A tale of synthetic ID fraud Synthetic ID fraud is an increasing issue and affects everyone, including high-profile individuals. A notable case from Ohio involved Warren Hayes, who managed to get an official ID card in the name of “Santa Claus” from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. He also registered a vehicle, opened a bank account, and secured an AAA membership under this name, listing his address as 1 Noel Drive, North Pole, USA. This elaborate ruse unraveled after Hayes, disguised as Santa, got into a minor car accident. When the police requested identification, Hayes presented his Santa Claus ID. He was subsequently charged under an Ohio law prohibiting the use of fictitious names. However, the court—presided over by Judge Thomas Gysegem—dismissed the charge, arguing that because Hayes had used the ID for over 20 years, "Santa Claus" was effectively a "real person" in the eyes of the law. The judge’s ruling raised eyebrows and left one glaring question unanswered: how could official documents in such a blatantly fictitious name go undetected for two decades? From Santa Claus to synthetic IDs: the modern-day threat The Hayes case might sound like a holiday comedy, but it highlights a significant issue that organizations face today: synthetic identity fraud. Unlike traditional identity theft, synthetic ID fraud does not rely on stealing an existing identity. Instead, fraudsters combine real and fictitious details to create a new “person.” Think of it as an elaborate game of make-believe, where the stakes are millions of dollars. These synthetic identities can remain under the radar for years, building credit profiles, obtaining loans, and committing large-scale fraud before detection. Just as Hayes tricked the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, fraudsters exploit weak verification processes to pass as legitimate individuals. According to KPMG, synthetic identity fraud bears a staggering $6 billion cost to banks.To perpetrate the crime, malicious actors leverage a combination of real and fake information to fabricate a synthetic identity, also known as a “Frankenstein ID.” The financial industry classifies various types of synthetic identity fraud. Manipulated Synthetics – A real person’s data is modified to create variations of that identity. Frankenstein Synthetics – The data represents a combination of multiple real people. Manufactured Synthetics – The identity is completely synthetic. How organizations can combat synthetic ID fraud A multifaceted approach to detecting synthetic identities that integrates advanced technologies can form the foundation of a sound fraud prevention strategy: Advanced identity verification tools: Use AI-powered tools that cross-check identity attributes across multiple data points to flag inconsistencies. Behavioral analytics: Monitor user behaviors to detect anomalies that may indicate synthetic identities. For instance, a newly created account applying for a large loan with perfect credit is a red flag. Digital identity verification: Implement digital onboarding processes that include online identity verification with real-time document verification. Users can upload government-issued IDs and take selfies to confirm their identity. Collaboration and data sharing: Organizations can share insights about suspected synthetic identities to prevent fraudsters from exploiting gaps between industries. Ongoing employee training: Ensure frontline staff can identify suspicious applications and escalate potential fraud cases. Regulatory support: Governments and regulators can help by standardizing ID issuance processes and requiring more stringent checks. Closing thoughts The tale of Santa Claus’ stolen identity may be entertaining, but it underscores the need for vigilance against synthetic ID fraud. As we move into an increasingly digital age, organizations must stay ahead of fraudsters by leveraging technology, training, and collaboration. Because while the idea of Spiderman or Catwoman walking into your branch may seem amusing, the financial and reputational cost of synthetic ID fraud is no laughing matter. Learn more

In the ever-evolving landscape of mortgage lending, efficiency and responsiveness are paramount. Greg Holmes, Chief Revenue Officer at Xactus, shares his insights on how their partnership with Experian has significantly enhanced their operations and client satisfaction. He highlights the dual nature of their relationship with Experian, describing it as strategic and tactical. This multifaceted partnership allows Xactus to swiftly address day-to-day business issues while focusing on long-term strategic goals. Experian’s willingness to listen and incorporate feedback has been a cornerstone of this successful collaboration. Holmes said, "Their willingness to listen to us and take feedback that we've been able to provide has really helped separate them." Commitment to mortgage lending According to Holmes, one of the standout aspects of Experian's service is its unwavering commitment to the mortgage lending process. This dedication is evident in their continuous investment in the sector, which has enabled faster and more accurate loan closures. He also notes, "You can truly see the investment that Experian has put into our space, which has enabled homeowners to close loans faster and more accurately for lenders." Technological advancements and automation Experian's technological advancements have played a crucial role in enhancing Xactus's operations. The integration of Experian Verify, particularly in the verification of income and employment data, has streamlined the process, contributing to the goal of achieving a digital mortgage. This automation speeds up loan origination and closure and ensures greater accuracy and efficiency. Cost control and flexibility Another key benefit of partnering with Experian is the cost control and flexibility it offers. The single price point for orders and the robust integrations with loan-origination software companies have been particularly beneficial. These integrations allow Xactus to leverage Experian's data effectively, providing a seamless experience for lenders and borrowers alike. Greg emphasizes, "They love the fact that it helps with cost control. That single price point with orders has been extremely important." The testimonial from Xactus’ Greg Holmes clearly shows how Experian's proactive approach, technological innovations, and commitment to the mortgage lending industry have made a tangible difference. According to Holmes, by listening to client feedback and continuously investing in their services, Experian has positioned itself as a vital partner in the quest for optimal efficiency in mortgage lending. Learn more about Verify

This series will explore our monthly State of the Economy report, which provides a snapshot of the top monthly economic and credit data for financial service professionals to proactively shape their business strategies. The U.S. economy remains on solid footing, as GDP grew at a healthy 2.8% rate in Q3, driven by consumer spending. Alongside growth, inflation ticked up, while the labor market eased across several measures. In response to these developments, the Federal Reserve announced a quarter-point cut in November, with another cut penciled in for December. The November State of the Economy report fills in the rest of the macroeconomic story. This month’s highlights include: Annual headline inflation ticked up from 2.4% to 2.6%. 12,000 jobs were added in October, amid hurricane and strike impacts. Retail sales increased by 0.4% in October. Check out the full report for a detailed analysis of the rest of this month’s data, including the latest trends in originations, job openings, and growth. Download November's report As our economy continues to fluctuate, it’s critical to stay updated on the latest developments. Subscribe to our new series, The Macro Moment, for economic commentary from Experian NA’s Chief Economist, Joseph Mayans, with additional economic resources, including our new Election Eve’s Scenario Forecasts report. For more economic trends and market insights, visit Experian Edge.

The digital domain is rife with opportunities, but it also brings substantial risks, especially for organizations. Among the innovative tools that have risen to prominence for fraud detection and online security is browser fingerprinting. Whether you're looking to minimize security gaps or bolster your fraud prevention strategy, understanding how this technology works can provide a significant advantage in today’s ever-evolving fraud and identity landscape. This article explores the concept, functionality, and applications of browser fingerprinting while also examining its benefits and relevance for organizations. How does browser fingerprinting work? Browser fingerprinting is a powerful technology designed to collect unique identifying information about a user’s web browser and device. By compiling data points such as browser type, operating system, time zone, and installed plugins, browser fingerprinting creates a distinct profile — or "fingerprint"— that allows websites to recognize returning users without relying on cookies. Here’s a breakdown of its key steps: Data collection: When a user visits a website, their browser sends information, such as user-agent strings or metadata, to the website's servers. This data provides insights about their browser, device, and system. Fingerprint creation: The collected information is processed to generate a unique ID or fingerprint, representing the user's specific configuration. Tracking and analyzing: These fingerprints enable websites to track and analyze user behavior, detect anomalies, and identify users without relying on traditional tracking mechanisms like cookies. For organizations, employing technology that leverages such fingerprints adds an additional layer to identity verification, detecting discrepancies that may indicate fraud attempts. What are the different techniques? Not all browser fingerprinting methods are identical; varying approaches offer different strengths. The most common techniques used today include: Canvas fingerprinting: This method utilizes the "Canvas" element in HTML5. When a website sends a command to draw a hidden image on a user's device, the way the image is rendered reveals unique characteristics about the device's graphics hardware and software. Font fingerprinting: Font fingerprinting involves analyzing the fonts installed on a user's system. Since computers and browsers render text in slightly different ways based on their configurations, the resulting variations aid in identifying users. Plugin enumeration: Browsers and devices often come equipped with plugins or extensions like Flash or Java. Analyzing which plugins are installed, their versions, and their order helps websites build unique fingerprints. What are the benefits of browser fingerprinting? For organizations, browser fingerprinting is not just a technical marvel — it’s a strategic asset. Benefits include: Enhanced fraud detection: Browser fingerprinting detects inconsistencies within user accounts, flagging unauthorized logins, synthetic identity fraud, or account takeover fraud without introducing significant friction for legitimate users. By identifying patterns that deviate from the norm, organizations can better prepare for malicious activities. Learn more about addressing account takeover fraud. Supports multi-layered security: A single security measure often isn't enough to combat advanced fraudulent schemes. Browser fingerprinting pairs seamlessly with other fraud management tools, such as behavioral analytics and risk-based authentication, to provide robust security. See how behavioral analytics can help organizations spot and stop next-generation fraud bots. Seamless user experience: Unlike cookies or authentication codes, browser fingerprinting operates passively in the background. Users remain unaware of the process, ensuring their experience is unaffected while still maintaining security. Level up with Experian's fraud prevention tools Browser fingerprinting offers organizations a game-changing tool to secure online interactions. However, given the growing complexity of fraud threats, organizations will need additional layers of insights and protection. Experian offers integrated, AI-driven fraud prevention solutions tailor-made to tackle challenges in the digital space. By leveraging advanced technologies like browser fingerprinting alongside Experian’s solutions, organizations can safeguard their operations and uphold customer trust while maintaining a frictionless user experience. Learn more about our fraud prevention solutions This article includes content created by an AI language model and is intended to provide general information.

We are squarely in the holiday shopping season. From the flurry of promotional emails to the endless shopping lists, there are many to-dos and even more opportunities for financial institutions at this time of year. The holiday shopping season is not just a peak period for consumer spending; it’s also a critical time for financial institutions to strategize, innovate, and drive value. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. holiday retail sales are projected to approach $1 trillion in 2024, , and with an ever-evolving consumer behavior landscape, financial institutions need actionable strategies to stand out, secure loyalty, and drive growth during this period of heightened spending. Download our playbook: "How to prepare for the Holiday Shopping Season" Here’s how financial institutions can capitalize on the holiday shopping season, including key insights, actionable strategies, and data-backed trends. 1. Understand the holiday shopping landscape Key stats to consider: U.S. consumers spent $210 billion online during the 2022 holiday season, according to Adobe Analytics, marking a 3.5% increase from 2021. Experian data reveals that 31% of all holiday purchases in 2022 occurred in October, highlighting the extended shopping season. Cyber Week accounted for just 8% of total holiday spending, according to Experian’s Holiday Spending Trends and Insights Report, emphasizing the importance of a broad, season-long strategy. What this means for financial institutions: Timing is crucial. Your campaigns are already underway if you get an early start, and it’s critical to sustain them through December. Focus beyond Cyber Week. Develop long-term engagement strategies to capture spending throughout the season. 2. Leverage Gen Z’s growing spending power With an estimated $360 billion in disposable income, according to Bloomberg, Gen Z is a powerful force in the holiday market​. This generation values personalized, seamless experiences and is highly active online. Strategies to capture Gen Z: Offer digital-first solutions that enhance the holiday shopping journey, such as interactive portals or AI-powered customer support. Provide loyalty incentives tailored to this demographic, like cash-back rewards or exclusive access to services. Learn more about Gen Z in our State of Gen Z Report. To learn more about all generations' projected consumer spending, read new insights from Experian here, including 45% of Gen X and 52% of Boomers expect their spending to remain consistent with last year. 3. Optimize pre-holiday strategies Portfolio Review: Assess consumer behavior trends and adjust risk models to align with changing economic conditions. Identify opportunities to engage dormant accounts or offer tailored credit lines to existing customers. Actionable tactics: Expand offerings. Position your products and services with promotional campaigns targeting high-value segments. Personalize experiences. Use advanced analytics to segment clients and craft offers that resonate with their holiday needs or anticipate their possible post-holiday needs. 4. Ensure top-of-mind awareness During the holiday shopping season, competition to be the “top of wallet” is fierce. Experian’s data shows that 58% of high spenders shop evenly across the season, while 31% of average spenders do most of their shopping in December​. Strategies for success: Early engagement: Launch educational campaigns to empower credit education and identity protection during this period of increased transactions. Loyalty programs: Offer incentives, such as discounts or rewards, that encourage repeat engagement during the season. Omnichannel presence: Utilize digital, email, and event marketing to maintain visibility across platforms. 5. Combat fraud with multi-layered strategies The holiday shopping season sees an increase in fraud, with card testing being the number one attack vector in the U.S. according to Experian’s 2024 Identity and Fraud Study. Fraudulent activity such as identity theft and synthetic IDs can also escalate​. Fight tomorrow’s fraud today: Identity verification: Use advanced fraud detection tools, like Experian’s Ascend Fraud Sandbox, to validate accounts in real-time. Monitor dormant accounts: Watch these accounts with caution and assess for potential fraud risk. Strengthen cybersecurity: Implement multi-layered strategies, including behavioral analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), to reduce vulnerabilities. 6. Post-holiday follow-up: retain and manage risk Once the holiday rush is over, the focus shifts to managing potential payment stress and fostering long-term relationships. Post-holiday strategies: Debt monitoring: Keep an eye on debt-to-income and debt-to-limit ratios to identify clients at risk of defaulting. Customer support: Offer tailored assistance programs for clients showing signs of financial stress, preserving goodwill and loyalty. Fraud checks: Watch for first-party fraud and unusual return patterns, which can spike in January. 7. Anticipate consumer trends in the New Year The aftermath of the holidays often reveals deeper insights into consumer health: Rising credit balances: January often sees an uptick in outstanding balances, highlighting the need for proactive credit management. Shifts in spending behavior: According to McKinsey, consumers are increasingly cautious post-holiday, favoring savings and value-based spending. What this means for financial institutions: Align with clients’ needs for financial flexibility. The holiday shopping season is a time that demands precise planning and execution. Financial institutions can maximize their impact during this critical period by starting early, leveraging advanced analytics, and maintaining a strong focus on fraud prevention. And remember, success in the holiday season extends beyond December. Building strong relationships and managing risk ensures a smooth transition into the new year, setting the stage for continued growth. Ready to optimize your strategy? Contact us for tailored recommendations during the holiday season and beyond. Download the Holiday Shopping Season Playbook

 Technology has dramatically transformed the financial services landscape, fostering innovation and enhancing operational efficiency. In an interview at this year’s Money20/20 conference, Scott Brown, Group President of Financial and Marketing Services for Experian, sat down with Fintech Futures’ North America Correspondent Heather Sugg to share how Experian is leveraging data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize the financial services industry. During the discussion, Scott highlighted the recent launch of Experian Assistant — our newest generative AI tool designed to accelerate the modeling lifecycle, resulting in greater productivity, improved data visibility, and reduced delays and expenses. While Experian Assistant is a business-to-business solution built alongside our clients, Scott also noted its broader impact — helping increase credit access for underserved consumers. “At Experian, we’re really focused on addressing the underserved community who doesn’t have access to credit,” said Scott. “And we think that this tool helps lenders reach those customers in an easier way.”  Learn more about Experian Assistant and watch our tech showcase to see the solution in action. Learn more Watch tech showcase

Despite being a decades-old technology, behavioral analytics is often still misunderstood. We’ve heard from fraud, identity, security, product, and risk professionals that exploring a behavior-based fraud solution brings up big questions, such as: What does behavioral analytics provide that I don’t get now? (Quick answer: a whole new signal and an earlier view of fraud) Why do I need to add even more data to my fraud stack? (Quick answer: it acts with your stack to add insights, not overload) How is this different from biometrics? (Quick answer: while biometrics track characteristics, behavioral analytics tracks distinct actions) These questions make sense — stopping fraud is complex, and, of course, you want to do your research to fully understand what ROI any tool will add. NeuroID, now part of Experian, is one of the only behavioral analytics-first businesses built specifically for stopping fraud. Our internal experts have been crafting behavioral-first solutions to detect everything from simple script fraud bots through to generative AI (genAI) attacks. We know how behavioral analytics works best within your fraud stack, and how to think strategically about using it to stop fraud rings, bot fraud, and other third-party fraud attacks. This primer will provide answers to the biggest questions we hear, so you can make the most informed decisions when exploring how our behavioral analytics solutions could work for you. Q1. What is behavioral analytics and how is it different from behavioral biometrics? A common mistake is to conflate behavioral analytics with behavioral biometrics. But biometrics rely on unique physical characteristics — like fingerprints or facial scans — used for automated recognition, such as unlocking your phone with Face ID. Biometrics connect a person’s data to their identity. But behavioral analytics? They don’t look at an identity. They look at behavior and predict risk. While biometrics track who a person is, behavioral analytics track what they do. For example, NeuroID’s behavioral analytics observes every time someone clicks in a box, edits a field, or hovers over a section. So, when a user’s actions suggest fraudulent intent, they can be directed to additional verification steps or fully denied. And if their actions suggest trustworthiness? They can be fast-tracked. Or, as a customer of ours put it: "Using NeuroID decisioning, we can confidently reject bad actors today who we used to take to step-up. We also have enough information on good applicants sooner, so we can fast-track them and say ‘go ahead and get your loan, we don’t need anything else from you.’ And customers really love that." - Mauro Jacome, Head of Data Science for Addi (read the full Addi case study here). The difference might seem subtle, but it’s important. New laws on biometrics have triggered profound implications for banks, businesses, and fraud prevention strategies. The laws introduce potential legal liabilities, increased compliance costs, and are part of a growing public backlash over privacy concerns. Behavioral signals, because they don’t tie behavior to identity, are often easier to introduce and don’t need the same level of regulatory scrutiny. The bottom line is that our behavioral analytics capabilities are unique from any other part of your fraud stack, full-stop. And it's because we don’t identify users, we identify intentions. Simply by tracking users’ behavior on your digital form, behavioral analytics powered by NeuroID tells you if a user is human or a bot; trustworthy or risky. It looks at each click, edit, keystroke, pause, and other tiny interactions to measure every users’ intention. By combining behavior with device and network intelligence, our solutions provide new visibility into fraudsters hiding behind perfect PII and suspicious devices. The result is reduced fraud costs, fewer API calls, and top-of-the-funnel fraud capture with no tuning or model integration on day one. With behavioral analytics, our customers can detect fraud attacks in minutes, instead of days. Our solutions have proven results of detecting up to 90% of fraud with 99% accuracy (or <1% false positive rate) with less than 3% of your population getting flagged. Q2. What does behavioral analytics provide that I don’t get now? Behavioral analytics provides a net-new signal that you can’t get from any other tools. One of our customers, Josh Eurom, Manager of Fraud for Aspiration Banking, described it this way: “You can quantify some things very easily: if bad domains are coming through you can identify and stop it. But if you see things look odd, yet you can’t set up controls, that’s where NeuroID behavioral analytics come in and captures the unseen fraud.” (read the full Aspiration story here) Adding yet another new technology with big promises may not feel urgent. But with genAI fueling synthetic identity fraud, next-gen fraud bots, and hyper-efficient fraud ring attacks, time is running out to modernize your stack. In addition, many fraud prevention tools today only focus on what PII is submitted — and PII is notoriously easy to fake. Only behavioral analytics looks at how the data is submitted. Behavioral analytics is a crucial signal for detecting even the most modern fraud techniques. Watch our webinar: The Fraud Bot Future-Shock: How to Spot and Stop Next-Gen Attacks  Q3. Why do I need to add even more data to my fraud stack? Balancing fraud, friction, and financial impact has led to increasingly complex fraud stacks that often slow conversions and limit visibility. As fraudsters evolve, gaps grow between how quickly you can keep up with their new technology. Fraudsters have no budget constraints, compliance requirements, or approval processes holding them back from implementing new technology to attack your stack, so they have an inherent advantage. Many fraud teams we hear from are looking for ways to optimize their workflows without adding to the data noise, while balancing all the factors that a fraud stack influences beyond overall security (such as false positives and unnecessary friction). Behavioral analytics is a great way to work smarter with what you have. The signals add no friction to the onboarding process, are undetectable to your customers, and live on a pre-submit level, using data that is already captured by your existing application process. Without requiring any new inputs from your users or stepping into messy biometric legal gray areas, behavioral analytics aggregates, sorts, and reviews a broad range of cross-channel, historical, and current customer behaviors to develop clear, real-time portraits of transactional risks. By sitting top-of-funnel, behavioral analytics not only doesn’t add to the data noise, it actually clarifies the data you currently rely on by taking pressure off of your other tools. With these insights, you can make better fraud decisions, faster. Or, as Eurom put it: “Before NeuroID, we were not automatically denying applications. They were getting an IDV check and going into a manual review. But with NeuroID at the top of our funnel, we implemented automatic denial based on the risky signal, saving us additional API calls and reviews. And we’re capturing roughly four times more fraud. Having behavioral data to reinforce our decision-making is a relief.” The behavioral analytics difference Since the world has moved online, we’re missing the body language clues that used to tell us if someone was a fraudster. Behavioral analytics provides the digital body language differentiator. Behavioral cues — such as typing speed, hesitation, and mouse movements — highlight riskiness. The cause of that risk could be bots, stolen information, fraud rings, synthetic identities, or any combination of third-party fraud attack strategies. Behavioral analytics gives you insights to distinguish between genuine applicants and potentially fraudulent ones without disrupting your customer’s journey. By interpreting behavioral patterns at the very top of the onboarding funnel, behavior helps you proactively mitigate fraud, reduce false positives, and streamline onboarding, so you can lock out fraudsters and let in legitimate users. This is all from data you already capture, simply tracking interactions on your site. Stop fraud, faster: 5 simple uses where behavioral analytics shine  While how you approach a behavioral analytics integration will vary based on numerous factors, here are some of the immediate, common use cases of behavioral analytics.  Detecting fraud bots and fraud rings Behavioral analytics can identify fraud bots by their frameworks, such as Puppeter or Stealth, and through their behavioral patterns, so you can protect against even the most sophisticated fourth-generation bots. NeuroID provides holistic coverage for bot and fraud ring detection — passively and with no customer friction, often eliminating the need for CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA. With this data alone, you could potentially blacklist suspected fraud bot and fraud ring attacks at the top of the fraud prevention funnel, avoiding extra API calls. Sussing out scams and coercions When users make account changes or transactions under coercion, they often show unfamiliarity with the destination account or shipping address entered. Our real-time assessment detects these risk indicators, including hesitancy, multiple corrections, and slow typing, alerting you in real-time to look closer. Stopping use of compromised cards and stolen IDs Traditional PII methods can fall short against today’s sophisticated synthetic identity fraud. Behavioral analytics uncovers synthetic identities by evaluating how PII is entered, instead of relying on PII itself (which is often corrupted). For example, our behavioral signals can assess users’ familiarity with the billing address they’re entering for a credit card or bank account. Genuine account holders will show strong familiarity, while signs of unfamiliarity are indicators of an account under attack. Detecting money mules Our behavioral analytics solutions track how familiar users are with the addresses they enter, conducting a real-time, sub-millisecond familiarity assessment. Risk markers such as hesitancy, multiple corrections, slow typing speed raise flags for further exploration. Stopping promotion and discount abuse Our behavioral analytics identifies risky versus trustworthy users in promo and discount fields. By assessing behavior, device, and network risk, we help you determine if your promotions attract more risky than trustworthy users, preventing fraudsters from abusing discounts. Learn more about our behavioral analytics solutions. Learn more Watch webinar

Do you know where your customers stand? Not literally, of course, but do you know how recent macroeconomic changes and their personal circumstances are currently affecting your portfolio? While refreshing your customers’ credit data quarterly works for some aspects of portfolio management, you need more frequent access to fresh data to quickly respond to risky customer behavior and new credit needs before your portfolio takes a hit. Use triggers to improve portfolio management Event-based credit triggers provide daily or real-time alerts about important changes in your customers’ financial situations. You can use these to manage risk by promptly responding to signs of changing creditworthiness or to prevent attrition by proactively reaching out to customers who are shopping for credit. Risk Triggers℠ and Retention Triggers℠ offer a real-time solution that can be customized to fit your needs for daily portfolio management. What are Risk Triggers? Experian’s Risk Triggers alert you of notable information, such as unfavorable utilization rate changes, delinquencies with other lenders and recent activity with high-interest, short-term loan products. This solution allows you to monitor how your customers manage accounts with other lenders to get ahead of potential risk on your book. You can use Risk Triggers to get daily insights into your customers’ activity — allowing you to quickly identify potentially risky behavior and take appropriate action to limit your exposure and losses. Types of Risk Triggers Choose from a defined Risk Triggers package that could help you identify high-risk customers, including: New trades Increasing credit utilization or balances over limit New collection accounts An account is charged-off A credit grantor closes an account New delinquency statuses (30 to 180 days past due) Consumers seeking access to short-term, high-risk financing options Bankruptcy and deceased events How to use Risk Triggers You can use the daily alerts from Risk Triggers to help inform your account management strategy. Depending on the circumstances, you might: Decrease credit limits Close or freeze accounts Accelerate payment requests Continue monitoring accounts for other signs of risk Spotlight on Experian’s Clarity Services events Included in Risk Triggers are events from Experian’s Clarity Services, which draw on expanded FCRA-regulated data* from a leading source of alternative financial credit data.  For example, you could get an alert when someone has a new inquiry from non-traditional loans. These triggers provide a broader view of the customer – offering added protection against risky behavior. What are Retention Triggers? Experian’s Retention Triggers can alert you when a customer improves their creditworthiness, is shopping for new credit, opens a new tradeline or lists property. Proactively responding to these daily alerts can help you retain and strengthen relationships with your customers — which is often less expensive than acquiring new customers. Types of Retention Triggers Choose from over 100 Retention Triggers to bundle, including: New trades New inquiries Credit line increases Property listing statuses Improving delinquency status Past-due accounts are brought current or paid off How to use Retention Triggers You can use Retention Triggers to increase lifetime customer value by proactively responding to your customers’ needs and wants. You might: Increase credit limits Offer promotional financing, such as balance transfers Introduce perks or rewards to strengthen the relationship Append attributes for improved decisioning  By appending credit attributes to Risk and Retention Trigger outputs, you can gain greater insight into your accounts.  Premier AttributesSM is Experian's core set of 2,100-plus attributes. These can quickly summarize data from consumers' credit reports, allowing you to more easily segment accounts to make more strategic decisions across your portfolio.  Trended 3DTM attributes can help you spot and understand patterns in a customer's behavior over time. Integrating trended attributes into a triggers program can help you identify risk and determine the next best action. Trended 3D includes more than 2,000 attributes and provides insights into industries such as bankcard, mortgage, student loans, personal loans, collections and much more.  By working with both triggers and attributes, you'll proactively review an account, so you can then take the next best action to improve your portfolio's profits. Customize your trigger strategy When you partner with Experian, you can bundle and choose from hundreds of Risk and Retention Triggers to focus on risk, customer retention or both. Additionally, you can work with Experian’s experts to customize your trigger strategy to minimize costs and filter out repetitive or unneeded triggers: Use cool-off periods Set triggering thresholds Choose which triggers to monitor Establish hierarchies for which triggers to prioritize Create different strategies for segments of your portfolio Learn more about Risk and Retention Triggers. Learn more *Disclaimer: “Alternative Financial Credit Data” refers to the use of alternative data and its appropriate use in consumer credit lending decisions, as regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Hence, the term “Expanded FCRA-Regulated Data” may also apply in this instance, and both can be used interchangeably.

  With cyber threats intensifying and data breaches rising, understanding how to respond to incidents is more important than ever. In this interview, Michael Bruemmer, Head of Global Data Breach Resolution at Experian, is joined by Matthew Meade, Chair of the Cybersecurity, Data Protection & Privacy Group at Eckert Seamans, to discuss the realities of data breach response. Their session, “Cyber Incident Response: A View from the Trenches,” brings insights from the field and offers a preview of Experian's 2025 Data Breach Industry Forecast, including the role of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in data breaches. From the surge in business email compromises (BEC) to the relentless threat of ransomware, Bruemmer and Meade dive into key issues facing organizations big and small today. Drawing from Experian's experience handling nearly 5,000 breaches this year, Bruemmer sheds light on effective response practices and reveals common pitfalls. Meade, who served as editor-in-chief for the Sedona Conference’s new Model Data Breach Notification Law, explains the implications of these regulatory updates for organizations and highlights how standardized notification practices can improve outcomes. Bruemmer and Meade’s insights offer a proactive guide to tackling tomorrow’s cyber threats, making it a must-listen for anyone aiming to stay one step ahead. Listen to the full interview for a valuable look at both the current landscape and what's next.  Click here for more insight into safeguarding your organization from emerging cyber threats.  

As online accounts become essential for activities ranging from shopping and social media to banking, "account farming" has emerged as a significant fraud risk. This practice involves creating fake or unauthorized accounts en masse, often for malicious purposes. Understanding how account farming works, why it’s done and how businesses can protect themselves is crucial for maintaining data integrity, safeguarding customer trust and protecting your bottom line. How does account farming work? Account farming is the process of creating and cultivating multiple user accounts, often using fake or stolen identities. These accounts may look like legitimate users, but they’re controlled by a single entity or organization, usually with fraudulent intent. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved in account farming: Identity generation: Account farmers start by obtaining either fake or stolen personal information. They may buy these datasets on the dark web or scrape publicly available information to make each account seem legitimate. Account creation: Using bots or manual processes, fraudsters create numerous accounts on a platform. Often, they’ll employ automated tools to expedite this process, bypassing CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA systems or using proxy servers to mask their IP addresses and avoid detection. Warm-up phase: After initial creation, account farmers often let the accounts sit for a while, engaging in limited, non-suspicious activity to avoid triggering security alerts. This “warming up” process helps the accounts seem more authentic. Activation for fraudulent activity: Once these accounts reach a level of credibility, they’re activated for the intended purpose. This might include spamming, fraud, phishing, fake reviews or promotional manipulation. Why is account farming done? There are several reasons account farming has become a widespread problem across different industries. Here are some common motivations: Monetary gain: Fraudsters use farmed accounts to commit fraudulent transactions, like applying for loans and credit products, accessing promotional incentives or exploiting referral programs. Spam and phishing: Fake accounts enable widespread spam campaigns or phishing attacks, compromising customer data and damaging brand reputation. Data theft: By creating and controlling multiple accounts, fraudsters may access sensitive data, leading to further exploitation or resale on the dark web. Manipulating metrics and market perception: Some industries use account farming to boost visibility and credibility falsely. For example, on social media, fake accounts can be used to inflate follower counts or engagement metrics. In e-commerce, fraudsters may create fake accounts to leave fake reviews or upvote products, falsely boosting perceived popularity and manipulating purchasing decisions. How does account farming lead to fraud risks? Account farming is a serious problem that can expose businesses and their customers to a variety of risks: Financial loss: Fake accounts created to exploit promotional offers or referral programs can cause victims to experience significant financial losses. Additionally, businesses can incur costs from chargebacks or fraudulent refunds triggered by these accounts. Compromised customer experience: Legitimate customers may suffer from poor experiences, such as spam messages, unsolicited emails or fraudulent interactions. This leads to diminished brand trust, which is costly to regain. Data breaches and compliance risks: Account farming often relies on stolen data, increasing the risk of data breaches. Businesses subject to regulations like GDPR or CCPA may face hefty fines if they fail to protect consumer information adequately. READ MORE: Our Data Breach Industry Forecast predicts what’s in store for the coming year. How can businesses protect themselves from account farming fraud? As account farming tactics evolve, businesses need a proactive and sophisticated approach to detect and prevent these fraudulent activities. Experian’s fraud risk management solutions provide multilayered and customizable solutions to help companies safeguard themselves against account farming and other types of fraud. Here’s how we can help: Identity verification solutions: Experian’s fraud risk and identity verification platform integrates multiple verification methods to confirm the authenticity of user identities. Through real-time data validation, businesses can verify the legitimacy of user information provided at the account creation stage, detecting and blocking fake identities early in the process. Its flexible architecture allows companies to adapt their identity verification process as new fraud patterns emerge, helping them stay one step ahead of account farmers. Behavioral analytics: One effective way to identify account farming is to analyze user behavior for patterns consistent with automated or scripted actions (AKA “bots”). Experian’s behavioral analytics solutions, powered by NeuroID, use advanced machine learning algorithms to identify unusual behavioral trends among accounts. By monitoring how users interact with a platform, we can detect patterns common in farmed accounts, like uniform interactions or repetitive actions that don’t align with human behavior. Device intelligence: To prevent account farming fraud, it’s essential to go beyond user data and examine the devices used to create and access accounts. Experian’s solutions combine device intelligence with identity verification to flag suspicious devices associated with multiple accounts. For example, account farmers often use virtual machines, proxies or emulators to create accounts without revealing their actual location or device details. By identifying and flagging these high-risk devices, we help prevent fraudulent accounts from slipping through the cracks. Velocity checks: Velocity checks are another way to block fraudulent account creation. By monitoring the frequency and speed at which new accounts are created from specific IP addresses or devices, Experian’s fraud prevention solutions can identify spikes indicative of account farming. These velocity checks work in real-time, enabling businesses to act immediately to block suspicious activity and minimize the risk of fake account creation. Continuous monitoring and risk scoring: Even after initial account creation, continuous monitoring of user activity helps to identify accounts that may have initially bypassed detection but later engage in suspicious behavior. Experian’s risk scoring system assigns a fraud risk score to each account based on its behavior over time, alerting businesses to potential threats before they escalate. Final thoughts: Staying ahead of account farming fraud Preventing account farming is about more than just blocking bots — it’s about safeguarding your business and its customers against fraud risk. By understanding the mechanics of account farming and using a multi-layered approach to fraud detection and identity verification, businesses can protect themselves effectively. Ready to take a proactive stance against account farming and other evolving fraud tactics? Explore our comprehensive solutions today. Learn More This article includes content created by an AI language model and is intended to provide general information.

In the latest episode of “The Chrisman Commentary” podcast, Experian experts Joy Mina, Director of Product Commercialization, and Ivan Ahmed, Senior Director of Product Management, explore how lenders can navigate a tight mortgage market, from rates to equity. “Current rates exceed their locked in rates,” said Ivan. “Homeowners are choosing options as alternatives to selling with the refinancing for cash outs and HELOC." Listen to the full episode for all the details and check out the previous episode to learn how mortgage companies can optimize their business expenses and protect prospects. Listen to podcast

For businesses across all sectors solutions that improve productivity are more important than ever. As technology advances, organizations across industries are looking to capitalize by investing in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Studies have recently shown that productivity is a leading measure of how well these AI tools are performing. About 60% of organizations surveyed are using “improved productivity” as a metric to measure the success of implementing AI solutions.[1] Experian research shows it takes an average of 15 months to build a model and put it into production. This can hinder productivity and the ability to quickly go to market. Without a deep understanding of key data points, organizations may also have difficulty realizing time to value efficiently. To improve upon the modeling lifecycle, businesses must examine the challenges involved in the process. The challenges of model building One of the most significant challenges of the modeling lifecycle is speed. Slow modeling processes can cause delays and missed opportunities for businesses which they may have otherwise capitalized on. Another difficulty organizations face is having limited access to high-quality data to build more efficient models. Without the right data, businesses can miss out on actionable insights that could give them a competitive edge. In addition, when organizations have inefficient resources, expenses can skyrocket due to the need for experts to intervene and address ongoing issues. This can result in a steep learning curve as new tools and platforms are adopted, making it difficult for organizations to operate efficiently without outside help. Businesses can combat these challenges by implementing tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency and productivity. The AI journey While generative AI and large language models are becoming more prevalent in everyday life, the path to incorporating a fully functional AI tool into an organization’s business operations involves multiple steps. Beginning with a proof of concept, many organizations start their AI journey with building ideas and use cases, experimentation, and identifying and mitigating potential pitfalls, such as inaccurate or irrelevant information. Once a proof of concept reaches an acceptable state of validity, organizations can move on to production and value at scale. During this phase, organizations will select specific use cases to move into production and measure their performance. Analyzing the results can help businesses glean valuable information about which techniques work most effectively, so they can apply those techniques to new use cases. Following successful iterations of an efficiently functioning AI, the organization can then implement that AI as a part of their business by working the technology into everyday operations. This can help organizations drive productivity at scale across various business processes. Experian’s AI journey has been ongoing, with years of expertise in implementing AI into various products and services. With a goal of providing greater insights to both businesses and consumers while adhering to proper consumer data privacy and compliance, Experian is committed to responsibly using AI to combat fraud and foster greater financial access and inclusion. Our most recent AI innovation, Experian Assistant, is redefining how financial organizations improve productivity with data-driven insights. Introducing Experian Assistant Experian Assistant, a new GenAI tool announced in October at Money20/20 in Las Vegas, is helping organizations take their productivity to the next level by drastically speeding up the modeling lifecycle. To drive automation and greater intelligence for Experian partners, Experian Assistant enables users to interact with a virtual assistant in real time and offers customized guidance and code generation for our suite of software solutions. Our experts – Senior Director of Product Management Ankit Sinha and Director of Analyst Relations Erin Haselkorn – recently revealed the details of how Experian Assistant can cut down model-development timelines from months to days, and in some cases even hours. The webinar, which took place on November 7th, covered a wide range of features and benefits of the new tool, including:  Spending less time writing code  Enhancing understanding of data and attributes Accelerating time to value Improving regulatory compliance A case study in building models faster Continental Finance Company, LLC’s Chief Data Scientist shared their experience using Experian Assistant and how it has improved their organization’s modeling capabilities: “With Experian Assistant, there is a lot of efficiency and improvement in productivity. We have reduced the time spent on data building by almost 75%, so we can build a model much quicker, and the code being generated by Experian Assistant is very high quality, enabling us to move forward much faster.” For businesses looking to accelerate their modeling lifecycle and move more quickly with less effort, Experian Assistant provides a unique opportunity to significantly improve productivity and efficiency. Experian Assistant tech showcase Did you miss the Experian Assistant Tech Showcase webinar? Watch it on demand here and visit our website to learn more. Visit our website [1] Forrester’s Q2 AI Pulse Survey, 2024

By Erik Hjermstad, VP of Product Management for Experian Automotive In today's digital landscape, where consumers increasingly turn to connected TV and addressable TV for entertainment, precision targeting has become more critical than ever for automotive advertisers. By delivering highly relevant ads to the most likely potential customers, advertisers can maximize campaign effectiveness, increase conversion rates, and ultimately drive a better return on investment (ROI). The following is a summary from a recent article I wrote for Ad Age. The Power of Precision Targeting Precision targeting allows advertisers to focus their efforts on the right people with the right message at the right time. This targeted approach helps minimize wasted ad spend and ensures that every dollar invested makes a meaningful impact. By understanding an audience's demographics, interests, and behaviors, automotive marketers can tailor their messaging to resonate with specific consumer segments and pointedly reach those ready to purchase. Leveraging Data Intelligence for Competitive Advantage To stay competitive, automotive marketers must stay on top of the latest data intelligence. Agencies and marketers have turned to data-driven strategies to set their campaigns apart and increase the likelihood of a consumer purchasing a vehicle. When choosing their consumer audiences, automotive marketers turn to companies like Experian Automotive for data like license, registration, and title. They utilize models based on actual vehicle sales and ownership to target the right audience and measure effectiveness more accurately. Measuring Success: Key Metrics and Omnichannel Measurement To ensure that advertising campaigns deliver results, automotive marketers must have a robust measurement strategy. This involves tracking key metrics such as: Sales: Did the buyer purchase a vehicle? Impressions: The number of times an ad is seen. Clicks: The number of times an ad is clicked on. Conversions: The number of people who take a desired action, such as purchasing. Cost per acquisition (CPA): The cost of acquiring a new customer. Return on ad spend (ROAS): The revenue generated by an ad campaign divided by the cost of the campaign. Experian Automotive offers advertisers a robust measurement solution that provides omnichannel measurement, connecting website visitation and ad exposures to automotive sales. Analysis includes make, model, and vehicle class reporting, competitive analysis, and 30-, 60-, and 90-day vehicle sales projections. The Importance of Omnichannel Measurement In today's interconnected world, automotive consumers interact with brands across multiple channels, including TV, digital, social media, and in-store. Advertisers must adopt an omnichannel measurement approach to truly understand their audience and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. By tracking consumer behavior across all channels, advertisers can gain a more complete picture of the customer journey and identify opportunities for optimization. Omnichannel measurement integrates data from various sources, such as website analytics, social media metrics, and point-of-sale data. This allows advertisers to understand how consumers interact with their brand at different stages of the buying process and attribute conversions to specific channels and touchpoints. By leveraging omnichannel measurement, advertisers can make more informed decisions about their marketing investments and deliver a more cohesive and personalized customer experience. Measurement is critical to advertising success for several reasons: Optimization: By tracking key metrics, advertisers can identify what is working versus what is not and make necessary adjustments to improve campaign performance. Attribution: Measurement helps determine which marketing channels and tactics drive the most conversions. ROI analysis: By measuring the ROI of their campaigns, advertisers can justify their marketing investments and demonstrate the value they bring to the business. Navigating the Challenges of the Streaming Era While precision targeting and measurement are essential in the streaming era, advertisers face unique challenges. The fragmented nature of the streaming landscape, with its multiple platforms and devices, can make it challenging to track consumer behavior and measure campaign effectiveness. However, advancements in data technology and measurement tools provide advertisers with many new opportunities to overcome these challenges. By leveraging data intelligence, using deterministic data models to understand their audience, and tracking key metrics, advertisers can deliver highly relevant ads that drive results and maximize their ROI.

How can lenders ensure they’re making the most accurate and fair lending decisions? The answer lies in consistent model validations. What are model validations? Model validations are vital for effective lending and risk-based pricing programs. In addition to helping you determine which credit scoring model works best on your portfolio, the performance (odds) charts from validation results are often used to set score cutoffs and risk-based pricing tiers. Validations also provide the information you need to implement a new score into your decisioning process. Factors affecting model validations Understanding how well a score predicts behavior, such as payment delinquency or bankruptcy, enables you to make more confident lending decisions. Model performance and validation results can be impacted by several factors, including: Dynamic economic environment – Shifts in unemployment rates, interest rate hikes and other economic indicators can impact consumer behavior. Regulatory changes affecting consumers – For example, borrowers who benefited from a temporary student loan payment pause may face challenges as they resume payments. Scorecard degradation – A model that performed well several years ago may not perform as well under current conditions. When to perform model validations The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Supervisory Guidance on Model Risk Management states model validations should be performed at least annually to help reduce risk. The validation process should be comprehensive and produce proper documentation. While some organizations perform their own validations, those with fewer resources and access to historical data may not be able to validate and meet the guidance recommendations. Regular validations support compliance and can also give you confidence that your lending strategies are built on solid, current data that drive better outcomes. Good model validation practices are critical if lenders are to continue to make data-driven decisions that promote fairness for consumers and financial soundness for the institution. Make better lending decisions If you’re a credit risk manager responsible for the models driving your lending policies, there are several things you can do to ensure that your organization continues to make fair and sound lending decisions: Assess your model inventory. Ensure you have comprehensive documentation showing when each model was developed and when it was last validated. Validate the scores you are using on your data, along with those you are considering, to compare how well each model performs and determine if you are using the most effective model for your needs. Produce validation documentation, including performance (odds) charts and key performance metrics, which can be shared with regulators. Utilize the performance charts produced from the validation to analyze bad rates/approval rates and adjust cutoff scores as needed. Explore alternative credit scoring models to potentially enhance your scoring process. As market conditions and regulations continue to evolve, model validations will remain an essential tool for staying competitive and making sound lending decisions. Ready to ensure your lending decisions are based on the latest data? Learn more about Experian’s flexible validation services and how we can support your ongoing success. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Learn more

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly transforming the landscape of real estate fraud, enabling criminals to execute complex schemes like deed theft with greater ease. A notable case involves Spelling Manor, a $137.5 million mansion in Los Angeles, where the owner alleges they are entangled in deed fraud. Scammers reportedly filed fraudulent documents that have prevented the owner from selling the estate, thwarting offers from buyers, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Understanding deed/title fraud Deed fraud, also known as title or property fraud, occurs when someone illegally transfers ownership of a property without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Typically, fraudsters create fake documents or forge the owner’s signature on a deed to make it look like the property has been legally transferred to them. Once the title is in their name, they may try to sell or mortgage the property, leaving the original owner unaware until it’s too late. How deed fraud works Identify a target: Fraudsters often look for properties that appear vulnerable, such as vacant land, unoccupied homes, or properties owned by elderly individuals who may not check their records frequently. Forge documentation: Using fake IDs and forged signatures, scammers create documents that appear to show a legitimate transfer of ownership. With modern technology, these documents can look highly convincing. Record the fake deed: Fraudsters then file these documents with the local county clerk or recorder’s office. This officially changes the ownership records, making it seem as if the scammer is the legitimate owner. Exploit the ownership: Once listed as the owner, the fraudster may sell the property to an unsuspecting buyer, take out loans against it, or even rent it out. The impact on victims In the summer of 2024, Elvis Presley’s family got confronted to a forged deed scam. A fake firm, Naussany Investments, falsely claimed Lisa Marie Presley owed millions and used Graceland as collateral. They placed a foreclosure notice and attempted to auction the estate. Riley Keough filed a lawsuit, exposing the firm as fraudulent and halting the foreclosure through a judge’s injunction. Lisa Jeanine Findley, who forged documents and posed as firm employees, was arrested and charged with deed forgery fraud and identity theft. She faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted.  The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center does not specifically monitor deed fraud. However, in 2023, it processed a total of 9,521 real estate-related complaints defined as the loss of funds from a real estate investment, resulting in more than $145 million in losses. Victims of deed fraud can face severe financial and legal issues. They may discover the fraud only when trying to sell, refinance, or even pay taxes on the property. Reversing deed fraud typically requires a costly and time-consuming legal process, as courts must determine that the transfer was fraudulent and restore the original owner’s rights. Prevention and safeguards There are several preventive measures and fraud prevention solutions that can be established to help mitigate the risks associated with deed/title fraud. These include: For lending institutions: Enhanced ID verification: Implement multi-factor identity checks at the loan approval stage. Regular portfolio audits: Conduct periodic audits to detect unusual property transfers and title changes in their loan portfolios. For title companies: AI-driven document verification tools: Use machine learning algorithms to identify inconsistencies in deed and ownership documents. Real-time fraud monitoring: Employ analytics to track suspicious behavior patterns, such as rapid ownership changes. Seller authentication: Require biometric or multi-step identity verification for anyone claiming ownership or initiating sales. For realtors: Training and awareness: Educate realtors on how to spot warning signs of fraudulent listings and seller impersonations. Pre-transaction verification: Collaborate with title companies to validate ownership early in the listing process. Acting with the right solution Mortgage fraud is a constant threat that demands ongoing vigilance and adaptability. As fraudsters evolve their tactics, the mortgage industry must stay one step ahead to safeguard homeowners and lenders alike. With concerns over deed/title-related fraud rising, it is vital to raise awareness, strengthen preventive measures, and foster collaboration to protect the integrity of the mortgage market. By staying informed and implementing robust safeguards, we can collectively combat and prevent mortgage fraud from disrupting the financial security of individuals and the industry. Experian mortgage powers advanced capabilities across the mortgage lifecycle by gaining market intelligence, enhancing customer experience to remove friction and tapping into industry leading data sources to gain a complete view of borrower behavior. Visit our website to see how these solutions can help your business prevent deed fraud. Learn more