Carnival: protect your card to avoid scams – 02/17/2023 – Market

This Saturday (18) officially begins Carnival. With crowds on the streets and revelers distracted by alcohol consumption, concerns about scams increase. The most common ones involve credit and debit cards, according to Febraban (Brazilian Federation of Banks).

Scammers disguised as street vendors can exchange cards, the machines used in transactions can be infected by malicious programs and even the approximation payment technology, considered safer, can be used by thieves to misappropriate money.

A Sheet heard experts who explained the most common scams at the most popular party in Brazil, gave tips to avoid them and instructions for possible victims.

CARD EXCHANGE

The swindler takes advantage of the customer’s distraction to observe the typed password. Already aware of the password, the fake merchant exchanges the card and returns another very similar one. Without realizing it, the reveler gives everything to the embezzler.

“Often, the scammer also uses some trick and diverts the reveler’s attention so that the victim enters the password in the field destined to the purchase value”, says the director of the Fraud Prevention Committee of the entity, Adriano Volpini. Thus, the crook discovers the secret code. The password field must only show asterisks.

To avoid this scam, it is recommended:

• The customer must be the only person handling the card
• Check the amounts reported on the voucher and whether the returned card is the correct one
• Be alert if your password numbers appear on the machine screen after typing
• Never lend the card
• Do not use a machine with a broken display or that does not allow data to be read

The swindler can also simply charge a higher amount than agreed. Always confirm the amount on the machine display.

Memorize the password, which must be unique, and do not keep it with the card. Also, do not write down the key sequence in mobile applications, in notepad or in message or email exchanges.

APPROACH COUP

Criminals can also take advantage of the turmoil in the block to bring machines closer to backpacks or pockets to try to activate credit cards with contactless technology, which allows payment without a password.

Payments using this technology, however, are less susceptible to fraud, as they generate a single digit, valid only in one operation, according to André Carneiro, director of the multinational information security company Sophos.

To avoid problems with this payment method, it is indicated:

• Limit maximum amount for passwordless payments in bank app
• Still via internet banking, it is possible to deactivate the option of payment by approximation
• Do not leave the card loose in pockets or purses.
• Buy a backpack or wallet that blocks the NFC signal, responsible for communicating with the machine

MACHINE BLOW

Brazilian gangs are a global reference in circumventing the security of card machines.

One of them was the first in the world to be able to block approximation payments, to induce the operation with insertion of the chip, which allows the application of the scam known as ghost purchase.

This scheme simulates errors, from a virus, in card machines to duplicate transactions and, without the shopkeeper or customer noticing, make a second charge to the customer, of the same amount, but directed to the scammer’s account.

To infect billing devices, cybercriminals contact point-of-sale owners by telephone or even telegrams, posing as employees of vending machines or card brands.

According to Professor of Consumer Law at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Bruno Boris, the consumer harmed by this fraud can bring legal action against the trader or against the machine company.

To prevent:

1. Be alerted to unusual payment error messages
2. Ask to change the machine or give up the purchase if the approach payment fails

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VICTIMS

If the crime has been committed, it remains for the victim to report the loss or fraud to banking institutions and authorities and file a police report. For this, always have a list of phone numbers for emergencies at hand.

According to Boris, the longer the victim takes to notify the damage, the greater the risk of damage and the lower the chance of recovering the financial damage.