Scams can shoot up on Children's Day: expert warns on how to protect yourself in online shopping

Children's Day is approaching and comes with the desire to give gifts to the little ones. As a result, the increase in promotions and special conditions in online shopping becomes a consequence, generating opportunities not only for consumers, but also for cybercriminals. 

According to a recent study conducted by the National Confederation of Shopkeepers (CNDL), 3 in 10 consumers were victims or experienced fraud attempts during virtual purchases in 2024.

Denis Riviello, director of cybersecurity at CG One, a technology company focused on information security, network protection and integrated risk management, warns of the need to redouble attention when shopping on the internet in this period. 

To ensure gifts without losses, check out tips on how to make a safe online purchase and prepare for this date:

1. Caution with personal data

Sharing personal information on the internet can be extremely dangerous and certain digital consumption habits can expose sensitive data without the user realizing it. Therefore, the expert warns to avoid saving credit card numbers on devices or browsers, even those considered safe. 

“An option is to use temporary credit cards, created especially for a specific purchase, in addition to opting for payments via PIX or other methods that do not allow the reuse of the data provided”, he advises.

2. Checking the reputation of the store

To check the reputation of some store or e-commerce, complaint sites can be good allies to identify fraudulent companies, since they rely on the reviews and experiences of other consumers. 

According to Rivello, it is important to consult the company's history in other online sources.“With this information, the consumer can choose to negotiate only with companies that present a positive and reliable” reputation, advises.

3. Attention with emails 

Emails also offer a great risk to consumers, since they are daily used to send spam. To avoid falling into scams like these, the CG One expert recommends that buyers always check the domain of the sender, that is, the part that appears after the @’. 

“If the domain is different from the official website or looks generic, it is a” warning sign, he explains. 

4. Seek signs of authenticity

As elaborate as some fake websites may seem, you can identify signs of fraud by paying attention to some details. For Riviello, the first step is to make sure that the URL starts with “https://” and that there is a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating that the connection between the device and the server is secure. 

In addition, the expert points out that trusted sites usually have a “contact” or “ section on” nodes. 

5. Be wary of irresistible offers 

In commemorative times such as Children's Day, it is common to appear ads of products in large quantities or promotions exaggeratedly advantageous. However, the professional recommends extra care with offers and conditions too good to be true. 

“Very attractive promotions can be used as a trap to lure consumers to fake websites or unreliable stores, putting their personal and financial data at risk. This practice is known as social engineering, and it is a technique used to manipulate buyers, exploiting the desire to save.”, he explains.

6. Cyber protection never hurts

To ensure greater cyber protection, it is advisable that the buyer uses additional protection solutions, such as antivirus and keep protection software updated, as well as opting for browsers that identify dangerous websites. 

“These extensions are plugins that extend the functions of the browser, and can block ads to increase security.It is a good idea to research which extensions are most recommended for each browser and install them”, concludes Riviello.