Black Friday Safe: how e-commerce is preparing to prevent fraud

This year, the preparation for Black Friday is being impacted by significant changes in how people relate to the world and how they consume, especially the increasing use of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). Despite the numerous benefits that this advent offers to business, this same technology has been used by offenders to clone legitimate marketing campaigns, creating websites and fraudulent promotions that perfectly mimic the original offers, attracting unsuspecting consumers to traps ARE also known as phishing.

In recent years, several companies have faced the misuse of their brands in scams architected with the help of AI. These scams deceive consumers with promises of large discounts on products that actually do not exist. In response, companies have intensified their efforts to protect their brands in the digital environment, using tools that allow monitoring mentions in real time and detecting suspicious activities. Some, including, have created alerts in their applications, reinforcing that that this is the official communication channel and not SMS messages or by whatsapp. “This constant surveillance is crucial to quickly mitigate any negative or fraudulent content that may compromise the company's reputation during the season of Black Armor S.

Sgorlon is emphatic in citing 5 strategies for companies to be successful in combating cybercrime.First, Data Encryption, with SSL/TLS certification to ensure that all transactions and customer information are protected from interceptions; then implement Multifactor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security on login, making it difficult for unauthorized access to accounts. The third point concerns the monitoring of fraud in real time to detect and prevent suspicious activities. Fourth, educate and raise awareness of consumers about safe online shopping practices, how to recognize and maintain public policy emails from phishing and protect public networks.

The growing concern of corporations with this scenario is evidenced by the increase in cybersecurity investments, which has become a priority in budgets. According to a recent study by Allied Market Research, the cybersecurity technology market was evaluated at US$ 172.8 billion in 2023, with the expectation of reaching US$ 377.5 billion by 2032. Already a survey by Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that global costs with cybercrimes will reach US$ 10.5 trillion annually by 2025. 

While it is impossible to completely eliminate cyber threats, it is possible to manage them effectively. “Companies are betting on cybersecurity solutions such as digital image protection, access control to platforms and traffic and content management. Tracking and observability tools are essential to ensure the security and efficiency of transactions, providing a safer shopping experience for” consumers, the CEO highlights.

The SGA has also been registering a significant increase in demand for cybersecurity projects, especially by companies that operate in e-commerce. “In the last 03 years, about 27% of the customers who come to us are from the e-commerce sector”, Sgorlon points out.

With the advancement of technologies and the sophistication of digital fraud, investing in cybersecurity has become indispensable to ensure consumer trust and brand protection during high-stakes events such as Black Friday.