Ecommpay, a leading international payments service provider and UK and European card acquirer, has implemented innovative graph analysis to strengthen its proprietary Risk Control Management System (RCMS). With this graph model, Ecommpay analyses fraud patterns and blocks not only one but multiple fraudulent activities in a chain. This update also enables the RCMS to identify patterns of fraudulent behaviour even when criminal entities are not active at that moment.

Last year alone, £4 billion was lost to fraud in the UK, up from £2.4 billion in 2021. To tackle the growing issue of online payment fraud, the technology can now detect unusual, interprocess connections, prompting an analysis of the connection. If fraudulent activity is found, chains are blocked and when fraudsters attempt fraudulent actions again, the graph model once again neutralises the threat. This process is repeated until the scammer has exhausted all its efforts and ceases all intrusions.

Most payment providers outsource their fraud protection capabilities, however, Ecommpay’s proprietary system allows the anti-fraud controls to be tailored to each client’s needs, particularly those operating in the e-retail, travel and fintech sector. With this flexibility, businesses can adjust the antifraud filters accordingly to maintain a high level of customer conversion and achieve maximum revenue.

The graph analysis adds another layer of protection to the already sophisticated fraud solution, which combines an automated monitoring feature with manual analysis. This approach ensures a 97% fraud detection and prevention rate without interfering with customer interactions. The system also employs machine learning for enhanced detection, as well as a whitelist and blacklist database functionality. Uniquely, Ecommpay also provides a dedicated personal anti-fraud manager, who uses modern approaches to data visualisation and link analysis to add human insight to powerful machine capabilities.

Marija Solovjova, Head of Fraud & Chargebacks Department at Ecommpay, comments: “When it comes to fraud, merchants need a system that provides a holistic analysis of behaviour. As UK businesses tackle a competitive market in a tough economic environment, they are now looking to expand overseas to explore growth opportunities in different markets. However, this makes them more susceptible to fraudulent actors. Fortunately, our anti-fraud system, combined with graphic analysis, can help companies expand safely to other markets.

Furthermore, according to our survey, 31% of respondents said that their businesses have experienced fraud or attempted fraud (including attempted phishing scams). As fraudsters’ attacks become more sophisticated, the technology available to defend against them must stay one step ahead. Innovative graph analysis is a logical addition to our robust RCMS solution. What makes it so effective in tackling fraudulent activity is that it doesn't just go after an individual action which looks fraudulent, but it finds entire patterns of suspect activity and dismantles full chains of criminal activity. All of this is actioned within the monitoring stage to understand shared patterns of behaviour, what they have in common, and where the discrepancies lie. Our graph analysis enhances Ecommpay’s combined human and machine approach that successfully detects and prevents fraudulent activity.”