Fintech Transformation: AI’s impact on Fraud Detection in banking and fintech
Tags: ai, fintech, techtalks, banking
Published: 2024-01-13 16:53:35

Financial fraud is on the rise, and so is the use of AI in fraud detection. The fintech revolution has brought immersed benefits such as increased accessibility to financial services, cost efficiency, and smooth customer experience fostering financial innovation. 

But widespread digital interconnection in banking also carries risks which include hacking and fraud. As Technology advances so do the tactics employed by cybercriminals presenting risks like data breaches, identity theft, and illicit transactions. Continual endeavors to enhance cybersecurity protocols are essential for mitigating these risks within the fintech industry. 

Fortunately, banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions are actively staying ahead of malicious activities. They are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to preemptively thwart financial fraud, with anti-fraud AI gaining prominence in the banking sector.

According to a recent PYMNTS study, 80% of fraud prevention specialists believe that AI can decrease the effectiveness of payment fraud. Additionally, about 75% of banks with over $100 billion in assets have implemented AI solutions, attributing this adoption to AI’s ability to detect spending irregularities and differentiate between human and machine-generated data. 



## WHAT IS AI?


To fully understand how AI can be used in fraud detection, it’s important to first understand what AI is. AI involves computer science techniques that empower machines to emulate human learning and behavior. This implies machines can not just comprehend and react to instructions but also acquire knowledge and develop over time. 

A key advantage of Artificial Intelligence lies in its ability to markedly decrease errors while enhancing accuracy and precision. AI decisions at each stage are based on prior information and specific algorithms, and with proper programming, these errors can be virtually eliminated. 




## SO HOW DO WE STOP FRAUD IN BANKING AND FINTECH  USING AI?



Utilizing sophisticated AI algorithms, particularly those rooted in machine learning, enables the real-time analysis of extensive datasets. This capability empowers the system to swiftly pinpoint suspicious patterns and anomalies in the data, enhancing fraud detection efforts.




## IMMEDIATE IDENTIFICATION AND RESPONSE IN REAL-TIME


AI systems quickly detect potentially fraudulent activities in real-time, responding promptly to reduce risks. This includes analyzing transactions or user behaviors instantly, identifying anomalies, and taking immediate actions like blocking suspicious transactions or alerting relevant parties to prevent financial fraud.

Consider a scenario where an individual tries to withdraw a substantial amount from a bank account in a location significantly different from the account holder's typical activity. The AI in the fraud department would swiftly recognize this unusual pattern, label it as suspicious, and potentially halt the transaction, thus averting unauthorized access and safeguarding the account from immediate financial fraud.



## BIOMETRIC AND TWO-STEP AUTHENTICATION METHODS 


Ensuring user identity through distinctive biological features such as fingerprints or facial characteristics, coupled with a two-step authentication process involving a secondary verification code sent to a registered device, boosts security in banking and fintech, lowering the risk of unauthorized access and fraudulent transactions.

Imagine accessing your banking app: Initially, you employ your fingerprint or facial scan for biometric authentication. Following that, a distinctive code is dispatched to your registered phone, and entering it completes the login (two-step authentication). This multi-layered method reinforces security by validating your identity via biological traits and an additional verification step, effectively protecting against unauthorized access or fraudulent activities.




## CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENTS TO EMERGING THREATS 


These systems adapt and modify their algorithms in response to the constantly changing patterns of emerging fraudulent activities. Through real-time vigilance and adjustments, AI can improve its capacity to detect and thwart novel and advanced fraud techniques, strengthening the defense against evolving threats in the financial sector.

If there's an abrupt increase in a novel form of fraudulent activity, like an unfamiliar approach to identity theft, the AI system, through ongoing learning, swiftly identifies the emerging threat. It adjusts its algorithms promptly, reinforcing its capability to identify and prevent occurrences of this new fraud, ensuring a more nimble response to evolving risks in the banking and fintech sectors.


 


## CONCLUSION


The increase in fraud is costing businesses billions of dollars. That is why fraud prevention is very important, and businesses are required to employ the latest technologies to help them stay ahead of the curve.  AI is a game changer that will foster a secure financial ecosystem.