The digital landscape is under siege by a new breed of fraudsters who operate in the shadows, using advanced technology to create invisible synthetic identities that evade traditional security measures.
These criminals leverage tools like deepfakes and AI to fabricate personas, making it crucial for everyone to stay informed and proactive.
With Brazil leading Latin America in such cases, understanding and combating these threats has never been more urgent.
The Alarming Rise of Synthetic Frauds
Synthetic frauds involve the creation of fake identities through sophisticated means.
Deepfakes and synthetic identities have seen a dramatic increase, with Brazil experiencing a 126% growth from 2024 to 2025.
This surge positions the country as a regional leader, accounting for 39% of cases in Latin America.
Globally, 28% of fraud attempts in 2025 are highly sophisticated, up from 10% in 2024.
Key statistics highlight the severity of this issue:
- Tentativas de fraude no Brasil reached 6,937,832 in the first half of 2025, a 29.5% increase from the previous year.
- This translates to an average of one fraud attempt every 2.3 seconds, showcasing the relentless pace of attacks.
- In January 2025, a record 1.242 million attempts were recorded, emphasizing the growing threat.
- Deepfakes in countries like Guatemala and Mexico grew by 400-500%, indicating a regional escalation.
- 68% of Brazilian users were victims in 2025, with many experiencing hacked social media accounts or becoming money mules.
Understanding the Invisible Enemy
Fraudsters use a variety of techniques to execute synthetic frauds, making them hard to detect.
These methods often involve AI-generated documents and cloned voices to bypass verification systems.
Manipulation of telemetry data, such as from devices and cameras, further complicates identification.
The primary types of synthetic frauds include:
- Deepfakes utilizing voice cloning and fake videos for real-time verification scams.
- Advanced data manipulation to alter device fingerprints and API calls.
- Synthetic profiles built from stolen or fabricated information.
- Social engineering tactics paired with QR code frauds and chip cloning.
- Projections suggest that by 2026, AI agents might execute end-to-end frauds autonomously.
The banking sector is the main target, but online payments and mobile services are equally vulnerable.
With 100% of Latin American companies affected by phishing, the need for robust defenses is clear.
A Comparative Look: Brazil, Latin America, and Global
To grasp the scale, it helps to compare key metrics across regions.
The table below summarizes critical data for 2025, highlighting disparities and common challenges.
This comparison reveals that Brazil faces unique pressures, with fraud rates above the global average of 5.4%.
Economic impacts are staggering, with potential annual losses in Latin America reaching up to US$ 65 billion if unchecked.
Building Defenses: Technologies and Strategies
Combating synthetic frauds requires a multi-layered approach that leverages cutting-edge technology.
AI and machine learning are essential for analyzing behavioral patterns and detecting anomalies.
Technologies like liveness detection and multibiometric systems enhance security significantly.
Key prevention technologies include:
- Behavioral analysis to monitor phone usage, cursor movements, and typing patterns.
- Continuous real-time monitoring with risk assessment of devices.
- Layered verification processes that combine multiple security steps.
- Hybrid models used by 71% of Latin American companies, though manual processes still pose delays.
For practical defense, here are actionable recommendations:
- Adopt adaptive strategies with AI, such as automated alerts and biometric solutions.
- Prioritize digital education to teach strong password practices and skepticism towards unsolicited messages.
- Invest in antifraud training and compliance with regulations like Brazil's LGPD.
- Encourage reporting, as only 43% of frauds are reported to authorities, hindering collective action.
Despite cybersecurity being important for 84% of businesses, budget constraints often limit implementation.
Looking Ahead: Future Trends and Proactive Measures
The future of fraud combat is shaped by rapid technological evolution and increasing sophistication.
Generative AI tools will likely make frauds even harder to detect by mimicking voices and authentications.
Businesses must stay two steps ahead, using AI as a dual weapon against fraudsters.
Emerging trends to watch include:
- The expansion of the fraud detection market, driven by mobile banking and payment apps in Brazil.
- A shift towards proactive defense mechanisms that anticipate attacks rather than react to them.
- Regional growth in fraud cases, with São Paulo leading but expansion into North and Northeast Brazil.
- Increased collaboration between governments and startups to foster innovation in security.
To stay protected, individuals and companies should regularly update their security protocols.
Emphasizing continuous innovation and vigilance is key to outsmarting invisible fraudsters.
By integrating advanced technologies and fostering a culture of awareness, we can build a safer digital ecosystem.
