about exchange, return, and order cancellation policies for customers. In this way, they prevent disputes and strengthen consumer trust.
- Comply with safety standards: it is essential 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 indoors, it is necessary to double the precautions with wallets and cell phones in order to prevent thefts and unauthorized use of their cards and cell phones for payments and transfers.
- Be careful on the street:avoid using your cell phone and bring multiple payment methods during street block parties. Check receipts and amounts charged when making payments with card machines, and be cautious of unauthorized payments via cell phone or card proximity. 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 mobile operator and block everything immediately, in addition to filing a police report.
- If you are purchasing online:Research the store's reputation, whether the company has a CNPJ and customer service channels. Be wary of very attractive and advantageous offers with products at prices well below the market. It is also worth checking complaints on sites like Reclame Aqui.
- Passwords and accesses: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 transfers via Pix over public Wi-Fi networks and always use devices with updated antivirus software. Check if the website or link you are about to access is secure before entering financial information. Sites with domain“https” and Security Sealsare more reliable.
Keep receipts and track transactionsSaving or printing the proof of online purchases is essential, especially if there is any problem later. In addition to keeping these receipts, monitor your bank transactions after making online purchases to detect any unauthorized charges.