Half of all Latin Americans have already fallen victim to fraud that exploits impulsive buying, a figure that rises to 53% in Panama, 54% in Guatemala, and 52% in Costa Rica. Scammers use the following methods: • Social Media: Posts, ads, or profiles that imitate well-known stores. • Fraudulent Communications: Messages, emails, or calls that, in addition to promotions, warn of “issues with your order” or “payment failures” to provoke an immediate reaction. Every hasty click directs users to fraudulent sites, portals nearly identical to the originals that simulate a real shopping experience. At this stage, shared data, such as name, email, or banking information, is sent directly into the hands of scammers, who can clone cards, make unauthorized charges, or impersonate victims. In the Central American region, victimization from fraud involving bank accounts or cards is considerable: Guatemala records 37%, Costa Rica 34%, and Panama 21%. Carolina Mojica, Consumer Products Manager for the North and South American regions at Kaspersky, explained that phishing stands out as a massive, automated, and low-cost attack model. The report indicates that 29% of affected users in the region have lost between $100 and $500 to online shopping fraud. The numbers of Phishing Attacks in Central America are significant, with Costa Rica recording 7.9 million attacks (21,000 per day) and Panama reporting 6.3 million attacks (17,000 per day). Cybercrime on Black Friday: Phishing Attacks in Central America Lurk with Fake Offers • Panama reported 6.3 million attacks in 12 months, and 53% of its population has been victimized by fraud that exploits online shopping impulses, especially during Black Friday. Other countries in the region also experienced high volumes, such as Guatemala with 6.4 million, the Dominican Republic with 4 million, and El Salvador with 2.5 million incidents. Deception Tactics and Financial Losses To perpetrate theft, scammers use a chain of deception that begins with fake notifications and offers. These traps, promising incredible discounts, seek to activate the emotion of buying before the user can evaluate the situation. This attack modality, considered one of the most profitable for cybercrime, intensifies during events like Black Friday, where criminals seek to steal personal data, banking information, and money, taking advantage of the massive search for discounts. Filter Fake Offers Before Clicking One should be wary of messages that promise incredible promotions or create purchase pressure. Additionally, it is essential to keep devices and applications updated to avoid vulnerabilities and to avoid connecting to public networks when making purchase transactions. «Real protection starts before buying, with caution and verification from the first click», Carolina Mojica, Consumer Products Manager for the North and South American regions at Kaspersky, pointed out. Security Guide for Black Friday To help consumers reduce risks and take advantage of real promotions with peace of mind, Kaspersky shares a brief guide with three simple steps to avoid fraud, especially during Black Friday: 1. Passwords and banking data should never be shared via email, message, or call. 2. Before entering a site, one must verify that the page has a lock in the address bar and starts with https. 3. Buy from a protected device. Given that most purchases are made from mobile devices, it is recommended to install security solutions, such as Kaspersky Premium, that can detect phishing links and block fake sites.
