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Recent episodes
Returns Abuse & The "Cousin Network" (w/ John Mayover)
May 16, 2026
Unknown duration
The Hidden Cost of AI: Why False Positives Hurt More Than Fraud (w/ Jared Gruenberg)
Apr 27, 2026
Unknown duration
The Digital Wallet Fraud Explosion: Why Google Pay is Failing Merchants
Apr 21, 2026
Unknown duration
The Hidden Cost of Old Fraud Rules: Managing Rule Decay
Apr 13, 2026
Unknown duration
Fighting Account Takeover Fraud with 6 Key Behavioral Signals
Apr 7, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/16/26 | ![]() Returns Abuse & The "Cousin Network" (w/ John Mayover) | Fraud teams are no longer just fighting chargebacks; they are battling sophisticated logistics rings and AI-powered returns abuse.In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Vito Petruzzelli and Gena Rivera bring on John Mayover, Senior Manager of Ecommerce Fraud and Compliance at URBN.John reveals how he accidentally started his 16-year fraud career by solving a puzzle at a bank, leading him to uncover massive operations like the "Cousin Network"—an insider-threat ring at a FedEx hub.The conversation dives deep into the post-pandemic explosion of returns fraud. John details how bad actors are exploiting "keep it" policies and using AI-generated scripts to socially engineer customer service reps.He also outlines his "Five Families" framework, proving why cross-departmental unity is the only way to stop modern ecommerce fraud.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The Cousin Network: Uncovering a sophisticated supply chain theft ring involving insider logistics help.🔹 Returns Abuse Tactics: How fraudsters use dollar-store shirts and iron-on logos to scam generous return policies.🔹 The AI Threat Reality: Why shopping bots aren't the primary concern for fashion retail, but AI-driven social engineering is.🔹 The Five Families: Uniting fraud, customer service, warehouse, supply chain, and tech to close communication gaps.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro03:45 - Accidental fraud career discovery05:11 - Bank puzzle solving breakthrough08:37 - Building fraud programs from scratch10:38 - First major fraud scheme uncovered12:25 - Cousin conspiracy at Fedex hubs14:23 - Returns abuse explosion post pandemic16:45 - Five families collaboration strategy18:21 - Tech team builds custom dashboards21:27 - Stakeholder relationship building tactics24:00 - Technology gaps in fraud detection26:34 - Systems integration success story28:36 - Handling rejection and pushback31:27 - AI commerce current fraud impact32:36 - Social media monitoring operations36:21 - Subscription model fraud patterns38:55 - Future fraud evolution predictionsJoin the Fraudcast Ecosystem:🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/🔗 Connect with Gena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-rivera/🔗 Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mayover-bb2a33102/ | — | ||||||
| 4/27/26 | ![]() The Hidden Cost of AI: Why False Positives Hurt More Than Fraud (w/ Jared Gruenberg) | You are likely losing more money to your own fraud rules than to actual fraudsters. In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Gena Rivera and Stingray Fraud Intelligence founder Jared Gruenberg dissect the most expensive problem in e-commerce: false positives.\Jared reveals the shocking math behind overly aggressive fraud controls, explaining why false positives cost 4.5x more than actual fraud losses, and why 38% of wrongfully declined buyers never return.The conversation exposes exactly where AI models fail—struggling with context around college campus addresses, "Buy Online, Pick Up In Store" (BOPIS) orders, and prepaid cards used by the unbanked.Jared outlines why the human analyst is still the ultimate defense, and how fixing the communication gap between customer service and risk teams can rescue your top-line revenue.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The False Positive Multiplier: Why turning away a legitimate customer damages revenue and long-term brand equity.🔹 AI's Blind Spots: The specific address normalization issues that cause AI to flag legitimate drop-shipping and university deliveries.🔹 The Customer Service Disconnect: How broken feedback loops hide false positive patterns from your risk team.🔹 The Unbanked Dilemma: How standard fraud rules actively discriminate against 25% of Americans relying on prepaid cards.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:28 - Jared's fraud journey from behavioral health to live stream auctions06:06 - Childhood fascination with infomercials and early fraud detection instincts10:48 - False positives problem hurts good customers more than fraud itself14:21 - Casio watch false positive terrorism example from 9/11 era17:55 - Why false positives happen and analyst turnover challenges20:22 - False positives cost 4.5x more than actual fraud losses22:53 - Shelley's apparel return abuse investigation false positive nightmare25:14 - Jamie's customer service feedback loop struggles with false positives32:46 - Two sided marketplace false positive communication strategies36:01 - AI vs manual review debate for reducing false positives40:27 - College campus addresses trigger AI false positive flags41:10 - Buy online pickup in store creates major AI confusion44:51 - Shelley's personal Samsung watch auto decline frustration experience46:25 - FedEx address normalization solution for AI street abbreviation issues49:48 - University private mailbox AI detection problems explained51:07 - Drop shipping distributor model creates legitimate transaction red flags🔗 Connect with Gena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-rivera/🔗 Connect with Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredgruenberg/ | — | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | ![]() The Digital Wallet Fraud Explosion: Why Google Pay is Failing Merchants | Digital wallets are not created equal. In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Vito Petruzzelli and Gena Rivera dissect the explosive spike in digital wallet fraud hitting merchants right now.While Apple Pay’s strict biometric verification keeps fraudsters at bay, Google Pay’s lax provisioning rules have led to a shocking fraud rate on its transactions.Vito and Gena break down how bad actors are rapidly loading stolen credit cards into non-biometric wallets, bypassing legacy fraud detection entirely.They give you the exact tactical playbook for extracting granular provisioning signals and biometric flags from your payment gateways before AI agents and crypto wallets make the problem worse.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The Digital Wallet Illusion: Why treating Apple Pay and Google Pay equally is a massive operational failure.🔹 The Digital Wallet Fraud Spike: How fraudsters are exploiting non-biometric provisioning to launder stolen cards.🔹 Data Dictionary Demands: How to fight your acquiring bank for the underlying wallet data they are hiding from you.🔹 Future-Proofing: Navigating the emerging risks of cryptocurrency wallets and stable coins.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro03:22 - Digital wallet fraud explosion04:12 - Stolen credit cards in Google Pay08:33 - Google Pay fraud rate revealed11:22 - Provisioning signals for fraud detection14:42 - Requesting data from payment providers16:25 - Firearms industry digital wallet restrictions18:06 - Biometric authentication flags for disputes23:18 - Payment provider transparency challenges28:36 - Issuing vs acquiring bank dynamics32:27 - Fighting payment provider pushback strategies36:18 - Cryptocurrency wallet fraud risks40:24 - Google Pay disabled due to fraud42:50 - Data dictionary requests from providers47:44 - Next week Jared G hosts48:53 - VAMP threshold violations breaking news🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/🔗 Connect with Gena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-rivera/ | — | ||||||
| 4/13/26 | ![]() The Hidden Cost of Old Fraud Rules: Managing Rule Decay | Fraud teams are accidentally turning into revenue killers. In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Gena, Vito and the Fraudcast community tackle one of the industry's biggest blind spots: rule decay.Almost one in four rule declines are false positives, meaning legacy rules are actively rejecting your best customers.Gena and Vito reveal why any rule older than 90 days is a prime candidate for retirement or major revision.The conversation dives deep into practical solutions, from automated sunset processes to preventing manual review bias, featuring insights from practitioners like Renuka Venkatesan, Matthew Blanchard, and Jessica Flores.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 Rule Expiration: Why every fraud rule needs a 90-day sunset clause.🔹 False Positive Economics: How to calculate the true cost of rejecting good orders.🔹 Daily Auditing: How Renuka Venkatesan monitors rule performance.🔹 Cross-Team Collaboration: Why connecting your fraud and chargeback teams reveals critical blind spots.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:39 - Ben's TV debut on Yellowstone spinoff05:40 - Signifyd Slack community highlights07:50 - Rule decay overview and key insights09:22 - Rules get old quick problem10:36 - One in four rule declines are false positives11:14 - Most teams lack sunset processes13:07 - 90 day rule expiration recommendation14:27 - Four considerations for rule audits16:56 - Immediate action steps for rule management18:39 - Jessica's rule creation challenges22:32 - Miss Dee's financial institution tracking advice23:14 - Matthew's rule refinement strategies28:16 - Renuka's daily rule monitoring system34:24 - Avoiding bias in manual review38:57 - Knowledge preservation challenges41:37 - Outbound verification call alternatives47:09 - Preston's charge back team insights49:46 - Renuka's broadcast community appreciation52:32 - Final thoughts on rule optimization🔗 Connect with Gena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-rivera/🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | ![]() Fighting Account Takeover Fraud with 6 Key Behavioral Signals | Account takeover attacks have surged 40% over the past year, as bad actors increasingly target loyalty points and stored payment methods. In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Vito Petruzzelli and Gena Rivera tackle one of e-commerce's fastest-growing threats.They break down how fraudsters are spinning up typosquatting domains and exploiting accounts that have been dormant for over a year.Vito shares six empirical signals you can use to fingerprint account takeover attempts, including tracking password reset timing and measuring device fingerprint "lie counts".Katarina, Thomas, Deanne, and Shelley also share real-world challenges covering everything from fake police reports to freight forwarding schemes.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 Dormant Account Danger: Why inactive accounts represent 92% of ATO fraud.🔹 The "Lie Count" Metric: How device fingerprinting discrepancies expose deliberate obfuscation.🔹 Tactical Defense: Using pre-discount order amounts and SMS friction to block bad actors.🔹 NPS Manipulation: How fraud rings are gaming customer satisfaction scores to hide their tracks.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:29 - Account Takeover Fraud Rising 40 Percent05:36 - Loyalty Points and Stored Value Under Attack08:12 - Death of Single Signal Supremacy11:05 - 148 Typosquat Domains Found for One Brand13:45 - 6 Key Signals to Fingerprint ATO17:46 - PayPal Hit Hard by Account Takeovers20:24 - Fake Police Reports and Chargeback Challenges26:29 - Pre Discount Order Amount Strategy29:00 - 80 Orders Per IP During ATO Attacks33:02 - Adding Friction Without Hurting NPS36:23 - Freight Forwarding Address Problems40:52 - Free ATO Analysis Consultation Offer44:00 - Gift Card Fraud Ring Tactics46:02 - Next Week Preview on Gift Cards🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 3/27/26 | ![]() The Connecticut Fraud Ring: How 11 Rapid Orders Bypassed AVS | Traditional fraud tools are officially failing. In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Gena and Vito dissect a massive fraud ring out of Connecticut that bypassed legacy verification systems entirely. By hijacking an account that had been dormant for 879 days, fraudsters unleashed 11 rapid-fire orders using the exact same credit card.Because the AVS and CVV matched perfectly, rule-based models let the attacks right through.Vito breaks down how behavioral analytics caught what traditional tools missed, highlighting critical signals like device hopping, IP switching, and resale arbitrage patterns.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The Connecticut Case: Why perfect AVS matches are fraud's best friend.🔹 Behavioral Drift: Spotting the difference between good customers and bad actors switching devices mid-session.🔹 Telegram Intelligence: Using tools like Scope Now to safely investigate the dark web.🔹 Strategic Friction: Why wiping stored payment cards is a highly effective defense.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro03:37 - Gratitude and Community Engagement04:01 - Matthew's Conference Speaking Experience08:03 - Connecticut Fraud Ring Discovery09:08 - Behavioral Analytics Over AVS Matching14:29 - Account Takeover and Telegram Channels16:51 - Scope Now for Fraud Investigation23:01 - AVS Limitations and Chargeback Challenges26:37 - Customer Verification Phone Tactics28:41 - 3D Secure Implementation Benefits31:10 - Address Verification System Nuances35:13 - International Orders Without AVS38:33 - Selective Friction Implementation Strategies40:03 - Justin's Travel Updates41:27 - Community Growth and Team Building🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 3/23/26 | ![]() The Analyst Upgrade: Pivoting from Manual Review to Threat Hunting (Live at MRC '26) | While the industry panics about future AI bots, the real threat is draining wallets right now.We are broadcasting live from the floor of the Merchant Risk Council (MRC) 2026 conference in Las Vegas.In this episode, Gena and Vito cut through the hype to address the $86 billion consumer scam crisis that is destroying brand trust before customers even reach your checkout page.It is time to reframe how we think about the manual review queue.Fraud analysts aren't being replaced—they are being upgraded. Vito breaks down how elite fraud leaders are pivoting their teams away from repetitive transactional decisions and turning them into strategic threat intelligence hunters.By using AI tools like Claude to handle the heavy lifting of brand protection, human analysts are freed up to investigate complex false positives and build critical relationships across the business.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The $86B Crisis: Why consumer scams are your problem, even if they happen off-platform.🔹 The AI Pivot: How to use Claude to automate dark web sweeps, catch typosquatting, and issue takedowns.🔹 The Analyst Upgrade: Reappropriating human talent for strategic thinking rather than manual busywork.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro: Live from the Floor of MRC Vegas '2605:15 - The $86 Billion Consumer Scam Crisis12:30 - Why Nobody is Seeing a Wave of AI Agent Traffic Yet21:45 - The Evolution of the Manual Review Queue32:10 - Using Claude for Threat Intelligence & Brand Protection41:20 - Becoming the Ultimate Fraud Educator for Your Network48:20 - Outro: The Next Generation of Risk Teams🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 3/6/26 | ![]() The Agentic Commerce Blueprint: Why You Shouldn't Fear AI Shoppers (w/ Jonathon Hope) | Are you tired of hearing that AI bots are going to ruin e-commerce? So are we.In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Vito Petruzzelli sits down with Jonathon Hope, Head of Product at Kasada, to cut through the hype and deliver a pragmatic, actionable guide to preparing for Agentic Commerce. They discuss how to actually see the AI traffic hitting your site and how to differentiate a helpful shopping assistant from a malicious script.The duo explains why you don't have to choose between security and discovery. By implementing smart governance, you can allow AI agents to index your products while keeping your checkout and login endpoints strictly secured. This episode is your blueprint for navigating the future of retail without the panic.Key Takeaways:Visibility First: How to read headers and identify true AI traffic.Smart Governance: Strategies for allowing product discovery while blocking automated account creation or checkout.The Reality Check: Why the transition to full Agentic Commerce is a multi-year evolution, giving you time to prepare.Episode Chapters:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to The Fraudcast04:00 - Introducing Jonathon Hope & The Agentic Commerce Reality07:10 - Identifying AI Agents vs. Spoofed Headers11:20 - Visibility 101: What Even is a Header?18:00 - How AI Traffic Impacts Account Takeovers (ATO)22:30 - The Governance Strategy: Allowing Search vs. Allowing Checkout34:00 - How to Start Controlling Your AI Traffic Today42:10 - Prompt Injection Risks and the Future of AI Browsers46:40 - Outro: You Are the Vanguard of Agentic Commerce🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/🔗 Connect with Jonathon Hope on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonhope/ | — | ||||||
| 2/23/26 | ![]() The $300K Handbag Heist: How Cybercriminals are Tricking Banks and Bypassing AVS | What happens when cybercriminals figure out how to trick the banks before they even trick the merchant?In this episode of The Weekly Fraudcast, Vito Petruzzelli dissects a massive, highly coordinated attack where fraudsters stole nearly $300,000 in luxury handbags in just 48 hours.Joined by fraud fighters Jessica Flores, De'Airra Belcher, Jared Gruenberg, Paula Zon, Matthew Blanchard, and more, the team breaks down the exact mechanics of this new threat. We uncover how bad actors are actively calling banks to change billing addresses (making stolen cards pass AVS perfectly) and using remote-access social engineering to hijack devices.More importantly, the panel drops a massive revelation: If you are paying for Account Takeover (ATO) chargebacks, you might be getting scammed twice. We reveal the specific Visa and Mastercard reason codes that prove banks are actually liable for these losses—not merchants.Key Takeaways:The anatomy of the $300K luxury proxy-IP scam.How to spot a "perfect" address match when the victim is in another state.How to use Visa/Mastercard rules to push back on invalid ATO chargebacks.Join the "Fraudcast" Community:Want the cheat sheets, PDF breakdowns, and tactical resources mentioned in these episodes? We don't put them behind corporate landing pages—we drop them directly to our community.🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn to access the Masterclass resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 2/16/26 | ![]() Chaos Is What You Make Of It (w/ Shelley Soucy) | Shelley Soucy went from serving food at Disney World to becoming one of the most skilled fraud investigators in e-commerce. Her journey reveals the unexpected skills that translate from high-pressure restaurant work to conducting hundreds of fraud interviews.In this conversation, Shelley breaks down her transition from Disney's Magic Kingdom restaurants to managing loss prevention at Peloton. She explains how working in chaos taught her to stay calm under pressure, why she approaches every interview like a human conversation, and the mindset shifts that helped her excel in a field where validation is rare.Shelley discusses the reality of working in fraud prevention—from dealing with Monday morning quarterbacks to explaining opportunity costs to executives who prefer revenue promises over loss prevention. She shares practical advice on building confidence, asking for feedback, and why treating people with respect matters even in difficult conversations.Episode Chapters:00:00 - Intro02:25 - From English lit to Disney restaurants03:44 - The career pivot that changed everything05:32 - Teaching interview skills vs domain knowledge08:15 - Restaurant chaos builds unshakeable confidence11:22 - Chaos is what you make of it13:27 - Learning through active listening and feedback17:05 - Fighting impostor syndrome with self belief20:44 - Disney to e-commerce fraud transition24:25 - Learning fraud prevention bite by bite28:43 - Fraud teams never get external validation33:32 - Steeling yourself against Monday morning quarterbacks39:18 - Teaching marketing teams to think like fraudsters41:37 - Five percent fraud loss is expected not acceptable46:25 - Doing the right thing without recognition49:33 - Be the loudest voice in the roomThe Chaos Superpower:The discussion covers active listening techniques, the fraud triangle concept, and Shelley’s amazing career journey. She explains how restaurant experience at Disney prepared her for investigative work and why chaos management became her superpower.🔗 Connect with Shelley Soucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleysoucy/🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
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| 2/7/26 | ![]() "Agentic Commerce" Really Means "Search Has Changed -- Forever" | The reality of agentic commerce in 2025 is nothing like the hype promised. While everyone expected AI shopping agents to revolutionize Black Friday and Cyber Monday with 10-20% of traffic, what actually happened was a massive spike in AI search referrals, not autonomous purchasing.Vito Petruzzelli breaks down why agent commerce conversion rates remain terrible, taking 30+ minutes for simple purchases that often get declined by fraud systems anyway. The real story is how search behavior has fundamentally shifted - consumers now use ChatGPT to find deals and get referred to merchant sites, rather than having bots make purchases for them.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[02:42] Hollywood’s Ben Li[04:31] Miss Dee challenges customer service thinking[05:45] Fraud companies face duplication concerns[07:12] Weekly fraud risk discussion format[09:02] Agent commerce reality check begins[11:14] Eating crow on AI hype[12:11] Moltbook AI bots create existential crisis[14:30] Robots hire humans for tasks[16:03] Agent commerce theory versus reality[18:40] Cooper Flagg jersey purchase fails[20:32] The one Fraudcast episode you have to go back and listen to[21:05] Referral traffic spikes thirteen times[22:30] ChatGPT dominates AI search referrals[25:40] Discoverability challenges for merchants[26:12] Search patterns fundamentally shift away[31:31] Machine learning evaluates AI signals[35:07] Payment instruments determine everything, ultimately[38:53] Eight questions cross entire company[43:05] Manual review tags agent orders[45:07] Victim assisted fraud on steroids[47:12] Sleepy robot callers spotted[49:34] Granular segmentation provides fraud protection[51:22] Next week’s special guest runs a school of communicationsThe episode reveals the technical hurdles still blocking agent commerce, from PCI compliance issues to the challenges of exposing product catalogs to AI scrapers. Vito demonstrates how ChatGPT dominates AI referral traffic while other platforms like Claude and Gemini barely register.For fraud professionals, this means understanding new signals like unusual screen resolutions, hosting IPs from Virginia data centers, and bot strings in device APIs. The conversation covers how to segment this traffic, run A/B tests through manual review, and prepare for a world where discovery happens through AI agents even if purchasing remains manual.The discussion includes practical advice on testing your own website with ChatGPT's agent mode, identifying the signals these orders create, and building internal conversations around the eight critical questions every company needs to answer about agent commerce readiness.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 1/30/26 | ![]() The Mustard Stain That Exposed a Pavlovian Return Scam | Banking fraud specialist De'Airra Belcher joins the Fraudcast community of experts to expose the hidden vulnerabilities in gift card systems and return policies that fraudsters exploit daily. From embedded gift cards at Dollar Tree to sophisticated return abuse schemes, this conversation reveals the shocking gaps between different industries that bad actors use to their advantage.De'Airra brings 10 years of banking experience and 5 years in fraud prevention, sharing her expertise in pattern recognition and her mission to break down the silos that enable fraud across industries. The discussion covers everything from gift card tampering and social engineering targeting elderly victims to the real-world case of a customer who used return policies to game the system.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[01:09] Breaking down banking fraud silos[03:21] Hidden gift card tampering schemes[05:26] Open loop products fuel scams[09:18] Gift card draining prevention tactics[12:02] Why intentional disruption drives change[15:33] Fraudsters broadcast their own playbooks[18:06] Open source intelligence gathering methods[26:36] Real world return abuse patterns[32:13] Withholding instant refunds stops abuse[36:46] Aggressive customers target support teams[37:51] Call center training prevents policy erosion[43:53] Legacy thinking perpetuates fraud vulnerabilities[44:23] Customer satisfaction scores enable abuse[45:09] Why customers are never always rightPaula from the gift card industry provides insider knowledge on open loop products, PCI compliance, and the evolution toward chip-enabled cards by 2027. Ryan McDonald from ScopeNow demonstrates how fraudsters openly share their methodologies on social media and dark web forums, turning their own bragging into actionable intelligence for fraud prevention teams.The conversation also tackles the systemic issues in customer service training that inadvertently enable fraud, including how satisfaction scores and commission structures incentivize representatives to bypass security policies. Shelly challenges the outdated "customer is always right" mentality, arguing that some customers act purely in their own interests regardless of business impact.The episode concludes with practical strategies for fraud prevention teams to collaborate with legal departments, update legacy policies, and implement data-driven approaches to return fraud detection. Learn how one merchant stopped instant refunds for suspicious customers and maintained loyalty while eliminating abuse.Subscribe for more fraud prevention insights and join the conversation in our Slack community.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 1/26/26 | ![]() How 19 Customers Stole $1.4 Million Through Returns | What if you could start with the answers instead of drowning in spreadsheets when returns fraud hits your business? This episode reveals how AI and large language models can flip your investigation process completely backwards - starting from the headline impact and drilling down to individual bad actors.Vito Petruzzelli demonstrates a revolutionary approach to returns analysis that cuts through the traditional export-pivot-table nightmare. Instead of getting buried in hundreds of thousands of rows of data while the landscape shifts around you, see how you can instantly identify high-value customers against those responsible for abusive returns.The conversation digs deep into practical policy enforcement challenges with insights from fraud fighters across different industries. Shelley Soucy shares her battle-tested approach to separating legitimate "dressing room at home" shoppers from malicious actors, including her tiered restock fee strategy and instant refund restrictions.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:37] Why AI prevents analysis paralysis[06:05] The fraud investigation spreadsheet trap[11:05] Reframe returns using reverse engineering[14:53] Customer lifetime value drives decisions[16:10] Start with headlines not spreadsheets[18:06] Damaged item patterns reveal logistics issues[21:30] Finding high dollar return outliers[24:52] Building workflows for repeat offenders[28:31] Where to draw bad actor lines[32:01] Intent matters more than return rates[34:33] Instant refund thresholds save money[37:03] Calculating the perfect restock fee[40:23] Percentage based return fees work better[44:39] Moving beyond cart approval queuesMatthew Blanchard raises the critical question every business faces - where do you draw the line between good customers and bad actors? The discussion explores percentage-based fees, customer lifetime value calculations, and the psychology behind pricing thresholds that actually work.Justin Hicken breaks down a sophisticated returns management system, including membership programs that waive return fees for loyal customers while maintaining strict oversight of serial returners.Learn how to move beyond order-by-order approval decisions and start tackling the bigger revenue optimization opportunities that make you indispensable to leadership. This isn't about becoming better at declining transactions - it's about becoming the strategic problem solver your company needs.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 1/17/26 | ![]() Returns Cost You 20% of Holiday Sales | Welcome to 2026 and the brutal reality of post-holiday returns. We're diving deep into the $181 billion problem that's already hit ecommerce this year, with returns spiking 10% higher than last year and nearly 20% of all holiday sales coming back through your door.Shelley Soucy from Peloton shares her incredible detective work uncovering a $300,000 returns fraud ring, including one customer who returned $275,000 worth of products over 5 years while reselling everything on Poshmark. She walks through the technical glitches fraudsters exploited and the multi-platform solution her team built to catch future abuse.From bracketers and impulse regret to sophisticated AI-generated damage photos, we cover the full spectrum of returns challenges hitting your business right now. You'll learn about freight forwarding fraud, the economics driving returns abuse, and why your standard operating procedures need serious enforcement upgrades.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[01:52] Holiday break work challenges[04:17] Medical drama recommendations[06:39] Freight forwarding fraud tactics[09:05] Northern Canada fitness fraud[10:31] Stranger Things finale debate[12:57] Freight forwarding prevention methods[16:59] Lululemon fraud expertise joins[18:38] Returns data requires expert analysis[20:05] 181 billion holiday returns processed[22:32] Bracketing drives return abuse[24:26] Amazon dirt box scam[26:07] AI generates fake damage photos[27:38] Standard operating procedures fail[29:01] Customer lifetime value matters most[31:49] Shopify glitch exposes fraud ring[34:04] 275k returns from single address[36:22] Automated fraud detection parameters[37:26] Happy accidents reveal fraud patternsRinsha Barde from Lululemon joins the conversation with her 10 years of fraud experience across Capital One, T-Mobile, and now retail. Jessica Flores shares her returns challenges at Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, while Jamie Ceccato discusses the operational nightmare of post-holiday volume spikes.This isn't just about fraud detection anymore - you're revenue optimizers now. The data-driven approach Shelley demonstrates shows exactly how to quantify losses, build cross-platform solutions, and turn your returns process from a cost center into a competitive advantage.Whether you're dealing with empty boxes, fake damage claims, or sophisticated reseller networks, this episode gives you the framework to tackle returns fraud systematically while protecting your legitimate customers.Subscribe for more fraud prevention insights and join our community at signifyd.com to continue the conversation.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 12/22/25 | ![]() The Floating Rock Philosophy That's Changing Fraud Fighting (w/ Emma Linnane) | Emma Linnane breaks down her unconventional path from radio broadcaster to fraud operations manager, revealing why customer service experience is the secret weapon most fraud fighters are missing.In this final episode of 2025, Emma shares her proven red box method for winning chargeback disputes, explains how she uses Facebook to catch first-party fraudsters through family connections, and discusses the cultural differences between fraud patterns in America versus Europe.From her early days getting hit with Visa fines to developing open source investigation techniques that save thousands in chargebacks, Emma demonstrates how understanding the customer experience transforms fraud detection. She reveals why friendly fraud makes up 60-70% of disputes and how proper documentation can flip those outcomes.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:46] Ireland to Boston fraud journey[08:17] Customer service builds fraud expertise[11:20] Answer first communication strategy[14:10] Chargeback hunting becomes career foundation[16:56] Red boxes face AI disruption[18:02] Europe versus America fraud differences[22:05] Cultural bias in customer service[26:18] Social engineering through kindness works[30:26] First party fraud detection methods[33:17] Open source intelligence investigation tactics[37:00] Chargeback response time allocation[39:52] Return fraud exceeds payment fraud[41:06] Floating rock burnout perspectiveEmma also discusses the future of fraud fighting in 2026, including the rise of return fraud potentially surpassing payment fraud, how AI will change chargeback representations, and why VAMP guidelines will reshape risk management strategies.Her closing message reminds us that while fraud work is intense, maintaining perspective on what really matters prevents burnout and keeps teams effective long-term.Connect with Emma Linnane on LinkedIn to learn more about her fraud fighting techniques and follow Signifyd for more fraud prevention insights.Subscribe for weekly fraud industry discussions and expert interviews that help you stay ahead of emerging threats.Connect with Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-linnane-6a7451a9/Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 12/15/25 | ![]() The Red Box Trick That Wins 98% of Fraud Disputes | The post-holiday fraud season is in full swing and fraudsters are getting creative with their attacks. Ecommerce and hospitality businesses are facing sophisticated social engineering schemes where bad actors call customer service pretending to be corporate, manipulate hotel staff into processing fake refunds, and exploit account takeovers to redirect orders to new addresses.This episode covers the latest fraud trends hitting businesses right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Experts share real cases including a coordinated attack on over 400 Hyatt hotels where scammers convinced night operators to process unmatched refunds totaling thousands of dollars. The discussion reveals how fraudsters are using QQ.com email addresses and specific tactics to bypass fraud filters, particularly targeting high-value items like Lululemon jackets and Apple AirPods.The conversation dives deep into practical solutions including how one company achieved a 98% chargeback win rate using red boxes and clear documentation, why legal teams are more effective than engineering for implementing fraud prevention measures, and the hidden benefits of 3D Secure for subscription businesses.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:04] Account takeover email hijacking surge[08:07] Replacement shipping address fraud pattern[12:26] Corporate impersonation hotel system breach[16:24] Hospitality social engineering vulnerability training[20:19] Payment network expertise across verticals[23:30] Holiday season emotional manipulation tactics[24:49] QQ email domain fraud spike[28:08] Package weight verification breakthrough[32:28] Subscription chargeback defense strategy wins[36:00] Red box documentation game changer[41:39] Legal team fraud prevention leverage[45:47] Three D Secure recurring billing protectionIndustry professionals from companies like Signifyd, Peloton, and various hospitality brands share their frontline experiences dealing with account takeovers, subscription fraud, and the emotional manipulation tactics fraudsters use against customer service teams during high-stress periods.Learn how to protect your business from the evolving fraud landscape and why the traditional approaches to fighting chargebacks are failing.Subscribe for weekly fraud prevention insights and join the Slack community for real-time fraud intelligence sharing.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 12/8/25 | ![]() Why Every Ecommerce Brand Needs Different Solutions (w/ Serge El Hachem) | Serge El Hachem from Lazer Technologies drops a masterclass on where ecommerce is heading and why your current approach might leave you behind.The big revelation? Websites as we know them could be extinct in 250 days. Sounds dramatic, but here's what's actually happening. Discovery is shifting from Google searches to AI agents like ChatGPT making product recommendations. Brands that aren't feeding these systems the right data - FAQs, reviews, comparison content - are getting buried while competitors who optimize for AI agents are winning.Black Friday data revealed something fascinating. Shoppers are spending more money but buying fewer items. It's not just inflation. Consumers are researching harder and choosing quality over quantity. Meanwhile, AI is taking over merchandising decisions, deciding which products get featured and when.But here's the gap nobody's talking about. AI shopping still has major limitations. You can't build a proper cart, compare multiple products easily, or get that full shopping experience we're used to. People are still opening 50 browser tabs and going back to actual websites to complete purchases.The winners in this new world will be brands with clear data, clear content, and conversations that convert. And here's the career opportunity - the people who know customers best, who understand their behavior patterns and pain points, are becoming the most valuable players in this AI-driven future.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:42] Building flash websites to ecommerce solutions[07:02] Why no two brands share identical blueprints[08:48] AI snake oil versus genuine business value[10:57] How AI transforms customer discovery patterns[14:22] Optimizing content for AI agent recommendations[18:44] Protecting against AI-driven fraud schemes[24:33] Black Friday reveals spending pattern shifts[28:00] AI takes control of product merchandising[32:27] Why shoppers still abandon AI checkouts[36:08] Websites become the vinyl records[38:20] Customer knowledge drives commerce success[40:28] Focus on clear data over AI replacementConnect with Serge El Hachem:Email: serge@lazertechnologies.comSubscribe for more insights on ecommerce fraud prevention and the future of online retail.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 12/3/25 | ![]() How To Survive Holiday Season Without Losing Your Mind | The brutal truth about holiday fraud season nobody wants to admit - it's mentally exhausting, technically challenging, and feels almost inhumane at times. Vito Petruzzelli and Gena Rivera host their weekly fraud prevention community where professionals share real struggles heading into Black Friday and Cyber Monday.This pre-Thanksgiving episode captures the raw anxiety fraud fighters experience during peak season. From new platform implementations without proper tools to the psychological pressure of making split-second decisions worth thousands of dollars, the discussion reveals what really happens behind the scenes.The conversation covers the unique pipeline from emo culture to e-commerce fraud prevention, practical advice for surviving new system rollouts during peak traffic, and why redefining failure is crucial for mental health in this field.Lynn shares her nervousness about managing holiday traffic on a new platform with minimal fraud tools and staff. Jessica Flores offers support from her similar situation, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and accepting that no system catches 100% of fraud.Shelley discusses letting systems fail deliberately to prove the need for better tools, documenting manual processes to show leadership the true cost of inadequate fraud prevention infrastructure.The group explores how artificial intelligence and automation are changing fraud prevention roles, with participants sharing their plans for adapting to new technologies while maintaining the human element that customers increasingly value.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[01:32] Building community in fraud fighting[02:58] Gratitude for unexpected fraud careers[04:57] Handling Cyber Monday stress[06:06] Fraud work feels inhumane sometimes[09:34] New platform anxiety for holidays[10:43] Managing sleepless fraud nights[12:03] Redefining failure in fraud work[15:37] Letting systems fail proves value[18:32] Nobody pays attention to mistakes[21:20] People never stop being people[24:57] Being present during chaos[28:18] Professional evolution in 2026[30:36] Confidence in higher learning matters[33:29] Blending automation with human abilities[35:19] Letting go of outdated expertise[38:43] One year anniversary reflectionsSubscribe for weekly fraud prevention insights and join the community discussion every Wednesday.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 11/24/25 | ![]() The Manipulation Method Hitting Every Ecommerce Site | Address manipulation is one of the most overlooked fraud tactics hitting ecommerce businesses today. Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to bypass velocity checks and denial lists by creating dozens of variations of the same address, exploiting your systems while still getting their packages delivered.This episode breaks down the most common address manipulation schemes including velocity evasion, denial list bypassing, collusion indicators, and phone agent exploitation. Learn why pre-purchase address cleaning actually hurts your fraud detection and discover the post-purchase normalization strategy that reveals hidden fraud networks.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:09] Address manipulation as fraud art form[04:44] Why fraudsters manipulate shipping addresses[05:57] Getting around velocity checks easily[07:19] Bypassing address denial lists completely[08:58] Geographic spoofing with nearby addresses[09:56] Collusion tactics in drop shipping[11:23] Compromising phone and chat agents[13:50] Post purchase normalization prevents friction[17:38] Google Address Validation API costs[20:31] Fuzzy matching logic explained simply[22:45] Signifyd already handles address normalization[25:40] College campus mule operations[29:01] White Pages Pro validates residents[32:01] Returns fraud using address manipulation[36:25] Fedex label manipulation for refundsThe discussion covers real-world examples from fraud professionals dealing with everything from apartment complex schemes to return fraud manipulation. Discover how criminals use portmanteau addresses to trick customer service agents and why focusing on supporting signals rather than the address itself leads to better fraud prevention.Join fraud prevention professionals sharing battle-tested strategies for staying ahead of evolving address manipulation tactics while maintaining a smooth customer experience.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 11/17/25 | ![]() This Changes Everything for Ecommerce Growth (w/ Nirav Sheth) | Digital transformation doesn't have to be scary when you approach it the right way. Nirav Sheth, Chairman of Anatta, breaks down how ecommerce brands can scale from 50 million to 100 million and beyond without hitting the dreaded growth ceiling that stops most companies cold.This conversation reveals why most digital transformation projects fail and how to flip the script by focusing on business cases instead of technical features. You'll discover the real-world tactics that work for omnichannel experiences, from handling online returns in physical stores to using AI tools that actually make sense.The discussion covers practical fraud prevention strategies, customer service automation that doesn't alienate customers, and why your team needs autonomy to delight customers. Plus, you'll learn the specific workflows that get product companies to actually build the features you need.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[04:16] Why DTC brands keep growing[08:29] Digital transformation growth spurts scare teams[12:02] Fear kills organizational change initiatives[15:00] Tech enables better fraud detection[19:47] Customer identity powers retail experiences[24:58] CTOs prioritize security over features[29:52] Physical meets digital return challenges[35:25] Chargeback prevention through customer service[42:02] Internal teams need tech enablement[47:40] Business cases beat technical argumentsConnect with Nirav Sheth on LinkedIn and learn more about Anatta at anatta.ioJoin the Fraudcast community Slack channel for ongoing discussions with ecommerce fraud and risk professionals. Scan the QR code shown in the episode or check the description for the invite link.Subscribe for weekly conversations with industry experts who are solving the real challenges facing ecommerce teams today. New episodes drop every Wednesday.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 11/10/25 | ![]() 45% of Your Declines Could Be Approved Safely | The haunting specter of triangulation fraud is hitting major merchants hard this holiday season. Three players create the perfect storm - an innocent buyer seeking deals on marketplaces, a fraudster selling products they don't own, and a stolen credit card victim who gets hit with the chargeback.Here's how it works: A legitimate shopper finds your product listed below retail price on a marketplace. When they buy it, the fraudster uses a stolen credit card to purchase that same item from your actual store, shipping it directly to the buyer using their contact information. The buyer gets their discounted product in official packaging, but when the real cardholder sees the charge, they file a chargeback that lands on your merchant account.The warning signs are clear - marketplace listings under your retail price, sellers with few reviews or reviews for unrelated products, international shipping locations, and sponsored listings designed to appear first in search results.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:52] Triangulation fraud schemes targeting major merchants[06:36] Dark triangle fraud explained simply[08:42] How legitimate buyers get scammed unknowingly[10:08] Spotting triangulation fraud marketplace red flags[12:04] Call stolen card holders directly[14:21] Contact buyers who received stolen goods[18:42] Incentivize direct website purchases over marketplaces[24:31] Card testing targets higher value products[26:48] Gift cards see 10,000 order spikes[28:36] Quarter of good traffic uses VPNs[30:09] Second look recovers declined revenue[32:15] Free decline traffic evaluation offer[34:24] Fraudster manipulates customer service for refunds[37:37] AI generates convincing refund requests[40:01] Marketplace AI blocks legitimate fraud reportsCard testing has evolved beyond cheap items. With checker services disappearing, fraudsters now target products between 15 and 30 dollars. One merchant saw a 25 dollar gift card go from 5 orders per week to over 10,000 in a single day. Meanwhile, legitimate VPN usage has jumped from 11% to over 25% of good traffic, forcing risk teams to reconsider their proxy-based rules.The second look strategy offers massive potential. Taking declined orders and having them evaluated outside your data silo can recover 20 to 45 percent of falsely declined transactions. These recovered orders complete without chargebacks, turning your decline bucket into a revenue opportunity.The Fraudcast community shares real experiences with triangulation schemes, from marketplace sellers manipulating return tracking to fraudsters using AI-generated customer service requests. Legal teams are successfully shutting down marketplace accounts when merchants document the fraud properly and contact both the cardholder and the recipient.For merchants dealing with these attacks during the busy season, the key is knowing your products, monitoring volume spikes, and not being afraid to pick up the phone. When you call the person who received the item, they'll often admit they bought it from a marketplace at a discount, giving you the evidence needed to take action.Connect with other fraud professionals dealing with these same challenges in our Slack community where the conversation continues beyond these weekly sessions.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 11/3/25 | ![]() Think Like a Fraudster to Beat Them at Their Own Game (w/ Anna Prince-Palmer) | Fraud expert Anna Prince-Palmer reveals the psychological tactics that separate successful fraud fighters from those who constantly play defense. With 15 years of experience spanning law enforcement and tech, she breaks down why understanding criminal behavior is your most powerful weapon.Anna explains why fraudsters are more motivated than you are - their survival often depends on success while you clock out at 5pm. She demonstrates how to think like an attacker by asking "how would I get this product if I had no money" and shares real examples of spinning up test accounts to find vulnerabilities before bad actors do.The conversation tackles the dangerous phrase "acceptable risk" and why it signals weak defenses. When you leave small gaps open, fraudsters find them, exploit them, and share techniques with entire networks. Anna and the community discuss honey pot strategies, reseller fraud schemes, and the ego-driven nature of cybercriminals who can't resist bragging about their methods online.Key insights include translating fraud concerns into business language that marketing and product teams understand, using fraud incidents as momentum for systemic changes, and building cross-functional relationships that prevent fraud from being siloed in the basement.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:13] Celebrating one year fraud community milestone[05:42] Meet Anna Prince-Palmer[08:41] Understanding criminal psychology drives fraud prevention[10:46] Respecting fraud actors as motivated professionals[12:29] Testing your own products like fraudsters[14:56] Translating fraud insights to business stakeholders[18:37] Leadership turnover disrupts fraud strategy consistency[23:39] Why acceptable risk mindset fails businesses[26:34] Honey pot strategies for fraud intelligence[32:49] System confidence beats loss tolerance metrics[36:21] Credit card testing through MLM platforms[39:19] Reseller fraud schemes targeting physical products[47:07] Mental health tips for peak fraud seasonConnect with Anna Prince-Palmer on LinkedIn for fraud strategy insights and follow the Fraudcast community for weekly discussions on the latest threats and defense techniques.Subscribe for more fraud fighting strategies and risk management tactics from industry experts who've been in the trenches. New episodes every Wednesday.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 10/28/25 | ![]() Bots Are Stealing Your Black Friday Sales (w/ Jesse Martin-Alexander) | Jesse Martin-Alexander from Kasada reveals how sophisticated bot networks are preparing for Black Friday by creating fake accounts and exploiting pricing errors right now. These aren't your typical nuisance bots - they're organized operations that can devastate your holiday sales and customer experience.The conversation covers the real cost of bot attacks beyond just stolen inventory, including how over-aggressive bot protection can accidentally block legitimate customers, creating invisible revenue losses. Jesse explains why the traditional approach of making humans prove they're human through endless CAPTCHAs is failing, especially as AI agents begin to reshape e-commerce.Looking ahead to 2025, AI-powered shopping agents will create new fraud vectors while simultaneously offering legitimate commerce opportunities. The challenge lies in distinguishing between helpful AI agents and malicious bots masquerading as legitimate traffic.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[02:48] Jesse introduces bot protection strategies[04:41] How bots exploit pricing errors[06:06] Black Friday bot preparation timeline[08:02] Zero dollar checkout vulnerabilities exposed[10:01] Why blocking bots reduces revenue[12:21] Total cost of bot attacks[14:29] Breaking organizational silos effectively[18:34] AI agent commerce emergence explained[22:04] Fraud risks with AI agents[25:34] Peak season agent traffic predictions[28:17] Preparing for AI commerce unknowns[31:47] Agent identity verification challenges[36:39] When blocking creates false positives[41:00] Detecting perimeter security overcorrection[43:26] Risk exposure in changing landscapesConnect with Jesse Martin-Alexander on LinkedIn and learn more about Kasada's bot protection solutions.Subscribe for weekly fraud prevention insights and join our live community discussions every Wednesday.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 10/24/25 | ![]() AI Will Break Every Fraud Model This Holiday Season (w/ Tracy Kobeda Brown) | Tracy Brown breaks down the fraud landscape heading into Black Friday and Cyber Monday, revealing why refund abuse has now overtaken chargebacks as the biggest threat to merchants. With fake storefronts up 800% in Q1 and AI about to break traditional fraud detection models, this holiday season is shaping up to be unlike any other.Tracy shares real-world insights from her 25 years in fraud prevention, covering everything from gift card fraud rings to WhatsApp business scams. She explains why velocity checks are the most forgotten fraud prevention tool and how romance scams are creating unexpected money laundering challenges for merchants.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[02:47] Meet Tracy Brown, fraud consultant expert[04:24] Tracy shifts from merchant council work[06:55] Why fraud patterns repeat 25 years[09:43] Essential fraud basics new teams miss[10:54] Refund abuse overtakes chargeback volume[11:25] Velocity checks prevent testing attacks[12:35] Fake storefront fraud up 800 percent[12:58] AI threatens holiday fraud models[15:16] Crypto romance scams drive chargebacks[16:01] Michelle shares fake ad takedown struggles[18:13] Brand protection squads fight storefront fraud[19:56] Privacy versus cryptographic identity verification[22:15] Gift card fraud rings target merchants[23:08] WhatsApp business scams exploit encrypted messaging[26:30] Psychology behind falling for modern scams[30:09] COVID created loneliness vulnerability epidemic[32:01] Fingerprinting becomes new fraud prevention tool[33:49] Car club analogy explains security evolution[37:13] AI breaks traditional fraud detection models[39:47] This becomes the AI trial year[40:40] Revenue optimizer beats fraud fighter titleThe discussion reveals how COVID created an epidemic of loneliness that made consumers more vulnerable to scams, and why fingerprinting and other traditional fraud signals are becoming less reliable as AI advances. Tracy also explains the psychology behind why people fall for scams and how fraudsters are now targeting demographics beyond traditional vulnerable populations.For merchants preparing for peak season, Tracy emphasizes the importance of understanding what fraud actually is, preparing for the surge in chargebacks, and monitoring velocity across all customer touchpoints. She warns that this will be the trial year for AI-powered fraud, after which the landscape will fundamentally change.Subscribe for more fraud prevention insights and join our weekly community discussions where industry experts share practical strategies for protecting your business.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
| 10/20/25 | ![]() This Data Scientist Found a Way to Approve 50% More Orders (w/ Luke Van Hine) | Manual review queues are about to explode during Black Friday and holiday season. Most merchants send 8-10% of orders to manual review, but without proper optimization, that could jump to 15-20% when volume increases 4x.Luke Van Hine, Data Scientist at Signifyd, reveals how to optimize your manual review queue before the holiday rush hits. The counterintuitive insight: if you have 0% fraud losses in certain buckets with only 89% approval rates, you're actually leaving money on the table.The analysis process is surprisingly straightforward. Start by binning your current manual review cases by risk score, looking at approval rates and loss rates in each bucket. If you see buckets with high approval rates and zero losses, your team isn't taking enough risk there. You can often reduce queue volume by 40-50% while maintaining or even improving overall performance.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[03:14] Why manual review optimization matters now[07:20] Black Friday volume surge multipliers[10:48] Gray area fraud getting harder to spot[14:32] How queue optimization drives revenue increases[16:42] Merchant case study pushing approval rates[21:53] What actually sends orders to manual review[25:03] Baseline analysis before changing thresholds[27:59] Score bucket analysis reveals hidden opportunities[30:14] Real merchant feedback on rule optimization[34:04] Account age patterns in manual review[36:23] Order value buckets reveal shipping fraud[40:05] Black Friday staffing challenges ahead[42:22] Managing repeat customer false positives[45:13] Why fraud prevention stays excitingFor merchants heading into peak season, now is the time to run this analysis. You have about a month to test boundaries and find those areas where you can auto-approve more orders. The goal isn't just stopping fraud - it's maximizing revenue while managing risk.The data shows good traffic increases at much higher rates than fraud during Black Friday week. Fashion sees 4x order volume but fraud rates drop to 37% of normal levels. However, electronics merchants should stay vigilant due to sophisticated fraud rings targeting that vertical.Queue optimization isn't just about reducing workload for your team during the holidays. It's about capturing more of those first-time customers who are making quick purchasing decisions during limited-time sales events.Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitopetruzzelli/ | — | ||||||
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