Whenever online shopping is mentioned, there is no way to avoid mentioning something that is the terror of both consumers and retailers: frauds. And it's not for nothing, since data from the report "The State of Fraud and Abuse 2024" shows that there is a projection for losses from these virtual scams to exceed $343 billion by 2027. However, in the same way that wrongdoers are becoming increasingly creative when it comes to developing criminal initiatives, companies have also taken excellent steps to ensure a safe environment for their consumers. In this way, we can say that 2025 will be a year in which fraud in e-commerce will decrease
A study by BigDataCorp showed that the digital security index of Brazilian e-commerce reached over 95% at the beginning of 2024 thanks to the increased use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), that uses encryption to protect the data of internet users. Furthermore, the consumer themselves is becoming more alert and has been able to identify more easily when a transaction is fraudulent.According to a survey by Opinion Box, 91% of users have already abandoned an online purchase precisely due to distrust of scams
Another point in favor of combating fraud is Artificial Intelligence. Through its use combined with data analysis and machine learning, for example, many retailers are able to set standards for a normal transaction and act proactively when they see a suspicious purchase. Technology can be based on various topics such as recurrence, purchase location, most used payment method, customer profile, etc
Furthermore, AI is capable of profiling suspicious users, blocking your access to the e-commerce platform and preventing future scams. In this case, the technology, also related to machine learning, is based on various information such as online behavior and profile analysis, monitoring email address, IP and phone. With this data, the retailer is able to trace the intentions of that individual, checking the possibility of identity theft, account invasions and even the history of default
Due to this range of possibilities,a survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and SAS shows that 46% of anti-fraud professionals in Latin America already use AI and machine learning in their daily work. Furthermore,a study by EY indicates that technology has approximately 90% accuracy in spam detection, malware and network intrusions.
While there is still no complete data on the amount of fraud in e-commerce during the year 2024, since we are still at the beginning of 2025, 2023 saw a significant drop of 29% in scam attempts on these platforms, according to data from the 2024 Fraud X-Ray survey. This ignites a hope, showing that technology has been an ally and contributes to a more optimistic outlook for the sector
In this way, we can say that the fight against fraud in the online environment is becoming increasingly effective, with technologies that inhibit the actions of criminals. Although it seems quite challenging, the outlook for 2025 is positive, with greater confidence and security on the part of retailers. As difficult as it is to ascertain whether fraud will actually decrease this year, we are convinced that players are updating themselves so that online scams become an increasingly rare reality, providing an excellent customer experience on the platforms
