Financial Crime World

Fraudulent Actor’s Goal: Obtaining Refund While Retaining Goods

In the world of payment fraud, one common tactic used by fraudulent actors is to obtain a refund while retaining the goods or services. This type of scheme can be especially damaging for businesses, as it not only results in financial loss but also erodes trust among customers.

Business Email Compromise: A Growing Concern

Another growing concern is business email compromise (BEC), where criminals impersonate company executives or vendors to trick employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive information. This type of fraud typically involves hacking or spoofing email accounts and using social-engineering tactics to manipulate the targeted employee.

Card-Not-Present Fraud: A Growing Threat

Card-not-present (CNP) fraud, which refers to fraudulent transactions made when the physical card is not present, such as online or over-the-phone purchases, is also on the rise. In this type of fraud, fraudulent actors use stolen credit card details to make unauthorized purchases, making it difficult for businesses to detect and prevent.

Combating Payment Fraud: A Comprehensive Approach

To combat payment fraud effectively, companies must adopt a comprehensive, proactive approach. This includes understanding the different types of fraud that they may encounter, assessing their unique risks and vulnerabilities, and implementing sweeping prevention and detection measures. By prioritizing payment security and constantly evolving their strategies and tactics, businesses can safeguard their financial integrity, protect their customers’ data, and maintain trust in their brand.

Prevention, Detection, and Response: A Guide

Here’s an overview of how businesses can prevent, detect, and respond to the most common types of payment fraud:

  • Phishing: Educate employees to recognize phishing emails, verify the identity of an email’s sender, and practice safe browsing habits.
  • Skimming: Inspect POS terminals and ATMs regularly for any signs of tampering or unauthorized devices.
  • Identity Theft: Implement robust data-security measures to protect customer information.

Developing a Payment Fraud Strategy

To develop a payment fraud strategy, businesses should conduct a comprehensive risk assessment, prioritize the most significant threats and vulnerabilities, outline a clear strategy that addresses these risks, allocate necessary resources, implement tactics and best practices, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their strategy, and adapt and improve it as needed.

Conclusion

Payment fraud is a growing concern for businesses, with fraudulent actors using various tactics to obtain refunds while retaining goods or services. To combat this threat, companies must adopt a comprehensive approach that includes understanding different types of fraud, assessing risks and vulnerabilities, implementing prevention and detection measures, and continuously evolving their strategies and tactics. By prioritizing payment security and maintaining trust in their brand, businesses can protect their financial integrity and customer data.