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In the ever-evolving landscape of global finance, banks and financial institutions find themselves navigating a world fraught with more risks than ever before. The Identity Theft Resource Center’s report from the third quarter of 2022 painted a stark picture: fraudulent activities are on the rise. Over 105 million individuals fell victim to data breaches during this period, marking a staggering 72% surge compared to the first half of the year. With 474 data compromises reported in Q3 alone, the figures represented an increase of over 14% from Q2 and more than 17% from Q1 2022.

 

The battle against fraud is intensifying and becoming increasingly expensive. The 2022 Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report, crafted by ACFE and sponsored by SAS, revealed that the majority of organisations are already allocating funds to broaden their technological arsenal in the fight against fraud. According to survey participants, 60% anticipated either a significant (17%) or slight (43%) budget hike for anti-fraud technology within the next two years.

 

Yet, the path to integrating new anti-fraud technology is riddled with obstacles, primarily financial constraints, as highlighted by the ACFE study. A significant 78% of respondents identified budget issues as a primary or moderate challenge within their organisations. The journey of adopting new technology is fraught with difficulties, both during planning and execution.

 

Thomas French, a seasoned industry advisor for fraud at SAS, emphasises the necessity for a nuanced approach. “Fraud doesn’t disappear; it’s constantly evolving. Fraud executives must continuously invest in comprehensive anti-fraud technology,” he asserts. “A mere business case won’t suffice to justify the expenditure. Organisations must delve deeper to assess and account for fraud’s impact on consumers.”

 

As businesses strive to enhance customer experiences while safeguarding against fraud, they must adeptly harness and manage diverse data sources—both structured and unstructured. Typically, anti-fraud data analytics initiatives encompass internal data, public records, law enforcement or government watchlists, social media insights, and other third-party information.

 

In this complex narrative of financial security, adapting and evolving strategies are essential to outmanoeuvre fraudsters and effectively protect consumers.

Once upon a time, in the ever-evolving world of finance, institutions faced a relentless adversary: fraud and financial crimes. Yet, in this challenging landscape, a beacon of hope emerged in the form of cutting-edge technologies designed to prevent and detect such deceitful activities with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. This tale reveals four transformative ways to bolster an organisation’s defence against these risks.

 

As digital channels became more prevalent worldwide, cunning criminals devised new methods to exploit them. A group of wise analysts from Javelin ventured into uncharted territories, examining digital fraud trends across twelve diverse countries. Through their journey, they uncovered eight key strategies to battle this menace. Their findings highlighted the indispensable role of machine learning and biometrics in the fight against digital fraud.

 

To delve deeper into this saga, one might consider obtaining the full report.

 

In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and its powerful ally, machine learning (ML), organisations have discovered a formidable tool to enhance the precision and effectiveness of fraud detection. This dynamic duo enabled companies to uncover fraudulent activities swiftly and preemptively. Machine learning, a branch of AI, proved itself invaluable in refining both the accuracy and efficiency of real-time fraud detection and prevention strategies. By employing machine learning, vigilant monitoring became a steadfast guardian against financial crimes.

 

Supervised machine learning algorithms embarked on a quest of self-discovery, learning from data’s hidden patterns. They adeptly identified anomalies, applying their newfound wisdom to fresh challenges. Meanwhile, unsupervised machine learning ventured into uncharted territory, unveiling suspicious risks that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Without predefined targets, it diligently searched for irregularities within the data.

Together, these algorithms formed an ensemble model, casting a protective net over existing dangers while anticipating emerging threats. This formidable approach not only minimised false positives but also revealed previously unknown risks lurking in the shadows.

 

In one remarkable instance, SAS introduced a groundbreaking digital payment model that swiftly triumphed in real-time fraud detection. It managed to uncover 50% of fraudulent activities while alerting on a mere 0.5% of transactions, all with remarkably few false alarms.

 

Thus, with the power of machine learning at their fingertips, anti-fraud systems stood ready to automate and adapt, ever-vigilant in the ongoing battle against financial deception.

 

Once upon a time, in the ever-evolving realm of finance, a new era dawned with the advent of machine learning, casting a transformative spell over anti-fraud systems. Equipped with machine learning’s magical prowess, these systems embarked on an extraordinary journey to weave intricate webs of protection against fraud automatically.

 

In this enchanted land, machine learning took on the role of a wise sage, tirelessly examining vast oceans of data to craft and refine the sacred rules of detection and alert. With its keen analytical eye, it ensured that these rules remained as fresh as the morning dew, ever ready to outsmart the cunning fraudsters lurking in the shadows.

 

The tale didn’t end there, for machine learning was also a master craftsman, skillfully selecting the most precise models for detecting deceit. By wielding a harmonious blend of techniques, it achieved unparalleled accuracy in uncovering fraudulent schemes. This innovative approach allowed the emergence of modern marvels like gradient boosting and support vector machines to join forces with trusted stalwarts such as neural networks, creating a formidable alliance against financial trickery.

 

But the most enchanting aspect of this story was how machine learning breathed life into automation. It became the unsung hero in the world of investigations, where human investigators once spent countless hours gathering information. With its guidance, systems could now autonomously scour databases, retrieve vital data, and even collaborate with third-party providers—all without the need for human intervention. Thanks to this wondrous development, SAS clients rejoiced as their journey from suspicion to resolution was shortened by 20% to 30%.

 

In stark contrast to the easily manipulated rules that fraudsters once danced around with ease, the application of machine learning through analytics emerged as the steadfast guardian of SAS® fraud and financial crimes solutions. This legacy had stood firm for many decades.

 

Amidst this captivating narrative, Dr. Jim Goodnight, the visionary leader of SAS, emerged as a guiding light, steering this grand adventure with wisdom and foresight.

 

Meanwhile, in another corner of this vibrant world, financial institutions found themselves amidst a revolution. With the power of big data analytics at their fingertips, they began to break down silos and unite disparate functions under a single banner. In this unified realm, risk was no longer a fragmented puzzle but a complete tapestry woven together seamlessly.

 

Whether scrutinising loan applications, making pivotal payment decisions, or unearthing hidden threats through anti-money laundering endeavours, each interaction became a treasure trove of insights in this fast-paced world where payments flowed like swift rivers, achieving real-time agility became paramount for retail and financial entities alike.

 

And so, as the sun set over this land of innovation and progress, these tales of machine learning and big data analytics continued to unfold—a testament to the boundless potential of technology to reshape our world for the better.

In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile and online commerce, expectations for rapid and seamless authentication have transformed dramatically across all contact channels. Financial institutions are now called upon to harness a blend of customer insights, device interactions, and session behaviour analyses to combat fraud effectively and safeguard against losses.

 

Meanwhile, innovative intelligence units, unburdened by traditional silos, are piecing together common threads—such as domain names, IP addresses, and devices—that unveil criminal networks that once eluded detection.

 

The quest for instantaneous funds availability found its spark with the UK’s Faster Payments Service (FPS). This initiative revolutionised payment clearing times, cutting them down from the legacy BACS system’s three-day wait to mere hours. Across the globe, new payment infrastructures in the US and Australia, fueled by fintech advancements, are now reducing this delay to just a few seconds.

 

What was once considered a luxury—real-time transaction monitoring—has swiftly become an essential standard for all types of payments. To effectively thwart payment fraud, it is crucial to integrate not only financial transactions but also data from authentication processes, session details, location information, and device events.

 

Turning our attention to the intricate world of ‘know your customer’ (KYC) processes, high-profile leaks like the Panama Papers have underscored the urgent need for transparency regarding the actual owners or beneficiaries behind corporate and legal entities. Concurrently, the financial sector has witnessed a surge in deposit account and credit application fraud, now accounting for 20% of all banking fraud cases. These developments have reshaped the landscape of KYC expectations. To meet these challenges head-on, SAS offers a suite of solutions:

 

– Enhancing and accelerating authentication processes to validate both digital devices and in-person applicants.

– Employing robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline searches and queries of third-party data during enhanced due diligence.

– Supporting new data elements like ownership percentages and controlling interests.

– Providing investigative interfaces that simplify the ad hoc gathering of external unstructured information, encompassing numbers, text, images, and video.

– Leveraging image recognition capabilities grounded in natural language processing for efficient document query and retrieval.

 

This unfolding narrative of technological advancement and heightened security measures continues to shape the future of financial services.

In a different pilot project, we examined around 9,000 SWIFT messages to identify language related to the Palestinian boycott. Typically, a human would require between five and seven minutes to scrutinise each message thoroughly. However, during this trial, we discovered that we could leverage image recognition and contextual analysis technologies to process each message in under a second.

 

Now, let’s delve into how investigation efficiency can be significantly enhanced through intelligent case management. Initially, the integration of AI often revolves around automating routine tasks, thereby cutting down the expenses associated with conducting thorough investigations into fraud and financial crimes. Investigators must focus their expertise on complex issues rather than mundane tasks that machines handle more effectively. By implementing an advanced analytics-driven alert and case management solution, a single comprehensive view of data is achieved, enabling the system to:

 

– Automatically prioritise cases, suggest investigative steps, and expedite straightforward cases.

– Enrich alerts by providing detailed information about the involved customers, accounts, or beneficiaries.

– Smartly locate and extract relevant data from internal databases or external sources for any given case.

– Display data through intuitive visualisations on a single screen.

– Automatically fill out and prepare suspicious activity reports (SARs) for electronic submission when necessary.

 

But why choose SAS for this endeavour? The answer lies in its adaptive learning system, which integrates embedded analytics with alert and case management functionalities to streamline processes and continually learn from each outcome. By bypassing alerts and refining triage processes through dynamic dashboards, this methodology perpetually adjusts to emerging financial crime threats.

Secure browsing

 

When it comes to staying safe online, using a secure and private browser is crucial. Such a browser can help protect your personal information and keep you safe from cyber threats. One option that offers these features is the Maxthon Browser, which is available for free. It comes with built-in Adblock and anti-tracking software to enhance your browsing privacy.

 

Maxthon private browser for online privacy 

Maxthon Browser is dedicated to providing a secure and private browsing experience for its users. With a strong focus on privacy and security, Maxthon employs strict measures to safeguard user data and online activities from potential threats. The browser utilises advanced encryption protocols to ensure that user information remains protected during internet sessions.

 

Maxthon private browser for online privacy

 

In addition, Maxthon implements features such as ad blockers, anti-tracking tools, and incognito mode to enhance users’ privacy. By blocking unwanted ads and preventing tracking, the browser helps maintain a secure environment for online activities. Furthermore, incognito mode enables users to browse the web without leaving any trace of their history or activity on the device.

 

Maxthon browser Windows 11 support

Maxthon’s commitment to prioritising the privacy and security of its users is exemplified through regular updates and security enhancements. These updates are designed to address emerging vulnerabilities and ensure that the browser maintains its reputation as a safe and reliable option for those seeking a private browsing experience. Overall, Maxthon Browser offers a comprehensive set of tools and features aimed at delivering a secure and private browsing experience.

 

Maxthon Browser, a free web browser, offers users a secure and private browsing experience with its built-in Adblock and anti-tracking software. These features help to protect users from intrusive ads and prevent websites from tracking their online activities. The browser’s Adblock functionality blocks annoying pop-ups and banners, allowing for an uninterrupted browsing session. Additionally, the anti-tracking software safeguards user privacy by preventing websites from collecting personal data without consent.

 

By utilising Maxthon Browser, users can browse the internet confidently, knowing that their online activities are shielded from prying eyes. The integrated security features alleviate concerns about potential privacy breaches and ensure a safer browsing environment. Furthermore, the browser’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for individuals to customise their privacy settings according to their preferences.

 

Maxthon Browser not only delivers a seamless browsing experience but also prioritises the privacy and security of its users through its efficient ad-blocking and anti-tracking capabilities. With these protective measures in place, users can enjoy the internet while feeling reassured about their online privacy.

 

In addition, the desktop version of Maxthon Browser works seamlessly with their VPN, providing an extra layer of security. By using this browser, you can minimise the risk of encountering online threats and enjoy a safer internet experience. With its combination of security features, Maxthon Browser aims to provide users with peace of mind while they browse.

 

Maxthon Browser stands out as a reliable choice for users who prioritise privacy and security. With its robust encryption measures and extensive privacy settings, it offers a secure browsing experience that gives users peace of mind. The browser’s commitment to protecting user data and preventing unauthorised access sets it apart in the competitive web browser market.