A study by ACI Worldwide and GlobalData points out that romantic blows should cause $ 440 million in losses in Brazil by 2028. According to the report, losses through Pix (which include other types of coup) in the country should exceed $ 11 billion in the coming years. Crimes that exploit affective relationships represent 4% of this total.
The survey analyzed the six major real -time payment markets in the world: Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Although Brazil has the lowest romantic scam rate among the countries of the report, this type of crime has a high financial and emotional impact on the victims.
Nos, criminals often assume false identities, usually on dating platforms or social networks, and create affective involvement with victims over time. “Pix has brought convenience and agility, but has also paved ways to criminals who exploit the victims’ emotional vulnerability,” says ICA Worldwide Payment Intelligence and Risk Solutions, Cleber Martins.
The purpose of this type of crime is to achieve the victim’s confidence and create an emotional bond until they can convince the person to transfer a certain amount of money. “These fraud tend to be less denounced because they are based on the construction of confidence, which indicates that the real numbers can be even greater.” explains Martins.
How to protect
Prevention requires extra attention. According to Cleber Martins, four guidelines are fundamental to avoid falling into romantic bias via pix:
- Use multiple communication channels: Talk to the other person by phone, make video calls on different platforms, talk to public and private chat rooms;
- Be wary of urgency: Creating a sense of urgency is the main tactic used by scammers to induce partner to make impulsive decisions;
- Share the subject with friends and family: OE involvement with trusted people facilitates the identification of suspicious behaviors;
- Never share personal or banking data with those who have just met: manipulation is easier as criminals know the operation of banks in depth
The study of ACI and GlobalData points out that one in four Brazilian victims of PIX blows decides to end the relationship with its current bank after the episode. This compromises customer loyalty and impairs financial inclusion efforts.
Losses with instant payment blows in countries up to 2028 c romantic scams (in alphabetical order):
- Australia – US $ 1.172 billion x 5%
- Brazil – US$ 1,937 billion x 4%
- UAE Emirates – US$ 30 million x 6%
- USA – US$ 3.083 billion x 12%
- India – US$ 601 million x 5%
- United Kingdom – 811 million x 8%
