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While auto delinquencies declined slightly year over year (3.01% for accounts 30 days past due or greater in Q2 2015 versus 3.03% a year earlier), it is interesting to note the variance in delinquency by lender channel.

Published: August 20, 2015 by Guest Contributor
Fraud Prevention: The delicate balance between customer and criminal

Fraud management is an ongoing issue for businesses, especially when it comes to identifying likely fraudulent customers and delivering excellent customer service

Published: August 20, 2015 by
Regulations with benefits

Solving the regulatory compliance issue:  In terms of best practice, it all really starts with the data, creating sound risk management strategies, and...

Published: August 19, 2015 by Guest Contributor
Fraud attempts: Back to school shopping can be a summer storm

Increased volume of fraud attempts during back to school shopping season. Is your fraud strategy prepared to handle the increased volume?

Published: August 17, 2015 by

According to the latest Experian-Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Report, mortgage originations for Q2 2015 increased 56% over Q2 2014 — $547 billion versus $350 billion.

Published: August 17, 2015 by Guest Contributor
Vacation Fraud: Don’t get burned by fraud this summer!

Protect consumers on summer vacation fraud. Evidence shows fraudster activity increases during the summer and identity theft becomes easier. 

Published: August 12, 2015 by

According to a recent Experian analysis, millennials (ages 19–34) are now the largest segment of the U.S. population and are also the least credit savvy group.

Published: August 10, 2015 by Guest Contributor

Surveillance and fraud staging are the seemingly benign and often-transparent account activities that fraudsters undertake after an account has been compromised but before that compromise has been detected or money is moved.

Published: August 1, 2015 by Guest Contributor

According to VantageScore® Solutions' annual validation study, VantageScore 3.0 scores 36 million incremental consumers considered unscoreable by conventional credit scoring models.

Published: July 24, 2015 by Guest Contributor
Don’t play the shelf & shell game with fraudsters

Understanding shelf companies and shell companies In our world of business challenges with revenues level or trending down and business loans tougher than ever to get, “shelf” and “shell” companies continue to be an easy option for business opportunities. Shelf companies are defined as corporations formed in a low-tax, low-regulation state in order to be sold off for its excellent credit rating. Click on the internet and you will see a plethora of vendors selling companies in a turn-key business packages. Historically off-the-shelf structures were used to streamline a start-up, where an entrepreneur instantly owns a company that has been in business for several years without debt or liability. However, selling them as a way to get around credit guidelines is new, making them unethical and possibly illegal. Creating companies that impersonate a stable, well established companies in order to deceive creditors or suppliers in another way that criminals are using shelf companies for fraudulent use. Shell companies are characterized as fictitious entities created for the sole purpose of committing fraud. They often provide a convenient method for money laundering because they are easy and inexpensive to form and operate. These companies typically do not have a physical presence, although some may set up a storefront. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, shell companies may even purchase corporate office “service packages” or “executive meeting suites” in order to appear to have established a more significant local presence. These packages often include a state business license, a local street address, an office that is staffed during business hours, a conference room for initial meetings, a local telephone listing with a receptionist and 24-hour personalized voice mail. In one recent bust out fraud scenario, a shell company operated out of an office building and signed up for service with a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) provider. While the VoIP provider typically conducts on-site visits to all new accounts, this step was skipped because the account was acquired through a channel partner. During months one and two, the account maintained normal usage patterns and invoices were paid promptly. In month three, the account’s international toll activity spiked, causing the provider to question the unusual account activity. The customer responded with a seemingly legitimate business explanation of activity and offered additional documentation. However, the following month the account contact and business disappeared, leaving the VoIP provider with a substantial five figure loss. A follow-up visit to the business showed a vacant office suite. While it’s unrealistic to think all shelf and shell companies can be identified, there are some tools that can help you verify businesses, identify repeat offenders, and minimize fraud losses. In the example mention above, post-loss account review through Experian’s BizID identified an obvious address discrepancy – 12 businesses all listed at the same address, suggesting that the perpetrator set up numerous businesses and victimized multiple organizations.  It is possible to avoid being the next victim and refine and revisit your fraud best practices today. Learn more about Experian BizID and how to protect your business.

Published: July 19, 2015 by

According to the latest Experian-Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Report, mortgage originations increased 25% year over year in Q1 2015 to $316 billion.

Published: July 17, 2015 by Guest Contributor

According to a recent Experian survey, 68% of vacationers spend more money than expected when traveling, often relying on credit cards to make up the difference. Millennials rank even higher when it comes to risky vacation spending. One-third report they have not been saving up in advance of vacation, 72% say they spend more than expected when traveling, and 50% plan to use their tax refund to pay for summer travel this year. Lenders can educate consumers about the impact of utilization on credit scores and reduce loss rates by offering According to a recent Experian survey, 68% of vacationers spend more money than expected when traveling, often relying on credit cards to make up the difference. Millennials rank even higher when it comes to risky vacation spending. One-third report they have not been saving up in advance of vacation, 72% say they spend more than expected when traveling, and 50% plan to use their tax refund to pay for summer travel this year. Lenders can educate consumers about the impact of utilization on credit scores and reduce loss rates by offering personalized credit-education services.personalized credit-education services. >> Infographic: Setting a budget for summer travel

Published: July 10, 2015 by Guest Contributor

A recent Experian survey found that while consumers are getting better about protecting their information on a regular basis, many do not take the same precautions when traveling. According to the survey, 1 in 5 consumers has had an item with sensitive information lost or stolen while traveling, and 39% have experienced identity theft while traveling or know someone who has. Organizations can protect themselves and customers by using innovative fraud-detection tools designed to reduce potential losses while preserving the customer experience. >> Video: The reputational impact of fraud and identity theft

Published: July 2, 2015 by Guest Contributor

I would talk about three opportunities that the energy utility vertical could and should take advantage of.

Published: June 30, 2015 by

While an influx of small businesses opened during the height of the recession, a recent Experian study found that between 2010 and 2014, small-business start-ups decreased by nearly 45%.

Published: June 26, 2015 by Guest Contributor

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