WhatsApp blows, false sales and fake central/fake bank employee were main traps applied to banks customers Last year, according to the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban). 
“In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the creativity of criminals does not know boundaries. Every day, new attempts at blows arise, aiming to deceive and harm the population,” warns the entity.
By 2024, customers reported having suffered the blows of:
- WhatsApp blow, with 153,000 complaints
- False sales, with 150 thousand complaints
- Central False, with 105 thousand complaints
- Digital fishing, the so -called phishing, with 33,000 complaints
- False investment, with 31 thousand complaints
- Card exchange, with 19 thousand complaints
- Submission of false ticket, with 13 thousand complaints
- Loan return, with 8 thousand complaints
- Ghost hand, with 5,000 complaints
- Fake motoboy, with 5,000 complaints
WhatsApp blow
The WhatsApp blow happens when criminals try to clone the victim’s WhatsApp account. FEBRABAN guides to enable, in the application, the option “Verification in Two Steps”. Thus, it is possible to register a password that will be requested periodically by the application.
In this type of scam, the criminal tries to register the victim’s WhatsApp on another device. To obtain the security code that the application sends by SMS whenever it is installed in a new device, the forger sends a message by undergoing some kind of customer service. In this message the code is requested for the victim.
Fake sale
In the false sale coup, criminals create false pages that simulate e-commercesend nonexistent promotions by emails, SMS and WhatsApp messages and invest in the creation of fake stores profiles on social networks.
The guidance is to be aware of false promotions or prices practiced far below those charged by trade. It is also important to be careful with links received in emails and messages and give preference to known websites for purchases.
False Banking Center
Already in the coup of the false banking central or fake attendant, the criminals are passed by employees of the bank or company with whom the customer has an active relationship. Generally, in this contact, the stemstolience says there is some kind of problem in the account or reports some irregular purchase.
From then on, it requests the victim’s personal and financial data and advises that transfers claiming the need to regularize account or card problems.
In such cases, Febraban directs the customer to always check the origin of the calls and messages received containing data requests.
“Banks can contact customers to confirm suspicious transactions, but never request personal data, passwords, systems updates, safety keys, or even if the customer makes transfers or payments alleging transaction chargebacks. When receiving a suspicious call, the customer must turn off, and from another phone, should contact the official channels of their bank,” says the entity.
Phishing
In the case of phishing, or digital fishing, fraud is practiced by sending suspicious links containing viruses that capture the personal data of the victims. This shipping can be made through fake messaging emails that induce the user to click suspicious links.
The guidance is never clicking on messages received by messages and keeping antivirus applications always up to date.
Fake investment
False investment scam is usually practiced by creating facade companies and social networking profiles to attract victims and convince them to make highly profitable and fast investments. Therefore, it is important to distrust promises of income or returns far above those practiced in the market.
Card exchange
Card exchange blow usually occurs when scammers who work as salespeople exchange the card when returning it after a purchase. They pay attention to the password entered in the purchase machine and then purchases with the customer’s card.
