Cybersecurity company PSafe released an alarming piece of information on Wednesday, 22nd: More than 350% increase in the number of so-called “Pix scam” attempts in April and May, compared to February/March of this year. Only attacks in Brazil were blocked by the company’s security solutions.
All in all, More than 424,000 Pix-themed scams were blocked in the country in April/May by the company.against just over 92,000 detections in the previous two-month period. According to Emilio Simoni, PSafe’s head of security, this equates to around 7,000 attempts per day, over 280 per hour and four per minute, in April and May alone.
Other types of financial fraud and security tips
But it’s not just about Pix. The executive says there has been an overall increase in financial fraud this year compared to the same period in 2021.”In the first five months of the year alone, we recorded more than 3.4 million financial-themed fraud detections.. Last year, in the same period, we blocked just over 2.2 million,” he explains.
In addition to security software, the experts at PSafe’s dfndr lab recommend some simple practices to protect yourself from scams like the ones mentioned above:
- When creating a Pix, register the receiving account in your bank’s application;
- Avoid clicking links to transfer;
- When receiving a Pix from an unknown person, send a random key. Use your CPF or personal data only for people you know;
- Before making a transfer or payment, first call the recipient (outside WhatsApp) to verify your identity;
- Always be suspicious of so-called internet promotions such as giveaways, discounts or offers that are too good to be true, as links may lead to malware;
- Keep your profile view on social networks only for your contacts, including photo;
- Be wary of all links shared via messaging and social networks.
Source: Tec Mundo
