Cybercrime on the rise as account takeovers become leading method

Cybercrime on the rise as account takeovers become leading method
Clients must ensure that all accounts are secure amid surging fraud.
MAY 22, 2024

Cybercriminals are becoming more prolific and evolving their methods of committing fraud, necessitating robust defensive action from consumers.

Third-party account takeovers have emerged as the leading type of fraud reported by clients in 2023, according to the newly published LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report. Almost three in ten of the cyber frauds reported involved the account login stage and attacks at this stage were up 18% year-over-year.

Bot-initiated attacks maintained a steady 2% year-over-year growth to reach 3.6 billion as increasingly successful detection and prevention of these attacks has limited their growth, but human-initiated attacks surged by 40% in volume to 1.3 billion.

North America is a key target for cybercriminals and ecommerce transactions are where significant vulnerability lies.

“Cybercriminals continue to increase the scale and complexity of their illegal operations, with dedicated scam centers becoming a permanent fixture to mount digital attacks on consumers worldwide,” said Stephen Topliss, vice president of fraud and identity, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “While these scam centers will continue to drive the threat of human-initiated attacks, organizations cannot afford to be complacent about the growing sophistication of bots, which can display more human-like behavior to evade traditional prevention solutions. By focusing on identifying advanced bots in real time, businesses can mitigate their ability to create fraudulent accounts or test stolen login credentials for future account takeover attacks.”

Latest News

SEC bars ex-broker who sold clients phony private equity fund
SEC bars ex-broker who sold clients phony private equity fund

Rajesh Markan earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count of criminal fraud related to his sale of fake investments to 10 clients totaling $2.9 million.

The key to attracting and retaining the next generation of advisors? Client-focused training
The key to attracting and retaining the next generation of advisors? Client-focused training

From building trust to steering through emotions and responding to client challenges, new advisors need human skills to shape the future of the advice industry.

Chuck Roberts, ex-star at Stifel, barred from the securities industry
Chuck Roberts, ex-star at Stifel, barred from the securities industry

"The outcome is correct, but it's disappointing that FINRA had ample opportunity to investigate the merits of clients' allegations in these claims, including the testimony in the three investor arbitrations with hearings," Jeff Erez, a plaintiff's attorney representing a large portion of the Stifel clients, said.

SEC to weigh ‘innovation exception’ tied to crypto, Atkins says
SEC to weigh ‘innovation exception’ tied to crypto, Atkins says

Chair also praised the passage of stablecoin legislation this week.

Brooklyn-based Maridea snaps up former LPL affiliate to expand in the Midwest
Brooklyn-based Maridea snaps up former LPL affiliate to expand in the Midwest

Maridea Wealth Management's deal in Chicago, Illinois is its first after securing a strategic investment in April.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.