In retail, the security of e-commerce transactions has been a constant concern due to the persistent threat of fraud. The 2023 Fraud Map, published by ClearSale, highlighted the main data regarding online shopping fraud attempts in Brazil over the past year, including the most targeted product categories by fraudsters, target audiences, and the most affected payment methods.
Throughout the past year, more than 3.7 million fraud attempts were recorded, accounting for 1.4% of all orders placed in e-commerce. Regarding the audience, men tend to be the main target, with the value of attempts reaching 1.1 billion reais, considering the average ticket of purchases at R$1,042.09. People up to 25 years old are also the most affected compared to other age groups, accounting for 1.9% of scam attempts.
The report also indicates that the movement has affected retailers' sales performance: the average ticket for fraud attempts in 2023, at R$925.44, was twice as high as the average ticket for legitimate orders. As a result, fraud impacts the most significant transactions in retail.
The first edition of the study commissioned by Pagaleve – a fintech that offers the installment Pix payment method – and conducted by GMattos consultancy, shows that in March 2024, the average fraud management cost for a retailer represents approximately 1.9% of their revenue, including chargeback costs and anti-fraud tools. In this way, payment methods that reduce risk become even more relevant for the retailer.
Payment methods against fraud
The Fraud Map indicated that, among the payment methods most used in scam attempts in 2023, the credit card appears in second place, accounting for 3.4 million attempts, equivalent to 3.4 billion reais; behind only the bank slip, with 121.7 million fraud attempts, reaching a value of 13.1 million reais.
holidays usually lead to an increase in fraud attempts. This Mother's Day, for example, data from Clearsale shows that fraud attempts amounted to around R$ 92 million, a 4.1% increase compared to the previous year.
"It is understandable that the use of credit cards is frequently used for installment payments since it is a widely adopted and traditional payment method among Brazilians. However, it is important to mention that there is already an installment method that does not require a credit card: Pix Parcelado. This payment method reduces costs for merchants related to fraud while providing an additional payment option, enabling more consumers to shop on the retailer's e-commerce platform," explains Guilherme Romão, Chief Risk Officer of Pagaleve. "Furthermore, companies like Pagaleve that offer installment Pix bear any risks and costs related to fraud," Romão adds.
Pix Parcelado represents a form of inclusion for consumers who are not fully served by credit cards – thus contributing to the expansion of the offer and increasing conversion rates for retailers.
“Just as you can hardly find online stores without a credit card payment option, we believe that in the near future, those retailers who do not adopt Pix Installments will be left behind. The trend is for this payment method to grow even more in the coming years and become one of the most widely used payment methods in our country,” concludes Guilherme.
