Latest Posts

Report: State of the Economy, May 2024

Check out May's report for a deep dive into the latest economic trends and market insights, including those around job creation and spending.

Published: May 22, 2024 by Josee Farmer
Introducing New Enhancements to Experian Ascend Platform™

Experian’s award-winning platform now brings together market-leading data, generative AI and cutting-edge machine learning solutions.

Published: May 22, 2024 by Julie.JLee@experian.com
Vision 2024: Day 1 Recap

“Learn how to learn.” One of Zack Kass’, AI futurist and one of the keynote speakers at Vision 2024, takeaways readily embodies a sentiment most of us share — particularly here at Vision. Jennifer Schulz, CEO of Experian, North America, talked about AI and transformative technologies of past and present as she kicked off Vision 2024, the 40th Vision. Keynote speaker: Dr. Mohamed El-Erian Dr. Mohamed El-Erian, President of Queens’ College, Cambridge and Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, returned to the Vision stage to discuss the labor market, “sticky” inflation and the health of consumers. He emphasized the need to embrace and learn how to talk to AI engines and that AI can facilitate content, creation, collaboration and community Keynote speaker: Zack Kass Zack Kass, AI futurist and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, spoke about the future of work and life and artificial general intelligence. He said AI is aiding in our entering of a superlinear trajectory and compared the thresholds of technology versus those of society. Sessions – Day 1 highlights The conference hall was buzzing with conversations, discussions and thought leadership. Some themes definitely rose to the top — the increasing proliferation of fraud and how to combat it without diminishing the customer experience, leveraging AI and transformative technology in decisioning and how Experian is pioneering the GenAI era in finance and technology. Transformative technologiesAI and emerging technologies are reshaping the finance sector and it's the responsibility of today's industry leaders to equip themselves with cutting-edge strategies and a comprehensive understanding to master the rapidly evolving landscape. That said, transformation is a journey and aligning with a partner that's agile and innovative is critical. Holistic fraud decisioningGenerative AI, a resurgence of bank branch transactions, synthetic identity and pig butchering are all fraud trends that today's organizations must be acutely aware of and armed to protect their businesses and customers against. Leveraging a holistic fraud decisioning strategy is important in finding the balance between customer experience and mitigating fraud. Unlocking cashflow to grow, protect and reduce riskCash flow data can be used not only across the lending lifecycle, but also as part of assessing existing portfolio opportunities. Incorporating consumer-permissioned data into models and processes powers predicatbility and can further assess risk and help score more consumers. Navigating the economyAmid a slowing economy, consumers and businesses continue to struggle with higher interest rates, tighter credit conditions and rising delinquencies, creating a challenging environment for lenders. Experian's experts outlined their latest economic forecasts and provided actionable insights into key consumer and commercial credit trends. More insights from Vision to come. Follow @ExperianVision and @ExperianInsights to see more of the action.

Published: May 22, 2024 by Stefani Wendel
Preventing Chargeback Fraud

Preventing chargeback fraud is critical to protecting your organization. Learn how you can leverage fraud prevention solutions. Read more!

Published: May 21, 2024 by Julie.JLee@experian.com
Navigating Fintech Trends for Unsecured Personal Loans and Credit Card Products

As digital borrowing continues to gain prominence, fintech lenders must leverage data and analytics to fuel growth while mitigating risk.

Published: May 20, 2024 by Laura Davis
Unlocking the Map: Top Destinations for First-time Homebuyers

Learn where first-time homebuyers are having the most success securing a mortgage and what you can do to engage this audience.

Published: May 16, 2024 by Scott Hamlin
Preventing ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams: A Modern Investment Fraud

The world of finance can be a dangerous place, where cunning schemes lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce on unsuspecting victims. In the ever-evolving landscape of financial crime, the insidious ‘pig butchering’ scam has emerged as a significant threat, targeting both financial institutions and their clients. What is a ‘pig butchering’ scam? ‘Pig butchering’ scams are named after the practice of farmers fattening up their livestock before “butchering” them. This comparison describes the core of ‘pig butchering’ scams, where criminals entice victims to participate in investment schemes and cryptocurrency fraud. Originating in Southeast Asia and now rampant in the United States, these scams often start with online interactions via social media or dating applications. Scammers build trust with the victim, eventually gaining access to their online accounts. They "fatten the pig" by enticing more cryptocurrency investments and then make off with their ill-gotten gains. The repercussions are staggering, with reported losses exceeding $3.5 billion in 2023 alone according to an AP News article, and around 40,000 victims in the United States, including cases of losses as massive as $4 million. The real-life impact The story of “RB,” a San Francisco man who engaged with a scammer named "Janey Lee," serves as a stark warning. Through social media, Janey orchestrated an elaborate scheme, promising "RB” substantial returns in cryptocurrency investment. Seduced by false promises, “RB” emptied his life savings into the scam, only to be rescued by a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intervention, narrowly avoiding financial ruin.1 Malicious actors are improving their targeting skills, and often pursue executives and victims with a large sum of money, such as C-level officials from financial institutions. This past February, a $50 million pig slaughtering fraud incident caused the CEO of a local bank in Kansas to lose all his funds and the bank to collapse a few months later. FinCEN's vigilance and updates The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) remains vigilant, issuing advisories to financial institutions to combat ‘pig butchering’ scams. Their latest advisory highlights evolving scam tactics, including aggressive promotions, using money mules for illegal fund transfers, and leveraging new financial products like decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to obfuscate transactions. FinCEN also warns about red flags such as large and sudden investments from older customers, quick fund withdrawals after big deposits, and the frequent use of coins or mixers that hide transactions. Financial institutions are encouraged to: Report any suspicious activities by using specific terms like "pig butchering fraud advisory" in their reports to make analysis and response easier. File suspicious activity reports (SARs) using the key term “FIN-2023-PIGBUTCHERING.” Guide potential victims to report to the FBI’s IC3 or the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC’s) reporting system. A call to action for financial institutions The fight against ‘pig butchering’ scams requires proactive measures from financial institutions: Enhance fraud detection and anti-money laundering (AML) programs: Implement robust systems compliant with regulatory guidelines, conduct thorough customer enhanced due diligence, and leverage fraud detection software to spot anomalies and red flags., and leverage fraud detection software to spot anomalies and red flags. Leverage data analytics: Utilize data analytics tools to monitor customer behavior, identify irregular patterns, and swiftly detect potential ‘pig butchering’ activities. Employee training: Educate employees on scam risks, fraud detection techniques, and FinCEN red flags to empower them as the first line of defense., and FinCEN red flags to empower them as the first line of defense. Community education: Educate customers on recognizing and avoiding investment scams, promoting awareness, and safeguarding their assets. Navigating challenges with effective solutions ‘Pig butchering’ scams cause not only money losses but also personal troubles and reputational harm. Awareness, learning, and cooperation are essential in protecting from these complex financial fraudsters, securing the safety and confidence of your institutions and stakeholders. By combining the best data with our automated identification verification processes, you can protect your business and onboard new talents efficiently. Our industry-leading solutions employ device recognition, behavioral biometrics, machine learning, and global fraud databases to spot and block suspicious activity before it becomes a problem. Learn more 1San Francisco Chronical (2023). Crypto Texting Scam *This article includes content created by an AI language model and is intended to provide general information.

Published: May 15, 2024 by Alex Lvoff
Report: State of the Economy, April 2024

Check out April's report for a deep dive into the latest economic trends and market insights, including those around income and originations.

Published: May 1, 2024 by Josee Farmer
The High Cost of Fake IDs: How Identity Fraud is Draining Auto Dealerships

Identity fraud is a growing problem, but auto dealerships are not powerless. By investing in the right tools and practices, dealers can fight back.

Published: April 30, 2024 by Kelly Lawson
What Is Open Banking?

Open banking is revolutionizing the financial services industry. But what is open banking and how can you adapt to this new landscape?

Published: April 25, 2024 by Laura Burrows
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Market Remained Dynamic in 2023

With wider model availability and technology continuing to develop, the electric vehicle (EV) market experienced shifting in 2023, most notably among the top five newly registered models. According to Experian’s Electric Vehicles 2023 Year in Review, Tesla only made up two of the top five newly registered models in 2023, compared to four of the top five a year prior. The Tesla Model Y made up 36.8% of new retail EV registrations in 2023, followed by the Tesla Model 3 (19.6%), Volkswagen ID.4 (3.4%), Ford Mustang Mach-E (2.9%) and Chevrolet Bolt EUV (2.8%). The Volkswagen ID.4 and Chevrolet Bolt EUV were the newest entrants to the top five, replacing the Tesla Model X and Tesla Model S. EV registrations grow We’re also witnessing shoppers gravitate toward EVs more often than in years past. For instance, of the 11.8 million new retail registrations in 2023, more than 8% were EVs. Comparatively, of the 12.3 million new retail registrations in 2022, just over 6% were EVs. It’s notable that EVs continue to be most popular on the West Coast—particularly in California and Washington. According to the data, 33% of new retail EV registrations were in California—Los Angeles (170,000+), San Francisco (90,000+) and San Diego (30,000+) were among the top five DMAs for new retail EV registrations, along with Seattle, Washington (35,000+). While California exhibits robust EV registration growth, other states show the potential to expand, something automotive professionals should keep in mind. For instance, El Paso, Texas, was the fastest growing DMA for new retail EV registrations—with an 89.5% five year, year-over-year growth average, Savannah, Georgia, came in second at 81.8%, followed by Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois (76.7%), and Waco, Texas (73.7%). EV buyer insight Beyond the “what” and “where” of the EV market, the “who” is perhaps most important. Which customers have the highest propensity to buy an EV? According to the data, Gen Xers accounted for 32.0% of new retail registrations in 2023, however they accounted for 37.7% of new EV retail registrations over the same period. Similarly, millennials accounted for 24.5% of new retail registrations, yet made up 30.6% of new EV retail registrations in 2023; the only two generational demographics to over index on EV purchases. As professionals in the automotive industry find ways to stay ahead of the evolving EV landscape, leveraging data will enable them to understand and identify emerging opportunities to tailor their marketing strategies to a consumer’s needs. To learn more about EV trends, view the full Electric Vehicles 2023 Year in Review.

Published: April 23, 2024 by Kirsten Von Busch
Your Guide to AML Transaction Monitoring

AML transaction monitoring stands as a crucial barrier against financial crimes, which ensures the integrity of financial systems worldwide.

Published: April 18, 2024 by Julie.JLee@experian.com
Tailoring Your Lending Strategy for Gen Y and Gen Z First-time Homebuyers

Mortgage lenders who connect with Gen Y and Z where they are will be better positioned to serve this demographic and grow their business.

Published: April 17, 2024 by Scott Hamlin
Podcast: Misconceptions Associated with Verifications

Learn about the misconceptions of income and employment verifications and what lenders can do to improve their strategies.

Published: April 16, 2024 by Ted Wentzel

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