72% of digital crimes committed in Brazil in 2022 involved theft of user accounts, with the majority of cases occurring on mobile phones
Account theft is one of the biggest digital crimes in Brazil. According to data from the AllowMe prevention platform, 72% of frauds recorded in our country in 2022 fell into this category, with the majority of recorded cases occurring on mobile phones, from malicious applications or fraudulent websites.
The numbers reflect a global trend, where user credentials and even corporate networks are heavily targeted as they act as gateways to financial crimes, espionage, ransomware and more. While the majority of crime occurs on mobile phones, data shows that the total volume of fraud attempts on computers is still three times higher.
In 2022, one in 100 transactions assessed by the platform represented potential risk, with that total tripled for PC and via the web. “Bypassing security platforms with mobile phone usually comes with more difficulties, because for a [crime] If these happen, you need to make your device more vulnerable with the use of malicious applications,” explains Diana Herrera, growth leader at AllowMe.
According to the survey, 23% of fraud attempts are concentrated when registering for a service or opening an account, mainly with the use of third-party data obtained by criminals from leaks. Loopholes that allow data interception or manipulation of redirects account for only 5%.
Being the most populous state, São Paulo also recorded the ranking, concentrating 37% of all fraud attempts in the country. Followed by Rio de Janeiro (17.4%), Minas Gerais (6.8%), Pernambuco (6.4%) and Bahia (4.8%). The study also brings other curious data. Most of the recorded bank frauds took place on Mondays, with 17% of cases.
AllowMe also demonstrates a change in the behavior of criminals, who are starting to move away from fraud at dawn, in the “no one’s watching” moments, to act during business hours, when 70% of cases were registered. “As preventative controls tightened, scammers started to act [nesta janela] to follow the most common transactional flow and go unnoticed. The more believable a purchase or transaction is, the more legitimate it will appear,” Herrera explains.
This increased scrutiny has also led to higher fraud detection rates, although the totals vary from industry to industry. The investment and mobility segments are the safest, being able to prevent 99% of attempts. However, fintechs appear inferior, with 83% detections, while loyalty programs had the lowest rate, 78%.
The survey also brings some samples of the behavior of criminals, who often use the same device to access different accounts. On devices used as a source of access to three or more profiles, the fraud rate is 5.9%, while on those used for only one type of transaction, the total is 0.5%. Furthermore, 90% of attempts take place on smartphones that are at least six years old, where scammers can also take advantage of known loopholes that are no longer updated by manufacturers due to lack of support.
According to Herrera, this shared use is a strong indication of fraud to be taken into consideration by the prevention mechanisms. “Considering digital accounts, for example, we’re unlikely to have more than one person accessing a single cell phone,” she adds. However, she stresses the need to look at specific cases, such as those of low-income families who share a single device to access social programs or state aid.
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Source: Terra
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