With Father’s Day (08/11) approaching, the rise in online promotions combined with the desire to gift presents creates opportunities not only for consumers but also for cybercriminals. In just the first half of 2024, Brazil recorded 1 million fraud attempts, totaling R$1.2 billion in losses, according to a study by ClearSale.
In this context, Denis Riviello, Cybersecurity Head of CG One, a technology company focused on information security, network protection, and integrated risk management, warns of the need to pay extra attention when making online purchases during this period to avoid falling victim to increasingly common and sophisticated scams.
To ensure safe gift shopping, check out the tips on how to make a secure online purchase:
- Research the store’s reputation
There are complaint websites for stores that can help identify fraudulent brands, as they gather a compilation of reviews from other consumers who have already shopped at the same place. According to Riviello, community sense can be an ally at this time.
“It is important to research the store’s reputation on complaint pages, as they may contain reports from consumers who have been victims of online scams or fraud, as well as information about possible deceptive practices. It is also advisable to look up the company’s history on other internet pages. Based on the collected information, the consumer can choose to do business only with companies that have a good reputation and a positive history,” recommends.
- Be careful with personal data
Sharing personal information on the internet is risky, and even though many already know this, there are some online consumption habits that can put sensitive data at risk without the user’s knowledge.
The expert warns: “never save the card number on devices and/or Browser, even if it is reliable. This makes it much easier for scammers if they gain access to the password or device”, he asserts.
- Look for signs of authenticity
Fraudulent websites, despite being well done, can be identified by some details, such as observing if the URL starts with “https://” and if it has a padlock icon in the address bar, which shows a secure exchange of information between the device and the server. In addition, Riviello warns that legitimate sites have a “Contact” or “About Us” tab.
- Pay attention to emails
In addition to fraudulent websites, the email inbox can also be a threat, constantly scaring users with spam. Between 2022 and 2023, Brazil had 134 million phishing attempts, according to a report by Kaspersky. And for cases like this, the expert indicates that it is important to check the email domain, the part that comes after the ‘@’. “If the domain is different from the official site or generic, it could be a reason for concern”, he points out.
- If it’s too attractive, be suspicious
Rare items readily available in large quantities, along with very surprising promotions, are scenarios that seem tempting but deserve attention. “It is essential to be suspicious of what is very tempting. Nowadays, phishing scams are increasingly sophisticated and well done. Very attractive offers can be a strategy to bring victims to fake websites or unreliable stores, where personal and financial data can be stolen,” warns Riviello.
Social engineering is a manipulation practice widely used by scammers, who take advantage of special dates and the desire to save money and create fake promotions to attract unaware consumers.
“This type of bait can lead to sites where login information, passwords, and financial details are stolen. This information can be used to access bank accounts, email, and other personal data,” adds the CG One specialist.
- Cyber protection is never too much
It is recommended to use antivirus and protection software. Currently, there are browser extensions that can help identify malicious sites. “Extensions are plugins that complement the browser’s functionalities. They aim to block ads on web pages, make annotations, check spelling, and much more to ensure security. It is worth researching the most recommended plugins for the type of browser used and installing them,” emphasizes Riviello.
- Caution with banking information
To avoid falling victim to a scam, there are security measures that consumers can implement in their daily lives to prevent potential threats. “Some alternatives include the use of temporary credit cards, generated specifically for that purchase, payment via PIX, or another method where the provided data cannot be reused,” concludes the expert.
