Cell phone theft always comes with the fear of having your bank account hacked and of greater losses associated with Pix transactions. In some cases, thieves ask victims to unlock their devices and enter their password. However, there are also groups that specialize in hacking cell phones using secret tools.
Or, as reported last Friday (6), how the group uses spyware to access information from your phone through links and files. Once they manage to commit theft or bypass security to gain access to a device, the criminal has everything. Some scammers are using new techniques, such as bank hacks and Pix scams, checking victims' SMS and email messages. Both features often add an additional layer of security for the account holder.
How scams happen
“This access allows fraudsters to change passwords and create Pix accounts with the victim’s account balance,” explained Marcelo Teixeira de Azevedo, a computer science professor at Mackenzie University in Alphaville. According to the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban), the sector has not recorded security breaches in institutional applications and, generally, it is users who make life easier for criminals.
“Banking apps require the use of the customer’s personal password,” emphasizes Valters Faria, Vice President of Services at Febraban. This means that scammers and phone thieves can only carry out banking transactions because their passwords are easily accessible and some are stored on the device itself.
Why is Pix so attractive to fraud?
There are many ways to process bank transactions and even use fraud, but Pix has ended up falling into the hands of criminals. However, Faria explained that these priorities have nothing to do with the lack of operational security. “Pix, like other money transfers such as TED, is a payment method used to commit fraud,” he explained. However, the Mackenzie professor added that the tool offers individuals who commit scams “relative anonymity” because it uses keys that are not necessarily linked to their identity.
However, the expert emphasized that fraudsters can be found even if there are some obstacles. He also added that Pix is new and can cause difficulties for users. less experienced in technology, which ends up providing convenience to criminals because it facilitates the use of social engineering techniques.
How to avoid Pix scams?
There are several ways to use Pix with more security. The first is to set up fingerprint and facial recognition to access cell phones and bank accounts. This makes hacking attempts more difficult. Another recommendation is two-factor authentication. A strong password is your greatest ally. Paying attention to this will reduce the chances of fraudsters easily accessing your banking app and stealing your money.
Experts recommend using long passwords that contain at least 12 numbers, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and special characters. This makes it difficult for apps to find and read a person’s password. Under no circumstances should users install apps that are not included in the phone’s official store (Android or iOS). Some forms of scams involve scammers installing fake apps to gain access to your device. Another guideline is password protection. Passwords should not be repeated across multiple places, such as social networks and banks, and should not be saved on the device.
