Digital security: learn about the most common banking scams and protect yourself

According to a report released by BioCatch, in the first half of last year alone, bank fraud increased by 220%. It is not news that the digitalization of the financial system has brought convenience, but it has also opened space for increasingly sophisticated crimes.

The use of Artificial Intelligence is linked to highly personalized attacks, which seek to simulate real voices and contexts to convince victims and carry out successful scams.

Faced with this scenario, protection efforts need to be joint, relying on good practices on the part of users and good security tools on the part of financial institutions.

The most common scams and social engineering tactics
Most current frauds do not exploit flaws in bank systems, but rather the user's emotional vulnerability. Discover the most common modalities:

1. Fake Security Center Scam
The criminal calls the customer pretending to be a bank employee. To convince, it uses software to mask the telephone number, causing the caller ID to show the institution's official number.

The allegation is always urgent: a suspicious transaction or an account hack. The objective is to trick the victim into providing passwords, verification codes or, most seriously, installing "remote support" applications that give the scammer full control of the cell phone.

2. Fraud in the Pix ecosystem
Pix, due to its instantaneity, is the preferred target.

The "Wrong Pix Scam" occurs when the criminal simulates a mistaken transfer to the victim's account and asks for a refund. When returning the amount, the user ends up sending their own money, while the scammer cancels the original transaction (often scheduled or fake).

Another modality is the "Negative Card Scam", in which promises of high limits via WhatsApp lead to the payment of non-existent fees.

3. Fake bills
Criminals intercept communications or create fake websites to generate bills that appear legitimate. When paying, the user's money is directed to the fraudster's account instead of the actual beneficiary.

How Inter technology protects you
At Inter, security is treated as a shared responsibility, counting cutting-edge technology and customer digital education as the main barrier against crime. The institution continually invests in proactive monitoring tools to detect anomalies in real time. Among the main defense resources are:

- Facial biometrics and proof of life: required for high-value transactions and access on new devices, preventing attackers from operating the account even with the cell phone unlocked;
- Special Return Mechanism (MED): system created by the Central Bank that allows Inter to block and, if possible, refund amounts in cases of proven fraud on Pix, as long as notification is made quickly;
- Fraud Prevention Seal: certification that attests to the rigor of Inter's internal processes in protection of customer assets.

Practical prevention guide: what never to do
To keep your account safe, follow the golden rules of digital security:

- The bank never asks for your password: real Inter employees will never ask for passwords, tokens or for you to make transfers to "test accounts". It is also worth mentioning that Inter does not make calls to its customers;
- Do not install third-party applications: never download remote access programs (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) on the advice of someone who called you;
- Check the beneficiary of the bill: before confirming any payment, check that the name and CNPJ of the transferor correspond to the correct company;
- Be wary of excessive urgency: scammers use fear to prevent you from thinking clearly. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call Inter's official channels yourself.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about banking security
Does Inter call to ask for an application update?
No. Updates to the Inter app are made exclusively through official stores (App Store and Google Play). Never install anything via links sent via SMS or WhatsApp.

What to do if I fall for a Pix scam?
Contact Inter immediately through official channels to register the dispute request via MED (Special Return Mechanism). The quicker the notice, the greater the chance of recovering the value.

How do you know if the bill is genuine?
Always check the beneficiary's details at the time of payment. Inter provides service channels to validate the origin of bills in case of doubt.

What is the "False Central Scam"?
It is a fraud in which the criminal pretends to be from the bank to obtain sensitive data. Inter never calls asking for passwords or money transfers.

Source: CNN