121  0 Kommentare Global eCommerce Transactions Expected To Surge by 14% During 2023 Holiday Season, Friendly Fraud Looms as the Biggest Spoiler

(Graphic: Business Wire)

"The anticipated rise of friendly fraud is poised to be the top threat this holiday season," said Erika Dietrich, head of fraud management and payment analytics, at ACI Worldwide. "Vigilant monitoring of chargebacks and thorough scrutiny of orders and personal information is crucial for merchants to counter policy abusers. Implementing multilayered fraud solutions such as digital identity verification and AI-based authentication can effectively thwart malicious activities and avoid revenue leaks."

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is favored by consumers and fraudsters

According to ACI data, BNPL transaction volumes doubled in Q3 2023 versus 2022, with a 130% increase in transaction value for the same time frame due to inflated prices. Consumers are leaning towards BNPL as a flexible payments option to purchase without immediate financial strain, especially for high-value products above $150. While BNPL has been heralded as a win for consumers and merchants alike, it has drawbacks in policy abuse and friendly fraud, with consumers defaulting on repayments or illegitimately raising disputes. The fraud attempts for BNPL transactions increased by nearly 6% in Q3 2023 compared to last year and is predicted to rise by a further 2% during the holiday season.

Keep tabs on new customer accounts

Merchants should exercise caution with new customer accounts — created in the last 30 days — as they are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent activity. According to ACI data from January to September 2023, new customer accounts experienced 5% higher fraud activities than existing ones compared to last year and are expected to grow by 5% this holiday season. New accounts lack transaction history, making it harder to gauge the legitimacy of purchases.