Tyrone Collins

Street crime in Brazil has evolved. Criminals are no longer satisfied with grabbing your phone and running. They want access to what’s inside—your banking apps, your PIX account, your email, and anything else that can be monetized instantly.

This is the reality of Arrastão Digital, a new form of hybrid robbery where attackers physically detain victims and force them to unlock their phones so they can drain bank accounts through PIX on the spot. It’s fast, coordinated, and highly effective.

What many tourists don’t realize is that setting up PIX “for convenience” may actually increase their risk. And many locals underestimate how quickly criminals can turn a phone unlock screen into financial damage.

I just wrote a full analysis breaking down how these crimes work, why they’re spreading, and what both visitors and Brazilian residents can do to protect themselves—before, during, and after an attack.

Read the full article:
👉 https://NordBridgeSecurity.com/insights
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