Carnival is one of the most anticipated times of the year, but also a period of high risk for fraud and thefts. A recent survey by the fintech Koin revealed that 90% of respondents have had their cell phone stolen during Carnival.
The survey identified that 18.4% of respondents have already been victims of scams or frauds during Carnival. The most common scams include altered Pix or QR code accounting for 46.4%, fake profiles selling carnival products or services at 35.7%, card cloning or unauthorized charges in transportation at 21.4%, cell phone theft followed by access to bank accounts or WhatsApp cloning at 17.9%, fake tickets at 14.3%, and scams in accommodations, such as fake listings or unauthorized charges at 10.7%.
Financial losses also draw attention: 28.6% of victims lost between R$ 100 and R$ 500, 21.4% suffered a loss of over R$ 1,000, and only 17.9% managed to avoid financial losses.
“Amid the growing number of cyber scams, it is essential to raise awareness about digital security. Investing in consistent and ongoing educational campaigns is an essential strategy to reduce these risks and protect users,” highlights Gabriela Jubram, Head of Marketing at Koin.
Despite the scams and potential threats associated with cell phone use during Carnival, driven by the high flow of people, 72% of revelers say they adopt measures to protect against fraud, 12.5% do so occasionally and only 15.1% remain vulnerable, becoming easy targets for criminals.
Koin's research indicates that 15.1% of respondents say they sometimes take precautions during Carnival; while 12.5% do not usually worry about fraud.
Festival-goers who protect themselves against fraud during Carnival adopt different strategies: 66.4% of respondents avoid providing personal or banking data to strangers; 51.3% do not withdraw money from ATMs near events; 46% activate two-factor authentication on their mobile phones and banking apps; and 36.8% check QR codes before making payments and verify the authenticity of accommodation ads.
Furthermore, 68.4% avoid taking their cell phones out of their pockets in busy places; 53.9% activate device tracking; 44.7% use strong passwords and biometrics to unlock; and 32.9% deactivate Pix or reduce transaction limits on carnival days.
Still, there is a risk of thefts and robberies. In the survey, participants were asked about what actions they take in case of cell phone theft or robbery. Of the total respondents, 34.9% stated that they file a police report, another 34.9% remotely lock the device; while 22.4% prefer to prioritize the bank's notification to block transactions and avoid financial losses.
The survey also assessed the partygoers' perception of security regarding digital payments during the festival period. The survey shows that 38.2% avoid making digital payments as much as possible, 34.9% feel very secure when paying digitally; 19.7% feel reasonably secure; and only 7.2% consider themselves insecure when making digital payments.
“Due to the high concentration of people at the blocks and typical events, Carnival has become a critical period for scams and fraud. Financial and digital education is essential for people to enjoy the party without losses. The use of good security practices, such as strong passwords, facial biometrics and access control to applications, can reduce fraud and ensure greater peace of mind for partygoers,” emphasizes the executive.
The survey was carried out in the first half of February and interviewed 250 people in all regions of Brazil, with multiple-choice questions.
