Biometrics, which were introduced to make life easier by making user recognition easier and faster, are now certainly revealing a worrying scenario. A recent study by CAF, a specialist in digital identity, points to a significant increase in scams using this technology. Urban mobility apps, such as Uber and 99, have become frequent targets of these fraudulent attempts. São Paulo, after all, stands out as the most affected state, accounting for almost a third of the incidents.
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Highlights
- Biometric frauds have increased, with São Paulo leading the way
- Most scams occur on public transport apps
- Study reveals increase in attempted scams during the week and at specific times
The research, as part of CAF’s Identity and Fraud Map, examined cases between July and September, comparing them with the previous quarter. The most alarming data shows that 77% of the frauds during this period involved the use of biometrics, a record for the company.
In the context of transportation applications, such as Uber and 99, 93% of fraudulent attempts exploited biometrics. Sectors such as urban transportation and food delivery saw an increase of 19% in attempts using this technology.
The report shows that scams are more common on weekdays, especially Thursdays, with 20% of the incidents in the quarter, and at 4 am, representing 3,57% of the cases. However, the misuse of users' images and documents, around 7% of the total, is still recurrent. One of the main techniques identified is spoofing, where manipulated images are used to impersonate another person.
The study also reveals an increase in fraud in other sectors, such as e-commerce and financial services, although the rates remain below those recorded in the same period last year.
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São Paulo stands out in isolation, representing 30% of cases
The states most susceptible to scams include São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Pará, responsible for 51% of frauds. In terms of gender, men lead as victims, with 61% of transactions considered as scam threats, and this proportion increases to 74% in mobility apps. In e-commerce, the difference narrows, with men representing 53% of victims.
Despite frequent attempts at fraud, Vanita Pandey, CMO of CAF, emphasizes that facial biometrics are effective in preventing fraud, but stresses the need for companies to constantly improve their anti-fraud strategies. This requires an approach focused on education and ongoing interaction with users in order to keep the technology up to date and protect consumers.
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