Silverguard study indicates that Pix scams have increased

Silverguard publishes a study and reveals that scams involving the Pix instant payment system generated significant financial losses for Brazilians. The average loss per victim reached R$2,100. The survey, which was based on data from the Central Bank and more than five thousand reports in Central SOS Golpe, highlights the growth of digital fraud and the role of Pix in this scenario, which represented around 45% of financial transactions in the country in 2024 .

According to the report, scams have expanded as Pix becomes increasingly popular and accessible. Although Pix is ​​a safe and efficient tool, its practicality facilitates scams in which the victim himself makes voluntary transfers to criminals, a tactic known as APP (authorised push payment fraud). The digitalization scenario favored the action of scammers: out of every ten financial operations carried out in Brazil in 2024, nine were carried out by digital means.

The research reveals differences in the type of scam depending on the age and social class of the victim. Among younger people, the most common scam is purchasing products or services from fake profiles. Among the elderly, the tactic of borrowing money is predominant. WhatsApp is the initial channel for 69% of scams against people over 60, while Instagram leads among those under 18.

Losses also differ according to age group and social class. Victims in class AB, for example, recorded losses of up to R$6,300 on average, while in class C the average loss was R$3,500. Among victims in classes D and E, losses fell to R$1,500. In the case of the elderly, the losses were four times greater than among young people aged 18 to 24, demonstrating the vulnerability of older people to the persuasion tactics of scammers.

Criminals largely rely on social networks and telephone services to carry out scams. Meta platforms, such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, concentrate the majority of frauds, being responsible for 79% of cases. Silverguard also identified that criminals use a network of services to operate scams, including registering URLs, hosting websites and fake bank accounts.

The study also highlights the phenomenon of “corporatization of the digital financial scam” in Brazil. Second Marcia Netto, CEO from Silverguardthe increase in digital fraud is leading criminals to organize themselves into complex structures, similar to companies, with divisions of tasks and even productivity goals. This operating model increases the capacity of scammers and makes prevention more difficult, requiring the integration of the financial and technology sectors to improve protection mechanisms.

The “Special Return Mechanism” and its underutilized potential

The study highlights the importance of Special Return Mechanism (MED)a tool created by the Central Bank in 2021 to allow the immediate blocking of amounts in suspected cases of fraud. However, despite being an effective measure, lack of knowledge of the MED is one of the main obstacles to its use. According to the data, 68% of victims are unaware of the mechanism, and only 5% knew how to use it.

With a return rate of just 9%, MED still cannot fully meet the needs of scam victims, especially considering how quickly transferred money ends up being withdrawn or transferred to other accounts. Silverguard experts argue that qualifying complaints in the MED, with more detailed information, would increase efficiency in recovering values.

Silverguard's 2024 survey recommends more coordinated action between financial institutions, social network operators and authorities to combat the growth of digital scams. The creation of social anti-fraud is one of the proposals that the company defends, suggesting a collaborative network that connects all sectors involved and increases agility in blocking suspicious accounts.

To this end, Márcia highlights the need to improve the analysis and blocking of fake accounts at the first sign of a complaint, reducing the exposure of victims. Although many financial institutions are hesitant to apply faster measures for fear of false positives, the executive argues that a preventive approach is essential to prevent thousands of people from being harmed.

Among the most frequent types of scams, false sales of products (45%), promises of high-yield investments (15%) and fraudulent loans (10%) stand out. The research also warns of the negative emotional effects that these frauds cause, especially in elderly people, who often lose their savings and deal with feelings of shame and helplessness.

The study points out that, in addition to financial losses, victims experience profound emotional difficulties. The feeling of being deceived can impact family relationships and, in more serious cases, lead to depression and even suicide.

Research on Pix scams in 2024 confirms the growing complexity of digital crimes and highlights the need for a coordinated response between different sectors of society. While Pix continues to be a useful and safe tool for millions of Brazilians, criminals continue to exploit loopholes, increasingly using technology and social networks to obtain financial gains.

Preventing scams requires more than isolated measures; It demands a joint effort between banks, digital platforms and society in general to create an efficient and agile protection system. Implementing social anti-fraud and more effective use of MED are important steps, but user awareness and education are also key to reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening the digital environment.

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