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Published: March 1, 2025 by Jon Mostajo, test user

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Unmasking Romance Scams

As Valentine’s Day approaches, hearts will melt, but some will inevitably be broken by romance scams. This season of love creates an opportune moment for scammers to prey on individuals feeling lonely or seeking connection. Financial institutions should take this time to warn customers about the heightened risks and encourage vigilance against fraud. In a tale as heart-wrenching as it is cautionary, a French woman named Anne was conned out of nearly $855,000 in a romance scam that lasted over a year. Believing she was communicating with Hollywood star Brad Pitt; Anne was manipulated by scammers who leveraged AI technology to impersonate the actor convincingly. Personalized messages, fabricated photos, and elaborate lies about financial needs made the scam seem credible. Anne’s story, though extreme, highlights the alarming prevalence and sophistication of romance scams in today’s digital age. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), nearly 70,000 Americans reported romance scams in 2022, with losses totaling $1.3 billion—an average of $4,400 per victim. These scams, which play on victims’ emotions, are becoming increasingly common and devastating, targeting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Financial institutions have a crucial role in protecting their customers from these schemes. The lifecycle of a romance scam Romance scams follow a consistent pattern: Feigned connection: Scammers create fake profiles on social media or dating platforms using attractive photos and minimal personal details. Building trust: Through lavish compliments, romantic conversations, and fabricated sob stories, scammers forge emotional bonds with their targets. Initial financial request: Once trust is established, the scammer asks for small financial favors, often citing emergencies. Escalation: Requests grow larger, with claims of dire situations such as medical emergencies or legal troubles. Disappearance: After draining the victim’s funds, the scammer vanishes, leaving emotional and financial devastation in their wake. Lloyds Banking Group reports that men made up 52% of romance scam victims in 2023, though women lost more on average (£9,083 vs. £5,145). Individuals aged 55-64 were the most susceptible, while those aged 65-74 faced the largest losses, averaging £13,123 per person. Techniques scammers use Romance scammers are experts in manipulation. Common tactics include: Fabricated sob stories: Claims of illness, injury, or imprisonment. Investment opportunities: Offers to “teach” victims about investing. Military or overseas scenarios: Excuses for avoiding in-person meetings. Gift and delivery scams: Requests for money to cover fake customs fees. How financial institutions can help Banks and financial institutions are on the frontlines of combating romance scams. By leveraging technology and adopting proactive measures, they can intercept fraud before it causes irreparable harm. 1. Customer education and awareness Conduct awareness campaigns to educate clients about common scam tactics. Provide tips on recognizing fake profiles and unsolicited requests. Share real-life stories, like Anne’s, to highlight the risks. 2. Advanced data capture solutions Implement systems that gather and analyze real-time customer data, such as IP addresses, browsing history, and device usage patterns. Use behavioral analytics to detect anomalies in customer actions, such as hesitation or rushed transactions, which may indicate stress or coercion. 3. AI and machine learning Utilize AI-driven tools to analyze vast datasets and identify suspicious patterns. Deploy daily adaptive models to keep up with emerging fraud trends. 4. Real-time fraud interception Establish rules and alerts to flag unusual transactions. Intervene with personalized messages before transfers occur, asking “Do you know and trust this person?” Block transactions if fraud is suspected, ensuring customers’ funds are secure. Collaborating for greater impact Financial institutions cannot combat romance scams alone. Partnerships with social media platforms, AI companies, and law enforcement are essential. Social media companies must shut down fake profiles proactively, while regulatory frameworks should enable banks to share information about at-risk customers. Conclusion Romance scams exploit the most vulnerable aspects of human nature: the desire for love and connection. Stories like Anne’s underscore the emotional and financial toll these scams take on victims. However, with robust technological solutions and proactive measures, financial institutions can play a pivotal role in protecting their customers. By staying ahead of fraud trends and educating clients, banks can ensure that the pursuit of love remains a source of joy, not heartbreak. Learn more

Feb 05,2025 by Alex Lvoff

How Identity Protection for Your Employees Can Reduce Your Data Breach Risk

As data breaches become an ever-growing threat to businesses, the role of employees in maintaining cybersecurity has never been more critical. Did you know that 82% of data breaches involve the human element1 , such as phishing, stolen credentials, or social engineering tactics? These statistics reveal a direct connection between employee identity theft and business vulnerabilities. In this blog, we’ll explore why protecting your employees’ identities is essential to reducing data breach risk, how employee-focused identity protection programs, and specifically employee identity protection, improve both cybersecurity and employee engagement, and how businesses can implement comprehensive solutions to safeguard sensitive data and enhance overall workforce well-being. The Rising Challenge: Data Breaches and Employee Identity Theft The past few years have seen an exponential rise in data breaches. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there were 1,571 data compromises in the first half of 2024, impacting more than 1.1 billion individuals – a 490% increase year over year2. A staggering proportion of these breaches originated from compromised employee credentials or phishing attacks. Explore Experian's Employee Benefits Solutions The Link Between Employee Identity Theft and Cybersecurity Risks Phishing and Social EngineeringPhishing attacks remain one of the top strategies used by cybercriminals. These attacks often target employees by exploiting personal information stolen through identity theft. For example, a cybercriminal who gains access to an employee's compromised email or social accounts can use this information to craft realistic phishing messages, tricking them into divulging sensitive company credentials. Compromised Credentials as Entry PointsCompromised employee credentials were responsible for 16% of breaches and were the costliest attack vector, averaging $4.5 million per breach3. When an employee’s identity is stolen, it can give hackers a direct line to your company’s network, jeopardizing sensitive data and infrastructure. The Cost of DowntimeBeyond the financial impact, data breaches disrupt operations, erode customer trust, and harm your brand. For businesses, the average downtime from a breach can last several weeks – time that could otherwise be spent growing revenue and serving clients. Why Businesses Need to Prioritize Employee Identity Protection Protecting employee identities isn’t just a personal benefit – it’s a strategic business decision. Here are three reasons why identity protection for employees is essential to your cybersecurity strategy: 1. Mitigate Human Risk in Cybersecurity Employee mistakes, often resulting from phishing scams or misuse of credentials, are a leading cause of breaches. By equipping employees with identity protection services, businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of stolen information being exploited by fraudsters and cybercriminals. 2. Boost Employee Engagement and Financial Wellness Providing identity protection as part of an employee benefits package signals that you value your workforce’s security and well-being. Beyond cybersecurity, offering such protections can enhance employee loyalty, reduce stress, and improve productivity. Employers who pair identity protection with financial wellness tools can empower employees to monitor their credit, secure their finances, and protect against fraud, all of which contribute to a more engaged workforce. 3. Enhance Your Brand Reputation A company’s cybersecurity practices are increasingly scrutinized by customers, stakeholders, and regulators. When you demonstrate that you prioritize not just protecting your business, but also safeguarding your employees’ identities, you position your brand as a leader in security and trustworthiness. Practical Strategies to Protect Employee Identities and Reduce Data Breach Risk How can businesses take actionable steps to mitigate risks and protect their employees? Here are some best practices: Offer Comprehensive Identity Protection Solutions A robust identity protection program should include: Real-time monitoring for identity theft Alerts for suspicious activity on personal accounts Data and device protection to protect personal information and devices from identity theft, hacking and other online threats Fraud resolution services for affected employees Credit monitoring and financial wellness tools Leading providers like Experian offer customizable employee benefits packages that provide proactive identity protection, empowering employees to detect and resolve potential risks before they escalate. Invest in Employee Education and Training Cybersecurity is only as strong as your least-informed employee. Provide regular training sessions and provide resources to help employees recognize phishing scams, understand the importance of password hygiene, and learn how to avoid oversharing personal data online. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) MFA adds an extra layer of security, requiring employees to verify their identity using multiple credentials before accessing sensitive systems. This can drastically reduce the risk of compromised credentials being misused. Partner with a Trusted Identity Protection Provider Experian’s suite of employee benefits solutions combines identity protection with financial wellness tools, helping your employees stay secure while also boosting their financial confidence. Only Experian can offer these integrated solutions with unparalleled expertise in both identity protection and credit monitoring. Conclusion: Identity Protection is the Cornerstone of Cybersecurity The rising tide of data breaches means that businesses can no longer afford to overlook the role of employee identity in cybersecurity. By prioritizing identity protection for employees, organizations can reduce the risk of costly breaches and also create a safer, more engaged, and financially secure workforce. Ready to protect your employees and your business? Take the next step toward safeguarding your company’s future. Learn more about Experian’s employee benefits solutions to see how identity protection and financial wellness tools can transform your workplace security and employee engagement. Learn more 1 2024 Experian Data Breach Response Guide 2 Identity Theft Resource Center. H1 2024 Data Breach Analysis 3 2023 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report

Jan 28,2025 by Stefani Wendel

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Effective Identity Risk Management: Protect Your Business and Your Consumers

The risk of identity theft continues to grow yearly for consumers and businesses alike. Identity theft and fraud cases have nearly tripled over the past ten years, with cybercrime losses totaling more than $10 billion this year alone.[1] An effective way for organizations to combat these threats is to implement a policy of identity risk management. Identity risk management Identity risk management refers to the methods used by organizations to anticipate potential fraud threats, protect themselves and their consumers from those vulnerabilities, resolve any fraud incidents that may occur, and prevent future fraud events from happening again. Businesses can implement these methods through a variety of tools and technologies designed to detect fraud risks and mitigate them as quickly and efficiently as possible.  By recognizing the risks of identity theft, helping consumers who fall victim to fraud, and preventing identity theft in the future, financial institutions can take an effective approach to identity risk management and ensure that their business is protected and their consumers stay safe. Recognizing risks of identity theft Identifying high-risk situations Inform consumers about high-risk situations that could lead to identity theft. Emphasize the dangers of data breaches, cyber-attacks, phishing scams, and social engineering tactics. Advise them to be cautious with personal documents and to avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. By raising awareness, financial institutions can help consumers stay vigilant. Risk-based authentication solutions can also help minimize risk with adaptive authentication methods. With sophisticated risk assessment and a combination of front- and back-end authentication methods, organizations can optimize the consumer experience and their identity risk management simultaneously. Protecting vulnerable information Guide consumers on safeguarding their most vulnerable information. Explain the importance of protecting Social Security numbers, credit card and bank account details, PINs, passwords, and medical records. Offer tips on securing this information and the potential consequences of it falling into the wrong hands. Providing practical advice, such as using password managers, enabling multifactor authentication, and regularly updating passwords, can significantly enhance your consumers’ security. Additionally, offering secure storage solutions for sensitive documents can further protect their information. Helping consumers who fall victim to fraud Providing immediate support If a consumer falls victim to identity theft, financial institutions should be ready to provide immediate support. Establish a clear protocol for reporting fraud and ensure that consumer service representatives are trained to handle such situations. Assist consumers in contacting their banks and credit card companies to report fraud and prevent further unauthorized transactions. Having a dedicated fraud response team can streamline this process and provide consumers with the reassurance that their issue is being handled by experts. This team can also offer personalized advice and support, making the recovery process less daunting for the victim. Helping restore identity To support consumers in the process of restoring their identity, financial institutions can offer identity restoration services as part of their consumer support. These services can include helping consumers navigate the complexities of repairing their credit, disputing fraudulent charges, and securing their accounts against future threats. Preventing identity theft in the future Enhancing personal security measures Encourage consumers to strengthen their personal security measures. Promote the use of strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts. Advise them to regularly update and patch their software and devices. Offer services like secure document shredding to prevent thieves from accessing sensitive information. Financial institutions can also strengthen their identity risk management efforts by implementing robust security measures within their own systems. Demonstrating a commitment to security can build trust and encourage consumers to adopt similar practices. Implementing monitoring and alerts Financial institutions can offer identity theft protection services that include regular monitoring of credit reports and account alerts for suspicious activities. Educate consumers on the importance of closely monitoring their financial statements and bills to detect any unauthorized transactions early. Providing tools such as mobile apps that offer real-time alerts for suspicious activities can empower consumers to take immediate action if something seems amiss. Additionally, offering complimentary credit monitoring services can add an extra layer of protection. Leveraging data Data and analytics are among the most powerful tools at a financial institution’s disposal. By leveraging advanced analytics, institutions can identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of transaction data in real- time, flagging suspicious behavior before it escalates into fraud. This proactive approach not only helps in early detection but also minimizes the impact on the consumer. Moreover, data analytics can streamline and improve the consumer experience by reducing false positives and ensuring that legitimate transactions are not unnecessarily flagged. This balance between security and convenience is crucial in maintaining consumer trust and satisfaction. Financial institutions can use these insights to tailor their fraud prevention strategies, using digital identity management solutions to provide more value to consumers. Behavioral analytics Fraud detection technology, such as behavioral analytics, is continually evolving as hacking methods become increasingly sophisticated. Insights from behavioral analytics can help mitigate fraud in real time and prevent identity theft, account takeover, and bot attacks — empowering businesses to provide a seamless consumer experience. Experian’s recent acquisition of NeuroID, an industry leader in behavioral analytics, means we now offer even more modern and frictionless capabilities, enhancing our fraud risk suite by providing a new layer of insight into digital behavioral signals and analytics throughout the consumer lifecycle. This additional level of defense against fraud can empower businesses to ensure that their consumers are safe and secure online. Identity management solutions Consumers are more at risk of identity theft than ever before, and it’s the responsibility of financial institutions to provide protection and support to the people they do business with. Offering identity management solutions can help organizations feel safe and secure about their consumer and business data without adding friction or functioning outside of their risk tolerance. Experian’s identity management tools allow financial institutions to confirm the identities of businesses and consumers with minimal friction, balancing end-user experience with enhanced security. This allows organizations to easily manage authentication events with confidence. Next steps Financial institutions have a vital role in helping consumers manage their risk of identity theft. By recognizing vulnerabilities, providing support to victims, and implementing preventive measures, financial institutions can protect their consumers’ personal information and financial well-being. Proactive identity risk management not only benefits consumers but also builds trust and loyalty with your brand. Protect your business from identity fraud today. Discover how Experian’s cutting-edge identity risk management solutions can safeguard your consumers and streamline your operations. Learn more about our identity management solutions This article includes content created by an AI language model and is intended to provide general information. [1] IdentityTheft.org. 2024 Identity Theft Facts and Statistics.

Nov 05,2024 by Brian Funicelli

Generational Preferences: How Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers Shape the Automotive Market

Summary:  Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers each have unique automotive buying preferences and your strategies to reach each generation should reflect these preferences. The automotive landscape is shaped by the distinct preferences of different generations. From Gen Z to Boomers, each generation brings unique buying habits that automotive marketers must understand to stay competitive. Below is a brief overview of the key insights from the latest reports on Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. To learn more about how to market to each generation, download the respective playbook. Gen Z (Born 1996–2015) Gen Z buyers are digital natives who prefer compact vehicles. The Honda Civic leads in market share for this group, showcasing their preference for smaller, fuel-efficient cars. They rely heavily on digital platforms for their research, with 73% of impressions delivered through Connected TV (CTV). Millennials (Born 1981–1995) Millennials value technology and eco-friendly options. Crossovers (CUVs) are their top choice, making up 50.2% of new vehicle registrations. Electric and hybrid vehicles are also popular, reflecting their environmental consciousness. Popular models include the Honda Civic and Toyota RAV4. Gen X (Born 1965–1980) Gen X buyers favor practicality and reliability, gravitating toward SUVs and trucks. The Ford F-150 is the top model among this group, and they are more likely to invest in luxury or exotic vehicles than younger generations. Boomers (Born 1946–1964) Boomers remain loyal to traditional brands, with a strong preference for non-luxury and luxury cars, such as the Honda CR-V and Ford F-150. They also favor gas-powered vehicles over electric, though hybrid options are gaining ground. Summary Understanding generational differences is crucial to developing effective marketing strategies that resonate with each group’s unique preferences. For a more detailed generational analysis, download the full report. Experian Automotive is here to help you with your marketing needs. If you’d like to learn more about our solutions and how we can support you, contact us below.

Nov 04,2024 by Kirsten Von Busch

Unlock the Power of Open Banking: Insights from Our Latest Webinar

The open banking revolution is transforming the financial services landscape, offering banks and financial institutions unprecedented access to consumer-permissioned data. However, during our recent webinar, “Navigating Open Banking: Strategies for Banks and Financial Institutions,” over 78% of attendees stated that they do not currently have an open banking strategy in place. This highlights a significant gap in the industry. By tapping into consumer-permissioned data, you can develop more personalized products, streamline credit decisioning, and improve overall customer engagement. With the right strategies, open banking offers a pathway to growth, innovation, and enhanced customer experiences. Here’s a snippet from the webinar’s Q&A session with Ashley Knight, Senior Vice President of Product Management, who shared her perspective on open banking trends and opportunities. Q: What specific analytic skill is the most important when working on open banking data?A: The ability to parse and transform raw data, a deep understanding of data mining, experience in credit risk, and general modeling skills to improve underwriting. Q: What lessons did the U.S. learn from the experience of other countries that implemented open banking? A: The use cases are common globally; typical uses of open banking data include second-chance underwriting to help score more consumers and customer management, which involves assessing cashflow data to leverage on an existing portfolio (first-party data). This can be used in various ways, such as cross-sell, up-sell, credit line increase, and growing/retaining deposits. Q: Does Experian have access to all a consumer’s bank accounts in cases where the consumer has multiple accounts?A: Data access is always driven by consumer permission unless the organization owns this data (i.e., first-party data). Where first-party data is unavailable, we collect it through clients or lenders who send it to us directly, having gained the proper consent. Yes, we can intake data from multiple accounts and provide a categorization and attribute calculation. Q: Where does the cashflow data come from? Is it only credit card spending?A: It includes all spending data from bank accounts, checking accounts, credit cards, savings, debit cards, etc. All of this can be categorized, and we can calculate attributes and/or scores based on that data. Q: What is the coverage of Experian’s cashflow data, and how is it distributed across risk bands?A: Cashflow data moves through Experian directly from consumer permissioning for B2B use cases or from institutions with first-party data. We perform analytics and calculate attributes on that portfolio. Don’t miss the chance to learn from our industry leaders on how to navigate the complexities of open banking. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting to explore its potential, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge you need to stay ahead. Watch on-demand recording Learn more Meet our expert Ashley Knight, Senior VP of Product Management, Experian Ashley leads our product management team focusing on alternative data, scores, and open banking. She fosters innovation and drives financial inclusion by using new data, such as cash flow, analytics, and Experian’s deep expertise in credit.

Oct 29,2024 by Laura Burrows