The data relating to the first half of 2024 highlight how the panorama of electronic payments In Italy it is characterized by a total stability of the fraud rate, but with significant differences between the different tools. If the transfers are confirmed a safe payment method, cards And electronic coin they require greater attention from users. Let’s see the data that emerged from the latest report of Bankitalia.
Electronic cards and coins the most affected by fraud
In the first half of 2024, the rate of fraud in electronic payments In Italy he remained overall stable. However, Bankitalia’s analysis reveals a varied situation, with some more secure payment methods than others.
During this period, the value of fraudulent transfers in Italy amounted to approximately 50 million (+67% on an annual basis compared to the first six months of 2022), fraudulent transactions with payment cards a 33 million (+4%), those with electronic money a 13.1 million (+35%).
If in the same period the fraudulent operations with paper and electronic money amounted, respectively, a 384.327 And 232.75, The number of wire transfers were Less than 13 thousand. The latter form of payment proves to be the safest tool, with a fraud calculated on the value of the transactions extremely low and stable over time (0.001%), while for the electronic coin It stands on 0.025%.
Although it is higher, this value is decreasing than in the past, suggesting an improvement in the safety of these tools. However, the risk of fraud remains higher than other payment methods, as Bankitalia reveals.
Although bank transfers are the payment tool less subject to fraud in terms of frequency, when they occur, the average amount of fraudulent operations is significantly higher (3,500 euros) compared to other payment methods. In particular, for payment cards the average amount of a fraud is of about 86 euros, higher than that of electronic money (39 euros), but lower than ATM withdrawals (about 462 euros).
The types of fraud
The legislation that regulates electronic payments attention attention to the distinction between two main types of fraudulent operations, based on the consent or not of the account holder:
- Unauthorized operations: these are transactions that are carried out without the consent of the account holder. In these cases, the person can contest the operation and obtain a refund;
- Woe in which the customer is induced to pay: in this type of fraud, the customer is deceived with different techniques (such as phishing) and induced to make a payment in favor of the fraud.
In the case of bank transfers, the prevailing type of fraud is the manipulation of the payer. This category, constantly increasing, represents a significant percentage of the total, both in value and volume. In detail, in the first half of 2024, it represented 74% (and 65% of the number of operations).
As for the payment cards, the electronic currency and the withdrawals from ATM, the prevailing fraud is the issue of payment by the fraud. In the first half of 2024, as well as in previous periods, at least 90% of the value and total volume of fraudulent operations was attributable to this type.
According to the report, in the “not remote” payment operations, the most widespread fraud is the theft or loss of paper. In the first half of 2024, this category represented 47% of fraudulent operations in value (and 69% in volume).
In the “remote” payment operations, we find instead the counterfeiting and the data theft, followed by the category Another payment of payment from the fraud (8% both in value and volume), which also includes in this case the cases of “account theft”.
