Visa report highlights emerging scams targeting consumers and travelers

A new Visa report sheds light on new issues. Scams targeting consumers And the travelers put a new spin on an old tactic for deceiving victims.

According to Visa's State of Fraud: Fall 2024 Semi-Annual Threat Report, criminals use stolen payment information that can be resold or use card numbers to purchase gift cards or physical products. We have seen a resurgence in physical theft over the past six months. For remittance.

A new style of physical theft known as “digital pickpockethas also become increasingly common over the past year, according to the report. Fraudsters use mobile POS devices to carry out the theft, tapping the device into an unsuspecting consumer's wallet to initiate a payment, often in crowded locations. Areas where contact may go unnoticed.

“Consumers should be aware of their surroundings and be wary of digital pickpockets,” Michael Jabara, Visa's senior vice president and global head of fraud services, told FOX Business. “We target people who are distracted by what's going on.” Therefore, tourists in crowded areas are the main targets. ”

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“People should also consider turning on real-time purchase alerts for their accounts, so they can immediately notify their bank if they become a victim of digital pickpocketing. You can help not only yourself, but also others who may be victims of scammers,” Jabara added.

Fraudsters are also ramping up one-time password phishing scams as a way to bypass two-factor authentication protocols meant to prevent unauthorized access to accounts. The Visa report notes that the prevalence of generative messages makes fraud more persuasive. Artificial intelligence (AI) They use it to spy on their victims, including more persuasive emails and other communications.

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Cybercriminals are using fake airline websites to scam travelers. (Photo by Annette Riedl/picture Alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Visa has discovered that attackers are looking to exploit consumer benefits and take advantage of the busy travel season. travel planning. The report states that common scams include fraudulent websites that “spoof” or imitate the websites of major airlines and attempt to lure consumers with discounted deals. They point out that after making a purchase, fraudsters are further tempted by additional charges for in-flight services before discontinuing the service. Victim.

Scammers also impersonate airline employees to send fake cancellation emails and also request personal payment information so they can book a new flight.

Jabara said travelers should not only be wary of such scams, but also “be cautious in crowded areas where distraction tactics are often used to steal belongings.”

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Travelers should be wary of property theft and identity fraud from scammers posing as airline officials online. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images/Getty Images)

He also shared some best practices for consumers to follow to protect themselves from scams and scams, and what to do if, unfortunately, theft occurs.

“First, consumers should set up purchase alerts to monitor their transactions and immediately alert them if something goes wrong; two-factor authentication Protect any code like a password. “Consumers also need to stay informed about the latest scams to be aware of what scammers are taking advantage of,” Jabara said.

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“If consumers see anything suspicious in a report, they should contact their financial institution immediately. After reporting fraud, they should update their passwords and ensure that two-factor authentication is properly set up. It is an important step to ensure that if theft occurs, it will be reported to local law enforcement as well.''