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New EV registrations have increased almost 60% since this time last year—and while gasoline vehicles continue to dominate the market, data shows new gasoline registration volumes are dropping year-over-year.

Written by: Mihail Blagoev As there is talk about the global economy potentially heading into a recession, while some suggest that it has already started, there is an expectation that many of the world's countries will see their economic output decline in the next couple of months or a year. Among the negative trends that can occur during a recession are companies making fewer sales and people losing their jobs. Unfortunately, just like any other economic crisis, fraud is expected to go in the opposite direction as criminals continue finding innovative ways to attack consumers when they’re most vulnerable. There is also a concern that first-party fraud attempts might rise as genuine consumers are pushed over the edge by inflation and economic uncertainty. With that in mind, here are six fraud trends that are likely to happen during a recession: Fraudsters exploiting the vulnerable  It is well-documented that fraudsters found numerous ways to exploit the vulnerable during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this is expected to happen again in the coming months. As the cost of living rises, criminals will try to use that in their favor by looking for people who can't pay their utility bills or can't afford the price of gas or even food. Fraudsters will try to exploit that by offering them deals, discounts, refunds, or just about anything that will make people believe they are paying less for something that has increased in value or is out of reach at its normal price. Fraudsters have two main goals behind these tactics – stealing personal information to use in other crimes or gaining immediate financial benefits. Although their tactics are well-known – applying pressure on their victims to make quick decisions or offering them something that sounds like a great deal, but in truth, it isn't – that won't prevent them from trying. These scams show that, unlike in other industries, criminals do not rely on high success rates to achieve their goals. All they need is one or two victims out of every few hundred to fall for their schemes. Loan origination fraud Periods of financial instability often result in an increase in first-party fraud, among others. This could take many forms, and there is a possibility for an increase in fraudulent loan applications by genuine consumers to be among the most popular ones. In this type of fraud, bad actors lie on registration forms or applications to gain access to funds they wouldn't normally receive if they added their real information. That could be done by lying about their income and employment information, usually inflating their salaries, extending the amount of time they worked for a certain company, or simply adding a company they have never worked for. Other popular forgeries include anything from supplying fake phone numbers and addresses to providing fake bank statements and utility bills. Money mules Recessions can result in layoffs or people looking for work not being able to find any. That's another opportunity for fraudsters to exploit the vulnerable by offering them “jobs.” This could be achieved by posting job ads on real employment websites or social media. Once recruited, people are asked to open new bank accounts or use their previously opened accounts to transfer funds to accounts that are in the possession of criminals. In the end, the funds get laundered, while the genuine account holder receives a fee for the service. People of all ages are a possible target, but this is especially true for younger generations who often don't understand the consequences of their activities.  Friendly fraud Another type of first-party fraud that could go up as a result of the increased economic pressures could be friendly fraud. In this type of fraud that mostly affects the retail industry, consumers charge back genuine payments made by them in order to end up with both the product purchased and the funds for it back in their possession. They could then keep the product or quickly resell it for less than its original value. Luxury goods and electronics could be especially attractive for this type of fraud. Claiming non-deliveries or transactions not being recognized could be among the top reasons used for charging back the transactions. Investment fraud During times of economic hardship, people are often looking for ways to keep their savings from getting eaten by inflation. Investments in property could be one solution, but as it is not affordable for everyone, people are also looking for other ways to invest their money. While this isn’t exactly a vulnerability, it is something that criminals are looking to exploit greatly. They usually reach out to potential victims through social media while also presenting them with fake websites that mimic those by real investors. The opportunities being offered can range from cryptocurrency to various schemes and products that don’t exist or are worthless. However, after the criminals obtain possession of the funds, they discontinue their contact with the victims. Fake goods While this shouldn't happen to the same extent that was seen in 2020, there is a chance that some goods might disappear from certain markets. There could be a variety of reasons for that, from companies limiting their production or going out of business due to inability to pay their bills or shortage in sales to issues with supply chains due to the high gas and oil prices. Expect fraudsters to be the first to move in if there are shortages and start offering fake products or goods that will never arrive.  It is still difficult to measure if or when a recession will hit each corner of the world or how long it will take for the next phase in the financial cycle to begin. However, one thing that is certain is that the longer it takes the economy to settle, the more opportunities criminals will have to benefit from their schemes and come up with new ways to defraud people. Businesses should monitor the fraud environment around them closely and be ready to adjust their fraud management strategies quickly. They should also understand the complexity of the problems in front of them and that they will likely need a mixture of capabilities to sort them out while keeping their customer base happy. This is where fraud orchestration platforms could help by offering the needed solutions to solve multiple fraud issues and the flexibility to turn any of these tools on and off when needed. Contact us

What is elder abuse fraud? Financial abuse is reportedly the fastest-growing form of elder abuse, leaving many Americans vulnerable to theft scams, and putting businesses and other organizations on the frontlines to provide protection and help prevent fraud losses.   Financial elder abuse fraud occurs when someone illegally uses a senior’s money or other property. This can be someone they know, or a third party – like fraudsters who are perpetrating romance scams Older consumers and other vulnerable digital newbies were prime targets for this type of abuse during the start of the pandemic when many of them became active online for the first time or started transacting in new ways. This made them especially attractive targets for social engineering (when a fraudster manipulates a person to divulge confidential or private information) and account takeover fraud. While most of us have become used to life online (in fact, there’s been a 25% increase in online activity since the start of the pandemic), some seniors still have risky habits such as poor password maintenance, that can make them more attractive targets for fraudsters. What is the impact of elder abuse fraud? According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), elder abuse fraud cost Americans over the age of 60 more than $966 million in 2020. In addition to the direct cost to consumers, elder abuse fraud can leave organizations vulnerable to the fallout from data breaches via account takeover, and lost time and money spent helping seniors and other vulnerable Americans recoup their losses, reset accounts, and more. Further, the victim may associate the fraud with the bank, healthcare provider, or other businesses where the account was taken over and decide to stop utilizing that entity all together. How can organizations prevent elder abuse fraud? Preventing elder abuse fraud can take many forms. Organizations should start with a robust fraud management solution that can help prevent account takeover, first-party, synthetic identity fraud, and more. This platform should also include the ability to use data analysis to detect and flag sudden changes in financial behavior, online activities, and transaction locations that could indicate abuse or takeover of the account. With the right fraud strategy in place, organizations can help prevent fraud and build trust with older generations. Given that 95% of Baby Boomers cite security as the most important aspect of their online experience, this step is too important to miss.   To learn more about how Experian is helping organizations develop and maintain effective fraud and identity solutions, be sure to visit us or request a call. Contact us  

Reports of romance scams have spiked in the past two years, partly due to the rise in popularity of online dating and social apps while Americans were isolated at home. With more consumers looking for love online, fraudsters have jumped on the chance to build intimate, trusted relationships without the immediate pressure to meet in person. And these shams seemingly paid off: from January 1 to July 31, 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 1,800 complaints related to an online romance scam, resulting in losses of approximately $133 million. These romance scams carry financial and security risks that impact both the targets of the fraud and the businesses with which they interact. Experian predicts that romance scams will continue to rise in 2022, leaving consumers and businesses vulnerable to attacks and theft. What is a romance scam? According to the FBI, a romance scam occurs when “a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust." Typically, fraudsters seek out their marks in dating or socializing settings, such as online apps, and strive to build intimacy and trust as quickly as possible. To avoid suspicion, they may claim that they travel frequently for work or give other excuses about why they can't meet in person. Their attentions are in the context of love and dating, so it's not uncommon for romance scammers to offer marriage proposals or other commitments to intensify the relationship, but the whole point of this fraud is to get their targets to send money. Sometimes fraudsters simply ask for a “loan" to cover medical expenses, an unforeseen shortfall or even travel costs to see the victim in person. Other times, they might ask for gifts or gift cards. Requests for money ­– whether through direct deposit, gift cards or credit card payments – are all red flags. Increasingly, romance scammers have tried to lure people into investment deals, including cryptocurrency. Romance scams predate the internet by centuries, but the emergence of digital technologies has made them easier to accomplish – and easier to get away with, too. Romance scams are increasing In 2020, there were around 44 million users of online dating services in the United States and this increased to 49 million users in 2021, according to Statista Research Department. By 2022, two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, that number jumped to more than 50 million, and it's projected to rise to 53.3 million by 2025. More users mean more potential targets. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), romance scams hit a record high in 2021, with consumers reporting $547 million in losses that year ­– up 80 percent from 2020. The median individual loss reported to the FTC from romance scams was $2,400. With the help of modern technologies, romance scammers have added new tactics to their grift. For example, in addition to usual requests for money, a target might be asked to participate in bogus investment schemes involving cryptocurrency. In these cases, the median loss was $10,000. According to the FTC, romance scammers have conned Americans out of an estimated $1.3 billion over the past five years. Worryingly, romance scams also present a serious data risk. Damage could spread beyond financial losses into even more hazardous territory if the scammer can gain access to a target's personally identifiable information (PII) or financial data. In these cases, fraudsters might engage in identity theft to create new accounts or take over existing ones. Breaking up with romance scammers Businesses may not be susceptible to the lure of love, but they're still vulnerable when it comes to the fallout from romance scams. Companies must ensure they have a layered solution that seamlessly recognizes returning customers, while monitoring for indicators that the user presenting an identity is not actually the owner of that identity. Some warning signs include logins from a new IP address nowhere near the user's registered physical address; unusual types or frequencies of transactions; and the addition of a suspicious new authorized user to a credit card account. Businesses also have access to fraud prevention help. Using vast data resources, decades of identity and credit risk management, consumer-permissioned data and industry-leading analytics, Experian enables businesses to detect and prevent fraud by identifying credible customers. This empowers businesses to apply the appropriate amount of friction to each interaction to protect their customers, their data and themselves. To learn more about how Experian is assisting businesses with their fraud prevention efforts, visit us or request a call. And keep an eye out for additional in-depth explorations of our Future of Fraud Forecast. Future of Fraud Forecast Fraud Prevention

According to Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report: Q1 2022, new vehicle registrations were down 19% from the prior year—declining to 3.4 million. Used registrations went from 11.4 million to 9.9 million year-over-year, decreasing 13.2%.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans lacked equal access to financial products and services — from tapping into affordable banking services to credit cards to financing a home purchase. The global pandemic likely exacerbated those existing issues and inequalities. That reality makes financial inclusion — a concerted effort to make financial products and services affordable and accessible to all consumers — more crucial than ever. The playing field wasn't level before the pandemic The Federal Reserve reported that in 2019, Black and Hispanic/Latino families had median wealth that was just 13 to 19 percent of that of White families — $24,100 and $36,100, respectively, compared to $188,200 for White families. That inequity is also reflected in credit score disparities. While credit scores, income, and wealth aren't synonymous, the traditional credit scoring system leads marginalized communities to be disproportionately labeled unscoreable or credit invisible, and face challenges in accessing credit. New research from Experian shows that in over 200 cities, there can be more than a 100-point difference in credit scores between neighborhoods — often within just a few miles from each other. Marginalized communities bore the financial brunt Minority communities were also disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in terms of infections, job losses, and financial hardship. In mid-2020, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reported Black and Hispanic/Latino workers were more likely than White workers to have lost their jobs or to be classified as essential workers — leading to economic or health insecurity. Government initiatives — including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the American Rescue Plan — created expanded unemployment benefits, paused loan payments, eviction moratoriums, and direct cash payments. These helped consumers' immediate financial well-being. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that, on average, U.S. households spent approximately 40 percent of their first two stimulus checks, with about 30 percent used for savings and another 30 percent used to pay down debt. In some communities highly affected by COVID-19, consumers were able to pay down nearly 40 percent of their credit card balances and close more than 9 percent of their bank card accounts, according to recent data. Stimulus payments have been credited with reducing childhood poverty and helping families save for financial emergencies. That being said, people on the upper end of the income scale were able to improve their financial situation even more. Their wealth grew at a much faster pace than people at the bottom end of the income distribution scale, according to data from the Federal Reserve. How the pandemic deepened financial exclusion Although hiring has picked up in low-wage industries, research indicates that low-wage jobs have been the slowest to return. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, among respondents who said their financial situation worsened during the pandemic, 44 percent believe it will take three years or more to get back to where they were a year ago. About 10 percent don't think their finances will ever recover. Recent Experian data shows that consumers in certain communities that were already struggling to pay their debts fell into an even bigger hole. These consumers missed payments on 56 percent more accounts in the period between spring 2019 to spring 2020 compared to the year prior. Credit scores in these neighborhoods fell by an average of over 20 points during the first 18 months of COVID-19. That being said, U.S. consumers overall increased their median credit scores by an average of 21 points from the end of 2019 to the end of 2021. When consumers with deteriorating credit encounter financial stresses, often their only recourse is to pile on additional debt. Even worse, those who can't access traditional credit often turn to alternative credit arrangements, such as short-term loans, which may charge significantly higher interest rates. READ MORE: More Than a Score: The Case for Financial Inclusion What can the financial sector do? Without access to affordable financial services and products, subprime or credit invisible consumers may not get approved for a mortgage or car loan — things that might come much easier for consumers with better scores. This is just one reason why financial inclusion is so important — and why financial services companies have a big role to play in driving it. One place to start is by taking a broader view of what makes a creditworthy consumer. In addition to traditional credit scoring models, new tools can leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with alternative data, to analyze the creditworthiness of consumers. By qualifying for credit, more consumers can access affordable mortgages, car loans, business loans and insurance - freeing up money for other expenses and allowing them to grow their wealth.. READ MORE: What Is Alternative and Non-Traditional Data? Last word Marginalized communities were already struggling economically before the pandemic, and the impact of COVID-19 has made the wealth disparities worse. With the pandemic waning, now is the time for financial institutions to take action on financial inclusion. Not only does it help improve your customers' lives and make them better prepared for the next crisis, but it also fuels your business's growth and bottom line.

Across all levels of government, we are seeing a surge in digital modernization — transforming the delivery of traditional services into a contactless, digital environment. Whether it is with the Social Security Administration’s digital modernization effort, the state of California’s Vision 2023, or even at the local level with counties modernizing digital access to records for their citizens. This comes at a time when identity fraud in government services is growing at an alarming rate, with an increase of over 2,900 percent related to government benefits or document fraud in 2020 according to the FTC. A key challenge for any agency planning digital modernization is balancing access with security. This is particularly critical in an environment where over 1 billion records were exposed over a recent five-year span. Given the U.S. population is currently about 330 million, that means each citizen had an average of three breach exposures. Therefore, identity proofing must be a critical part of any agency modernization effort. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication (NIST SP) 800-63 revision 3 lays out a risk assessment to help organizations determine the appropriate level of security to apply based on six areas of impact. However, identity proofing a new citizen through digital channels requires significant friction at levels above Identity Assurance Level 1 (IAL1). The stringent requirement for a biometric match in this standard at IAL2 presents a real challenge to the balance mentioned above, which has led agencies to seek alternatives that both combat the risk of fraud and identity theft and are operationally sound. Experian has been supporting the private sector in this endeavor for years, helping them effectively manage identity theft and fraud concerns while allowing seamless access to services for the vast majority of their consumers. This risk-based approach through our CrossCore® platform and multitude of options to identify and combat fraud allows agencies to deliver the security and accessibility expected by their citizens. CrossCore allows agencies to verify and identify citizens using multiple data points: Traditional personally identifiable information (name, address, Social Security number, date of birth) Email Phone number Device identification Biometrics CrossCore can instantly take the risk information from these risk signals above and initiate additional verification where there is a higher risk of identity theft or fraud, including knowledge-based verification (KBV), one-time passcode (OTP) to a trusted phone number linked to the identity being presented, or even remotely verifying identity documents (e.g., driver’s license, passport, etc.) through our new CrossCore Doc Capture solution. Just recently, Experian helped a state lottery agency implement an efficient identity proofing system to enable digital redemption of winning tickets, saving both the government and the citizens time and money. Experian’s identity, verification, and fraud solutions can help government agencies of all sizes on their journey to digital modernization. To learn more about the options available to your agency, visit us or request a call. CrossCore Doc Capture

Whether a consumer has a brand-new or used vehicle, it’s inevitably going to need regular maintenance and require repairs. Fortunately for aftermarket professionals, the aftermarket “sweet spot” is continuously growing—a trend that should be watched closely. Vehicles in the sweet spot are typically between six- to 12-model-years-old and have aged out of general OEM manufacturer warranties for any repairs. Knowing the model year and type of vehicles that are in operation will be important for aftermarket professionals to determine what parts may be needed, and anticipate potential consumer needs. According to Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report: Q1 2022, 35.8% of vehicles in operation (VIO) now fall within the aftermarket sweet spot, a 6.5% year-over-year increase. It is important to note that the aftermarket sweet spot max volume record of 104 million is expected to be broken over the next 12-18 months, considering the sweet spot volume was 100.3 million through Q1 2022 and the last time it exceeded that number was nine years ago. The increase will create more opportunities for aftermarket professionals as more vehicles will potentially need maintenance. Aftermarket “sweet spot” will continue to grow Right now, the aftermarket sweet spot consists of model years between 2011 and 2017. There were 10.5 million 2011 model year vehicles on the road through Q1 2022, this low volume will transition into the post-sweet spot next year. At the same time, there will be 16.5 million 2018 model year vehicles entering the sweet spot. Furthermore, an estimated 16.7 million vehicles in operation with a 2019 model year and almost 14.3 million vehicles in operation with a 2020 model year will be transitioning into the sweet spot in the next two years. When these model year vehicles enter the sweet spot, the current 12 million vehicles with a 2012 model year and an estimated 13.7 million 2013 model year vehicles will transition into the post-sweet spot, resulting in a notable increase. Watching this data closely will allow aftermarket professionals to continue assisting with maintenance and repairs for these vehicles that are currently on the road, as well as prepare for what’s to come to the aftermarket industry in approaching years. To learn more about other vehicle registration trends, watch the full Automotive Market Trends Report: Q1 2022 presentation on demand.

This post was updated in 2022. Fraud prevention can seem like a moving target. Criminals often shift from one scheme to the next, forcing organizations to play catch up to protect consumers’ identities and funds. But with the right technology, it’s possible to implement a fraud solution that provides protection and enhances the consumer journey. The pandemic fraud boom Government stimulus funds, COVID-19 testing and the loosening of business controls were a boon for criminals and levied an immense cost against businesses and consumers.   Consumer fraud losses rose to $3.3 billion in 2020, up from $1.8 billion in 2019.   The rapid increase in digital activity had two significant impacts. First, it shifted new account applications to the digital channel, where increased anonymity favors fraudsters by creating an environment where identity thieves could hide among the immense volume of applicants and monetize stolen personally identifiable information (PII). Second, it fueled account takeover (ATO) attacks by introducing digital “newbies” with unsophisticated password habits and limited ability to recognize and protect themselves from malware or social engineering, making them easy targets for credential theft. The return of old-school fraud Now that businesses and consumers are growing wise to some of the fraud schemes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals are turning to new avenues, including tried-and-true methods like account opening and ATO fraud. New account fraud is expected to cost U.S. financial institutions $3.5 billion in 2021 alone.   Fraud organizations will take the PII available and match it with automated tools to increase their efficiency and success rates while continuing with phishing and other schemes to gain new information that can fuel further attacks. Building a fraud solution Staying ahead of fraudsters may feel like a losing proposition but equipped with the proper fraud controls, you can enhance the customer experience, increase operational efficiency and protect against developing fraud schemes. With a fraud solution that uses multiple tools in concert, it’s possible to recognize, verify and holistically risk assess most consumers that pass through your portfolio. The right platform — ideally one that can call upon different services to perform each job — will enable your organization to flag suspicious activity, increase insight into large-scale attacks, track risky users and break down traditional internal silos. By coordinating efforts and adding multiple touchpoints to run both in the foreground and background, you can ensure the right friction is applied at the right time without diminishing the end-user experience. In fact, by improving your recognition tools, you can make the experience for recognized, legitimate customers even easier. To learn more about the potential impacts of traditional fraud and how your organization can leverage a fraud prevention solution to achieve your retention and growth goals, read our latest white paper or request a call. Read white paper Schedule a call

These days, the call for financial inclusion is being answered by a disruptive force of new financial products and services. From fintech to storied institutional players, we're seeing a variety of offerings that are increasingly accessible and affordable for consumers. It's a step in the right direction. And beyond the moral imperative, companies that meet the call are finding that financial inclusion can be a source of business growth and a necessity for staying relevant in a competitive marketplace. A diaspora of credit-invisible consumers To start, let's put the problem in context. A 2022 Oliver Wyman report found about 19 percent of the adult population is either credit invisible (has no credit file) or unscoreable (not enough credit information to be scoreable by conventional credit scoring models). But some communities are disproportionately impacted by this reality. Specifically, the report found: Black Americans are 1.8 times more likely to be credit invisible or unscoreable than white Americans. Recent immigrants may have trouble accessing credit in the U.S., even if they're creditworthy in their home country. About 40 percent of credit invisibles are under 25 years old. In low-income neighborhoods, nearly 30 percent of adults are credit invisible and an additional 16 percent are unscoreable. Younger and older Americans alike may shy away from credit products because of negative experiences and distrust of creditors. Similarly, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reports that an estimated 5.4 percent (approximately 7.1 million) households, were unbanked in 2019 — often because they can't meet minimum balance requirements or don't trust banks. Credit invisibles and unscoreables may prefer to deal in a cash economy and turn to alternative credit and banking products, such as payday loans, prepaid cards, and check-cashing services. But these products can perpetuate negative spirals. High fees and interest can create a vicious cycle of spending money to access money, and the products don't help the consumers build credit. In turn, the lack of credit keeps the consumers from utilizing less expensive, mainstream financial products. The emergence of new players Recently, we've seen explosive growth in fintech — technology that aims to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. According to market research firm IDC, fintech is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25 percent through 2022, reaching a market value of $309 billion. It's reaching mass adoption by consumers: Plaid® reports that 88 percent of U.S. consumers use fintech apps or services (up from 58 percent in 2020), and 76 percent of consumers consider the ability to connect bank accounts to apps and services a top priority. Some of these new products and services are aimed at helping consumers get easier and less expensive access to traditional forms of credit. Others are creating alternative options for consumers. Free credit-building tools. Experian Go™ lets credit invisibles quickly and easily establish their credit history. Likewise, consumers can use Experian Boost™ to build their credit with non-traditional payments, including their existing phone, utility and streaming services bills. Alternative credit-building products. Chime® and Varo® , two neobanks, offer credit builder cards that are secured by a bank account that customers can easily add or withdraw money from. Mission Asset Fund, a nonprofit focused on helping immigrants, offers a fee- and interest-free credit builder loan through its lending circle program. Cash-flow underwriting. Credit card issuers and lenders, including Petal and Upstart, are using cash-flow underwriting for their consumer products. Buy now, pay later. Several Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers make it easy for consumers to pay off a purchase over time without a credit check. Behind the scenes, it's easier than ever to access alternative credit data1 — or expanded Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)-regulated data — which includes rental payments, small-dollar loans and consumer-permissioned data. And there are new services that can help turn the raw data into a valuable resource. For example, Lift PremiumTM uses multiple sources of expanded FCRA-regulated data to score 96 percent of American adults — compared to the 81 percent that conventional scoring models can score with traditional credit data. While we dig deeper to help credit invisibles, we're also finding that the insights from previously unreported transactions and behavior can offer a performance lift when applied to near-prime and prime consumers. It truly can be a win-win for consumers and creditors alike. Final word There's still a lot of work to be done to close wealth gaps and create a more inclusive financial system. But it's clear that consumers want to participate in a credit economy and are looking for opportunities to demonstrate their creditworthiness. Businesses that fail to respond to the call for more inclusive tools and practices may find themselves falling behind. Many companies are already using or planning to use alternative data, advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI in their credit-decisioning. Consider how you can similarly use these advancements to help others break out of negative cycles. 1When we refer to “Alternative Credit Data," this 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 Data" may also apply in this instance and both can be used interchangeably.

Previously, the Global Identity and Fraud Report called for businesses to meet consumer expectations for online recognition and security while improving the digital experience. Organizations have answered this call with investments and new initiatives, but the fraud risk persists and consumers are relying on businesses to protect them. In our latest report, we explore the issues associated with siloed recognition processes, consumer expectations and preferences, and effective risk strategies.   We surveyed more than 6,000 consumers and 1,800 businesses worldwide about this connection for our 2022 Global Identity and Fraud Report.   This year’s report dives into:   How online security yields engagement and trust with today’s digital consumers The role of businesses in protecting online consumers, and the associated benefits The current opportunity for businesses to implement multiple identity and fraud solutions The role that orchestration and outsourcing play in helping companies prevent fraud   To earn consumer trust and loyalty, organizations need to leverage automated solutions to identify and protect consumers across their online journeys while providing seamless recognition and low-friction fraud prevention with a robust and flexible fraud platform. To learn more about our findings and how to implement an effective solution, download Experian’s 2022 Global Identity and Fraud Report. Read the report Review your fraud strategy

In the first six months of 2021, there was $590 million in ransomware-related activity, which exceeds the value of $416 million reported for the entirety of 2020 according to the S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Constant economic pressure coupled with the ever-increasing volume of data online have created an environment that’s ripe for attacks, leaving businesses and consumers vulnerable to attacks and theft. What are ransomware attacks? Ransomware is a subset of malicious software, AKA malware, that either threatens to publish or block access to data or a computer system. It often takes the form of a cyberattack where criminals take over an organization’s computer network. Once they’ve assumed control, the hackers demand a ransom to restore access to the illicitly encrypted data. Additionally, ransomware attacks and data breaches are now becoming more closely linked, with sensitive data including employees’ personal information, HR records, and more being filtered out and distributed during or after the attack. In fact, Experian has found that 7 of 10 data breaches involve ransomware. The negative impact of ransomware attacks According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the average ransom demand in 2021 was $5.3 million, a 518% increase from the 2020 average. Experian’s latest Data Breach Response Guide found that businesses were hit with ransomware attacks every 11 seconds in 2021. These attacks also take up to 20% longer to begin breach notifications, leaving businesses even more vulnerable. In addition to the monetary loss and the time spent responding to and recovering from the attack, businesses also stand to suffer reputational damage, because consumer sentiment is that companies are responsible for protecting data. Having a plan in place makes a sizeable impact though, with 90% of consumers being more forgiving of companies that had a response plan in place prior to a breach. How to protect against ransomware attacks Experian’s 2022 Future of Fraud Forecast predicts that ransomware will be a significant fraud threat for companies as fraudsters will look for a sizeable ransom to cede control and potentially steal data from the hacked company. Preparing for the possibility of an attack includes training your staff to spot the signs of a phishing attempt, having a response plan in place, and leveraging partner solutions. To learn more about how Experian helps businesses protect against the fallout of a ransomware attack, visit us, and be sure to read about our other Future of Fraud predictions about cryptocurrency and Buy Now, Pay Later fraud. Request a call Future of Fraud Forecast

Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise as digital currencies gain popularity. The decentralized nature of these currencies makes them equally attractive to both legitimate consumers and fraudsters. Businesses may find themselves in a difficult position as they seek to prevent cryptocurrency-related fraud and help protect consumers. What are cryptocurrency scams? Cryptocurrencies are virtual currencies often based on and secured by blockchain technology. However, this does not always translate into security for the individual consumer. Many individuals fall victim to either cryptocurrency investment scams or cryptocurrency theft. Cryptocurrencies are not yet well-regulated or backed by a sovereign entity, leaving consumers open to threats when purchasing funds. The deregulated nature of the currencies makes it easy for scammers to build what appear to be legitimate cryptocurrency projects before disappearing, similar to pump-and-dump stock schemes. Additionally, scammers will perpetrate romance or other relationship-based scams and convince the victim to send them funds in cryptocurrency form. Cryptocurrency theft follows a few traditional fraud patterns: The fraudster may use phishing or social engineering to steal credentials. A crime ring might leverage malware or keystroke loggers to do the same thing. A scammer might present a “reward” to an unsuspecting consumer and require access to their wallet in order to “gift” the reward. Scammers consistently find new ways to trick unsuspecting consumers, including a recent scam relying on QR codes to steal funds converted to cryptocurrency via an ATM. Other common scams utilize imposter websites, fake mobile apps, bad tweets, or scamming emails to steal information and funds. The impact of scams on consumers According to the FTC, investment cryptocurrency scam reports have skyrocketed, with nearly 7,000 people reporting losses totaling more than $80 million from October 2020 to March 2021, with a media loss of $1,900. In 2020 the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker Risk Report ranked cryptocurrency scams as the seventh riskiest. In 2021, they jumped to the second riskiest scam. In Michigan alone 31 cryptocurrency scams were reported from January 2020 to March 2022, with reported loses from $350 all the way to $41,000. The impact of scams on businesses While the true impact of cryptocurrency scams on businesses is hard to measure, it’s easy to identify several areas for concern. First is the opportunity for the theft of personally identifiable information (PII) during a fraudulent cryptocurrency transaction. Once fraudsters have stolen funds, they may also funnel them through a legitimate business and turn them into a regulated form of currency for easy of use. Businesses with legitimate cryptocurrency interactions may also suffer from spoofed apps or websites, causing reputational damage when consumers are taken in by a scam. Preventing the fallout from scams As companies debate accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment, it’s important to consider that funds may be stolen or accessed by a malicious party. One way to protect your organization is to have a strong device identification strategy that can help ensure the entity accessing an account and the funds within is the true owner. By layering in this protection with other fraud defenses, businesses can be better prepared as consumer payment preferences shift. Additionally, financial institutions and other organizations should keep consumers informed about how to protect their own data and signs of scams. To learn more about how Experian is helping businesses develop and maintain effective fraud and identity solutions, visit us or request a call. And keep an eye out for additional in-depth explorations of our Future of Fraud Forecast. Request a call Future of Fraud Forecast

Experian’s latest Global Insights Report found that more than half of consumers have increased their online spending in the last three months, and 50% say it will increase in the next three months. Life online is here to stay, and consumer expectations have shifted, giving businesses and opportunity to sink or swim when building trust and gaining loyalty. This spring, Experian surveyed 6,000 consumers and 2,000 businesses across all industries to learn more about how, why, and where consumers are interacting with businesses online. Our research found that: Experience is top of mind, with 81% of consumers saying that a positive online experience makes them think more highly of a brand Digital payment options are on the rise with 62% of consumers using mobile wallets and 57% considering buy now, pay later as a replacement for their credit card Security is still a big factor, but 73% of consumers say the onus is on businesses to protect them online Download the report to get all the latest insights into consumer sentiment and how recent changes are impacting business priorities and investments. Download the report

It's one thing to make a corporate commitment to financial inclusion, but quite another to set specific goals and measure outcomes. What goals should lenders set to make financial inclusion a reality? How can success be quantified? What actionable steps must be taken to put policy into practice? The road to financial inclusion may feel long, but this step-by-step checklist can help you measure diversity and achieve goals to become more inclusive as an organization. Step 1: Set quantifiable goals with realistic outcomes Start by defining what you plan to achieve with a financial inclusion strategy. When setting goals, Alpa Lally, Experian's Vice President of Data Business at Consumer Information Services, recommends organizations "assess the strategic opportunity at the enterprise level." "It is important that KPIs are aligned across each business unit and functional groups in order to understand the investment opportunity and what the business must achieve together," said Lally. "The key focus here is 'together', the path to financial inclusion is a journey for all groups and everyone must participate, be committed and be aligned to be successful." Figuring out your short- and long-term goals should be the first step to kickstarting a financial inclusion strategy. But equally important is driving towards outcomes. For instance, if the goal is to increase the number of loans made to previously overlooked or excluded consumers, you may want to start by examining your declination population to better understand who is being left out. Or if financial inclusion is tied to a wider strategy or vision on corporate social responsibility, your goals may include an education component, community outreach, and a re-examination of your hiring practices. No matter what KPIs you're using, here are relevant questions to ask in four key areas – which will help draw out your organizational goals and priorities: Organizational awareness: What action is your organization taking to enhance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and embrace Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) around financial inclusion? If you already have financial inclusion programs in place, what are the primary goals? Barriers: What barriers prevent the organization from pursuing equity, diversity and inclusion programs? Education: How do you create awareness and education around financial inclusion? Which community or third-party organizations can help you reach consumers who aren't aware of ways to access financial services? Markers of success: What benchmarks will your organization use to measure and analyze success? Step 2: Do a financial inclusion audit Before developing and implementing a robust financial inclusion program, Lally recommends conducting a financial inclusion audit – which is a "detailed assessment of where you are today, relative to the goals and results you've outlined". In a nutshell, it allows you to assess your current systems and results within your financial institution. According to Lally, a financial inclusion audit should address the following key areas: Roadmap: What are your strategic priorities and how will financial inclusion fit within them? Tracking: Track the actual volume and distribution of different underserved populations (e.g., young adults, low-income communities, immigrants, etc.) within your book of business. Look at the applications and the approval rates by segment. In addition, assess the interest rates these consumers are offered by credit score bands for each group: “Benchmarking is critical. Understanding how they compare to national averages? How do they compare to the rest of your portfolio?" said Lally. Hiring practices: Is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) central to your talent management strategy? Is there a link between a lack of DEI in hiring practices and the level of financial inclusion within an organization? Affordability and access: Determine if the products and services you offer are easily accessible, can be understood by a reasonable consumer and are affordable to a broad base. Internal practices: What policies exist that influence the culture and behavior of employees around financial inclusion? Partnerships: Identify outside organizations that can help you develop financial literacy programs to promote financial inclusion. Advertising: Does your advertising promote equal and diverse representation across a wide range of consumer groups? Tools to measure: Are you financially inclusive as a company? How can you improve? The Bayesian Improved Surname Geocoding (BISG) method used by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) predicts the probability of an individual's race and ethnicity based on demographic information associated with the consumer's surname. Lenders can use this type of information to conduct internal audits or set benchmarks to help ensure accountability in their diversity goals. Step 3: Tap into technology New technology is emerging that gives lenders powerful tools to evaluate a wider pool of prospective borrowers while also mitigating risk. For instance, scoring models that incorporate expanded FCRA-regulated data provide greater insight into 'credit invisible' or 'unscorable' consumers because they look at a wider set of data assets (or 'alternative data'), which allows lenders to assess a larger pool of applicants. It also improves the accuracy of those scores and better assesses the creditworthiness of consumers. Consider these resources, among others: Lift Premium™: Experian estimates that lenders using Lift Premium™ can score 96 percent of U.S. adults, a vast improvement over the 81 percent that are scorable today with conventional scores relying on mainstream data. Such enhanced scores would enable six million consumers who are considered subprime today to qualify for “mainstream" (prime or near-prime) credit. Experian® RentBureau®: RentBureau collects rent payment data from landlords and management companies, which allows consumers to leverage positive rent payment history similarly to how consumers leverage consistent mortgage payments. Clarity Credit Data: Clarity Credit Data allows lenders to see how consumers use alternative financial products and examine payment behaviors that might exist outside of the traditional credit report. Clarity's expanded FCRA -regulated data provides a deeper view of the consumer, allowing lenders to identify those who may not have previously been classified as "at risk" and approve consumers that may have previously been denied using a traditional credit score. Income Verification: Consumers can grant access to their bank accounts so lenders can assess their ability to pay based on verified income and cash flow. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) and greater automation can reduce operational costs for lenders, while increasing the affordability of financial products and services for customers. AI and machine learning (ML) can also improve risk profiling and credit decisioning by filling in some of the gaps where credit history is not available. These are just a few examples of a wide range of cutting-edge solutions and technologies that enable lenders to promote greater financial inclusion through their decisioning processes. As new solutions are introduced to the market, it is imperative that lenders look into these technologies to help grow their business. Step 4: Monitor and measure Measuring your progress on financial inclusion isn't a one-and-done proposition. After you've set your goals and created a roadmap, it's important to continue monitoring and measuring your progress. That means your performance to gauge the impact of financial inclusion at both the community and business levels. Lally recommends the following examples: Compare your lending pool to the latest population data from the United States census. Is your portfolio representative of the U.S. population or are there segments that should have greater access? How does it compare against other lenders competing in the same space? Keep in mind that it has been widely reported that certain populations were undercounted, so you may want to factor this reality into your assessments. Work to understand how traditionally underserved consumers are performing in terms of their payment behaviors, purchase patterns and delinquencies. Measure the impact of financial inclusion on your company's overall revenue growth, ROI and brand reputation. Conduct an analysis to better understand your company's brand reputation, how it's perceived across different groups and what your customers are saying. Last word Financial inclusion represents a big step towards closing the wealth gap and helping marginalized communities build generational wealth. Given the prevalence of socioeconomic and racial inequality in our country today, it's a complex issue that disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, such as consumers of color, low-income communities and immigrants. Adopting more financially inclusive practices can help improve access to credit for these groups. For financial institutions and lenders, the first step is to identify realistic, quantifiable goals. A successful financial inclusion initiative also hinges on completing a financial inclusion audit, tapping into the right technology and continually monitoring and measuring progress. "It is paramount that financial institutions hold themselves accountable and demonstrate their commitment to make these practices a part of their DNA." - Alpa Lally. Learn more