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Just a couple of notes: Pix is not an app but a platform (like INTERAC in Canada). It works with most banks and most people with bank account now have it. Not
by hugocbp 4y ago
Just a couple of notes:
Pix is not an app but a platform (like INTERAC in Canada). It works with most banks and most people with bank account now have it.
Not only that, it is not just a QR app. You can send money to any key, that can be:
- An email
- CPF (unique SIN / SSN number that in Brazil is not considered secret)
- Telephone number
- Randomly generated key
The transactions are also, for the most part, instantaneous (think 1-2 seconds) and irreversible (as far as I know).
Even if you only have in your phone apps for banks without a Pix key, it is trivial and fast to create one. Unfortunately the only way out of this is to never have on your phone a bank app (and they can even force you to download one on the spot if you are actually kidnapped).
Also, from someone who was carjacked in the past in Brazil: this has always happened here. I think it is simply the delivery method that is changing. Unfortunately, ban those apps and the bad guys will just go back to randomly kidnapping / carjacking people on the streets of rich neighbourhoods like they did in the past.
- InCityDreams 4y ago[flagged]
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- potatototoo99 4y agoJesus Christ.
- hugocbp 4y agoJust to be clear: not everyone on the streets of a rich neighbourhood is rich. This is just where they go to try to commit those crimes. Actually some of those bad guys get so frustrated when they end up snatching someone that is not rich that they often physically hurt them or worst. So your comment is very out of place.
- the-smug-one 4y agoYou're on HN. You're probably rich relative to the would-be robbers in Brazil.
- drukenemo 4y agoAgree with your comments, but as a Brazilian too, I feel the need to emphasize that although this kind of thing happens, it’s not that high of a risk that it will happen to you. I’m from Rio and personally don’t know anybody who has suffered such crime. I felt like adding this comment because “this has always happened here” could be interpreted as “this happens all the time to a lot of people”.
- hugocbp 4y agoI think that the risk part is relative. I've been robbed 8 times in 30 years in Brazil. From having my watch stolen at 14 by someone with a broken glass to the carjack I talked about previously. My family and close friends, for the most part, have been robbed, kidnapped or carjacked 0 times. It is a numbers game. I, unfortunately, have been on the unlucky side. It is one of the main reasons I left for Canada. So while I do agree that is not something that happens every day to your circle of known people, it does happen more often than it should even if you are not on the high crime zones. And I'm not even from Rio or the most dangerous cities, I'm from Belo Horizonte which, for Brazilian standards, is actually considered more on the safer side for bigger cities.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- wintogreen74 4y ago>> It is one of the main reasons I left for Canada. ... where we have to remind people not to leaving their running, unlocked cars unattended or they might get stolen. Must have been quite a change for you!
- bharathyes 4y agocan running cars be locked without leaving the keyfob inside?
- cartoonworld 4y ago
- wbl 4y agoDo they not have Reg E and KYC in Brazil? Seems like taking a ransom by electronic payment should lead to very fast arrest when you try to move the money from that account.
- miohtama 4y agoThey do and this and PIX payments are discussed in the article. Unfortunately with PIX and like with everything else enforcement is a snail pace compared to the move of the funds. You might get a money mole but you don't stop the underlying crime.
- rodrigodlu 4y agoThe person that received the money has some days (7 I think) to send money back with 1 button click on the his Bank App without knowing the account details it needs to send back. So yeah, you need to contact the person on the other side.