Digital Fraud: These were the most common scams in 2024

During the year 2024, we witnessed a significant evolution of technology, of which the great highlight was the Generative Artificial Intelligencewhose companies multiplied and became worth millions. Although the advancement of platforms has brought many benefits to companies and ordinary people, it was also possible to see a greater movement of digital criminals, who began to use new technological tools to carry out more sophisticated scams.

The expert in digital crimes and CEO of EnetSec, Wanderson Castilho, explains that every technological evolution can be compared to a double-edged sword, because at the same time as there is a profitable and profitable side, the opposite is also true.

“We always have to remember that, while we are using new technologies to optimize everyday tasks, scammers are also using the same tools to carry out new frauds. And, if they are adapting to new technologies, we need to do the same to avoid becoming the next victims.”points out Castilho.

Main digital scams carried out in 2024

Artificial Intelligence Scams

AI is here to stay and has already demonstrated how it can be present in various tasks, from the simplest, such as making a shopping list, to controlling vehicles over a long distance. However, criminals quickly started using video and audio editing tools to copy people’s images and voices to carry out scams.

“One type of fraud that, unfortunately, became alarming this year were cases of deepfake, which allows scammers to accurately reproduce someone’s appearance or voice, making identification difficult and deceiving people close to the victims. Cybercriminals used this technique to ask for money or access to passwords and, thus, managed to obtain financial advantages through fraudulent means”, explains the expert.

PIX Hits

Another strategy applied by fraudsters were scams using Pix. Launched in 2020, the payment method democratized banking transactions and facilitated financial transactions.

However, tactics such as the “Pix Bug”, in which people receive a code that, supposedly, will make them earn money double the amount transferred, or the “Pix Diversion”, which uses apparently harmless applications installed on the victim’s cell phone , such as games or other tools, to monitor apps from financial institutions, were used to cause serious damage.

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WhatsApp bumps

WhatsApp scams have become increasingly frequent, as the application has a wide user base in Brazil, accounting for 93.4% of the population, according to Data Report 2024. Criminals often use text messages pretending to be from legitimate companies , requesting personal information or tricking victims into clicking on malicious links.

“Another recurring scam is that of cloned WhatsApp, in which scammers take control of a person’s account. To carry out this fraud, they can make your contacts believe that you have created a new profile. To do this, criminals access the victim’s contact list, steal the photo and contact acquaintances, requesting money”, warns Castilho.

Scam trends for 2025

According to Castilho, the scenario for next year promises to be even more dynamic than in 2024. “We are living in an important moment in the technological area. The development and adoption of new tools in all spheres will certainly bring with them new challenges for cybersecurity, but this does not mean that criminals will completely abandon old techniques, as many of them are highly effective and pose a great risk online, especially for those who think they will never fall for a scam”, he highlights.

One of the highlights will continue to be fraud using generative AI, as interfaces are on the rise and will continue to be exploited to create highly persuasive fraudulent communications, from emails to text messages. Furthermore, deepfakes are expected to become even more sophisticated than we have seen this year, enhancing financial scams and targeted attacks.

Another point of attention are attacks on digital wallets, which could become a preferred target for criminals. The popularization of digital payment systems and virtual wallets attracts scammers who use phishing and social engineering to steal credentials and gain access to bank accounts and financial services. The creativity of criminals in this segment adapts to new security measures, making user awareness essential.