Politeness leaving people at the mercy of fraudsters

The discovery that politeness is leaving many British consumers more vulnerable to impersonation fraud acts as a timely reminder that having an effective fraud prevention strategy in place – alongside the tools to support it – is no longer optional. Basic passwords and PINs which can be easily guessed and stolen, are no longer fit for purpose.

Biometric technologies could provide an answer for organisations looking to keep malicious actors at bay and ensure the security of both their customers and employees. For example, voice biometrics are able to leverage more than 1000 unique speech characteristics – from pronunciation to size and shape of your nasal passage. Meanwhile behavioural biometrics measure minute details – such as how a person holds their phone or even how they pause once they finish a task. Security systems that incorporate these authentication tools are considerably less susceptible to fraudsters.

When it comes to fraud, prevention is always better than a cure. Without question, businesses and consumers need to be one step ahead and education around the most effective security solutions – like biometrics – is key.