Experian Innovation Lab Celebrates 15 Years of Transforming Industries

Fraud impacts more than just the bottom line. It affects confidence, relationships, and the sense of security that every business and customer depends on. At Experian, helping to rebuild that trust through data and technology has become part of who we are. That commitment was recently recognized when our Commercial First Party Fraud Score received the Gold Award for Banking Fraud Prevention in Juniper Research’s 2025 Fintech & Payments Awards. First party fraud is one of the most difficult types of financial crime to uncover. It often begins with what looks like a legitimate credit application, only to turn into a default or a “bust out” once credit has been extended. The losses can be significant, but what makes this type of fraud so challenging is how well it hides in plain sight. Our teams developed a new model that uses advanced machine learning and blends consumer and business insights. The Commercial First Party Fraud Score analyzes credit patterns and behavioral data from more than 250 million consumer records. It spots early warning signs that traditional credit models often miss, giving lenders a clearer picture of who they are working with from the start. In testing, the model identified 22 percent more fraudulent applications and 33 percent more high-risk applicants compared with older systems. This improvement helps organizations reduce costs, speed up onboarding, and better serve genuine customers. The recognition from Juniper Research is more than an award. It represents progress toward a safer and more transparent financial system. By combining innovation, data, and purpose, we continue to help businesses make smarter choices and protect the trust that keeps the economy moving. Learn more about the Juniper Research Fintech & Payments Awards here.

This week marks the start of International Fraud Awareness Week, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about fraud prevention and empowering businesses and individuals to take proactive steps against financial crime. At Experian, we’re dedicated to helping organizations and consumers stay ahead of fraudsters and anticipate future threats. That’s why I’m excited to announce the launch of a new Experian DataTalk podcast series: Fraud Frontlines. This series will feature conversations between myself and industry experts and innovators on the latest fraud trends and strategies to mitigate risk. Introducing DataTalk’s Fraud Frontlines Series: Insights from Episode One In our inaugural Fraud Frontlines episode, I sat down with Nash Ali, Experian’s VP of Fraud Strategy, to discuss how fintech innovation has reshaped the fraud landscape and what that means for the future. As financial technology continues to revolutionize how people transact online, it’s also changing how fraudsters operate. The rise of GenAI and automated scams has introduced a new level of sophistication that demands equally advanced defenses. Key Themes & Insights: AI vs. AI: The New Battleground: Fraudsters are weaponizing GenAI to create sophisticated scams. What’s the way forward? Deploying AI-powered defenses that detect anomalies, identify malicious bots, and uncover coordinated fraud rings in real time. Smart Friction, Not Roadblocks: Consumers demand security without sacrificing convenience. Leading fintechs are embracing risk-based orchestration, applying adaptive controls tailored to user behavior instead of rigid authentication. Behavioral Biometrics to Combat Bots: Experian’s behavioral analytics powered by NeuroID enable the detection of bots and are evolving to recognize and distinguish between good agents and fraudulent agents. This capability analyzes multiple new digital and behavioral signals without adding friction to the user experience. The Rise of Agentic AI: Transactions are beginning to involve autonomous agents acting on behalf of humans. Businesses must prepare to authenticate these agents, validate the human and the intent behind them and distinguish automation from bad actors. Fintechs have enabled great new digital experiences, rapid response rates and a focus on user convenience. This digital transformation has also led to new attack surfaces for fraudsters. Traditional industry players and fintechs alike are joining forces to fight these new types of fraud. The challenges are complex, but the opportunities to innovate have never been greater. These are exciting times for those shaping a safer digital economy. I invite you to listen or watch the episode and stay tuned for new episodes and ongoing insights into fraud trends and prevention strategies. Listen to the episode Watch on YouTube Learn more about Experian’s fraud prevention solutions

Homeownership has long been the foundation for financial security, stability, and generational wealth. But for millions of Americans, especially younger renters, the dream of buying a home can feel out of reach. We recently surveyed U.S. renters[1] to better understand their outlook on the prospects of owning a home. The findings reveal a surprising sense of optimism: nearly half (47%) believe they’ll be ready to purchase a home within the next four years, and that figure jumps to 67% when looking over the next eight years. Gen Z and Millennials, in particular, see a future where they will step confidently into homeownership. This optimism is encouraging, but it also underscores the responsibility we share as an industry to help these aspirations become reality. Data plays a significant role. Why modern credit scores matter Every lending decision and credit score is built on a foundation of good data. And in the mortgage market, we believe data has the power to change lives and turn today’s renters into tomorrow’s homeowners. Recent changes in the industry, including the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Director Pulte’s approval of VantageScore® 4.0 for use in mortgage decisions, are a testament to the value of data. Unlike traditional models, VantageScore 4.0 considers alternative data, including rental payments, that reflect how consumers manage their everyday financial commitments. Now, with the introduction of more modern scores in mortgage lending, millions of responsible renters can have a fairer shot at achieving their dreams of homeownership. For renters, this move is significant. Paying rent on time can be a strong indicator of readiness for homeownership, yet it historically wasn’t factored into mortgage credit scoring. Building on Director Pulte’s move to make VantageScore 4.0 available for use in the mortgage market, as well as his call to uncover creative ways to make credit scoring more competitive and mortgages more affordable for Americans, we recently took the step to offer VantageScore 4.0 for free to mortgage lenders. As the first credit reporting agency to include positive rental payments on credit reports, and operator of the industry’s largest rental database with nearly 40 million rental profiles, we understand how beneficial predictive data, such as on-time rental payments, can be for improving consumers’ creditworthiness. We’re well equipped to help the industry leverage these insights while helping renters use their positive payment history to their advantage. This change is an example of how smarter data can create a more inclusive financial system. A shared opportunity for the industry Today’s renters are motivated, ambitious, and ready to invest in their futures. As industry leaders, we have a responsibility and an opportunity to meet them where they are with modern tools and better data. Together, we can help more people unlock the door to homeownership, strengthen financial resilience, and ensure the next generation of homeowners is equipped to thrive. [1] Experian commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,005 adults throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between May 15 and May 20, 2025.