Carnival is one of the most anticipated moments of the year, but also a period of high risk for fraud and theft. 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 been victims of scams or fraud during Carnival. The most common scams include Pix or altered QR code totaling 46,4%, fake profiles selling carnival products or services have 35,7%, card cloning or unauthorized charges in transport 21,4%, cell phone theft followed by access to bank accounts or WhatsApp cloning 17,9%, fake tickets 14,3% and scams in hosting, such as false advertisements or unauthorized charges 10,7%
Financial losses also draw attention: 28,6% of the victims lost between £100 and £500, 21,4% had a loss above R$ 1.000 and only 17,9% managed to avoid financial losses.
Amid the growing number of cyber scams, it is essential to reinforce 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 blows and the potential threats associated with the use of mobile phones during carnival, driven by the high flow of people, 72% of revelers claim to take protective measures against fraud, 12,5% do them occasionally and only 15,1% remain vulnerable, becoming easy targets for criminals
The Koin survey indicates that 15,1% of respondents say that they sometimes take precautions during Carnival; while 12,5% do not usually worry about fraud.
Carnival revelers who protect themselves against fraud adopt different strategies,4% of respondents avoid providing personal or banking information to strangers; 51,3% do not withdraw cash from ATMs near events, 46% enable 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 listings.
Furthermore, 68,4% avoid taking their phone out of their pocket in busy places; 53,9% activate the device tracking; 44,7% use strong passwords and biometrics for unlocking; and 32,9% deactivate Pix or reduce transaction limits during festive days
Even so, 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 filed a police report, other 34,9% block the device remotely; while 22,4% prefer to prioritize the bank's notice to block transactions and avoid financial losses.
The research also assessed the security perception of revelers 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 safe; and only 7,2% consider themselves insecure when making digital payments
"Due to the high concentration of people in the blocks and typical events", carnival has become a critical period for scams and frauds. Financial and digital education is essential for people to enjoy the party without losses. The use of good security practices, how to use strong passwords, facial biometrics and access control to applications, can reduce fraud and ensure more peace of mind for the revelers, highlights the executive
The survey was conducted in the first half of February and interviewed 250 people in all regions of Brazil, with multiple choice questions
