54% of people in Brazil have experienced SMS fraud attempts: Norton highlights how to protect yourself

Smishing, a form of phishing that uses text messages to trick victims into stealing personal data or clicking on malicious links, is on the rise in Brazil.With the visible trend of mobile devices being used for digital transactions, cybercriminals can exploit potential vulnerabilities to spread malware, access sensitive information and commit financial fraud Norton, Cybersecurity brand of Gen(NASDAQ: GEN), 32% of Brazilians suffered a coup attempt this year, with 54% of these attempts occurring via SMS. In this context, Norton emphasizes the importance of digital education and protection against scams in the digital world. 

“O Smishing is a combination of the terms iphishing’ and “SMS’ (Short Messaging Service) and refers to attacks carried out through fraudulent text messages.Unlike traditional email phishing, smishing exploits the credibility of known services to trick people into sharing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and banking credentials.These attacks can result in identity theft, financial loss, and malware installation on the devices of the” victims, says Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of Innovation at Norton. 

Common smishing scams 

There are several types of smishing scams and here are some more common ones: 

• Fake package delivery notifications: one of the most frequent scams, especially during promotional seasons or holidays, involves fake messages from carriers like FedEx, UPS or Post Office.These messages warn of problems with package deliveries or request tracking, with malicious links. 
• Financial scams: cybercriminals often impersonate banks or financial institutions to obtain sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and banking information.Messages often alert you to suspicious activity or request data updates. 
• Deceptive confirmations: this scam uses fake purchase confirmations, appointments or services, leading users to phishing sites where sensitive information is requested. 
• Fake customer service: in this type of smishing, fraudsters pose as customer service representatives of trusted companies such as online stores or service providers, claiming that there is a problem with the consumer account.The messages contain links directing to fake websites where sensitive data can be stolen. 
• Fake gifts and prizes: non-existent prize offers, such as sweepstakes or giveaways, are often used to lure victims. The messages claim that the person has won something but ask to click a link to “release the” prize. 

Iskander Sanchez-Rola shares how to stay safe by considering some digital security practices that can help reduce the risks of smishing: 

• Do not share personal information via SMS: never provide sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or email addresses, through text messages. 
• Check the source of suspicious messages: be careful with unknown numbers or unusual formats, especially international ones. 
• Use two-factor authentication: this increases the security of your online accounts and adds an extra layer of security, even if you fall victim to a scam and your password is compromised. 
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or files: an unknown link or file may secretly contain malware or lead to a fake website to steal personal information. 
• Contact the institution or company directly to confirm any requests received via SMS. 
• Download reliable antivirus software as the Norton 360 hotel, which protects against malware, phishing and other digital threats. 

The impact of the coups on Brazilians 

In Brazil, four out of ten Brazilians (43%) who were targets of coup ended up becoming victims. Of these (43%) consumers, 77% of the victims suffered financial losses. The average reported loss was R$ 1,211.46, with some cases reaching R$ 40,000.00. Similarly, in addition to financial losses, 33% of the victims had their personal data compromised. 

Norton's research also points out the main scams suffered by people (43%), who were victims of scams 

• Payment scams (37%) 
• SMS and Smishing Scams (25%) 
• Social media scams (18%) 

Methodology 

The study was conducted online in Brazil by Dynata on behalf of Gen, from December 5 to 19, 2024, among 1,002 adults aged 18 and older.