According to theIdentity and Fraud ReportAccording to Serasa Experian, 51% of Brazilians experienced scam attempts in 2024. In itself, this is already a frightening number, but for those who buy and sell online, the situation can be even more complicated. The most recent research of theAxurRegarding cybercrimes, there was a 26-fold increase in the exposure of debit and credit cards, as well as 13 times more credentials leaked last year compared to 2023.
It is common for seasonal dates with higher commercial activity, such as Mother's Day, to cause spikes in fraud, which requires extra vigilance from both consumers and retailers. Adilson Neves, Commercial Director of the digital payment solutions fintechPaytimeRemember that it is the stores that bear the brunt of the scams: "When working with online sales, it is necessary to ensure the security of the customer's data. If a criminal makes a purchase using this data, the responsibility may fall on the store, especially in cases of chargeback, when the actual cardholder disputes the purchase and the amount is refunded, resulting in a direct loss to the retailer."
Thus, Adilson highlights some important recommendations for those working with e-commerce. The first is to work with robust and reliable payment systems, with up-to-date security services, and with companies that offer fraud prevention systems or two-factor authentication like 3DS. This greatly reduces the risk of someone who is not the cardholder making the purchase. Furthermore, a good fraud prevention system can identify the possibility of the card being cloned, analyze behavior patterns, and prevent a scam for both the merchant and the consumer.
"Fraud prevention teams assess a series of parameters. For example, a site may consistently make sales with an average value of R$ 50, and someone attempts to make a purchase of a thousand. The system recognizes that the order has suspicious behavior, based on a real-time risk analysis that considers purchase history, location, time, and other behavioral factors," explains the director.
Another increasingly popular and secure option for online sales is the use of payment links, especially for those who conduct transactions through social networks like Instagram or WhatsApp.
And for customers, how to protect themselves? "There are several precautions to be taken during shopping, especially with the high flow of promotions and information on Mother's Day. It is important to carefully check which website the links came from and whether the store's history is trustworthy," recommends Adilson. It indicates the use of the pagesiteconfiavel.com.brto perform this type of verification.
It is also essential to watch out for phishing attempts, a type of scam in which criminals try to deceive and persuade consumers to reveal their sensitive data. According to the report of theKasperskyIn 2024, more than 893 million phishing attempts were recorded worldwide—a 26% increase compared to the previous year. Brazil remains among the countries with the highest volume of attacks, especially during seasonal dates like Mother's Day, when the volume of online transactions skyrockets. And, according to Axur's report, this is the most common type of fraud in e-commerce: in 2024 alone, the volume of phishing pages doubled, reaching 72,455. Attacks can be simple or sophisticated, using SMS messages, WhatsApp, or even online advertising that leads the public to believe in the authenticity of the products.
"It is essential for consumers to be extra cautious with links received via SMS, email, or WhatsApp, as scammers take advantage of urgency and the volume of offers to deceive people," warns Adilson. It is important to verify the authenticity of websites, look for security seals, and avoid clicking on unknown links, even if they appear to be from trusted stores. Finally, consider using a credit card more often instead of Pix and debit, as in the first case, there is a greater possibility of opening a dispute if the consumer suspects something. Additionally, the credit card usually offers buyer protection programs and banking mediation, which facilitates the recovery of the amount in case of fraud, concludes the professional.