Technology

First-Party Fraud Surpasses Scams to Become the Leading Form of Global Attacks

Published

1 year ago

May 13, 2025

Periods of inflation and rising living costs likely contribute to an increase in opportunistic fraud against financial services, ecommerce and other sectorsAI-powered fraud expected to increase in 2025

LONDON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LexisNexis® Risk Solutions releases its annual Cybercrime Report, an analysis of over 104 billion global transactions in the LexisNexis® Digital Identity Network® platform during 2024. The report, The Calm Before the Storm?, shows a significant swing in the composition of global fraud attacks, with first-party fraud now the leading type globally, representing a third (36%) of all reported fraud in 2024, up from 15% the year before.

First-party fraud includes misrepresenting or giving false personal or account information for financial gain, such as when applying for a loan, claiming a credit or debit card purchase is fraudulent in order to get a refund (known as friendly fraud), or claiming ordered goods were not delivered. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers and financial institutions are among the organisations reporting an uplift in first-party fraud, which is known to be exacerbated by periods of inflation and the rising cost of living. Increased institutional liability for scams, driven by regulation, is also likely having an impact.

Key vulnerabilities

Account takeover (ATO) fraud – fuelled by phishing and smishing activity – represents a further 27% of global reported fraud (down by ~2% year on year), while scams, including authorised push payment (APP) fraud, represent 11% of cases (down from 16% of cases in 2023). The report also found one in nine (11%) password reset attempts in 2024 was a fraud attack, rising to over one in four (27%) reset attempts initiated on a desktop computer.

“These findings represent a notable shift in global fraud patterns, with consumers now emerging as the single largest source of human-initiated fraud,” said Stephen Topliss, vice president of fraud and identity, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “The change in composition of attacks presents a significant challenge for fraud prevention since detecting first party fraud requires a subtly different approach from detecting scams or account takeovers. Organisations can’t afford to be complacent, however – there were more than three billion brute-force automated account takeover attacks detected last year alone and scams remain a global problem. It is vital for organisations to have models tuned to detect these varied forms of fraud.”

Sector-specific and regional trends

After two years of substantial increases in overall global[1] attacks, the latest Cybercrime Report finds that rates began stabilising in 2024, with only a marginal (1%) increase in the human attack rate and a 15% decrease in global bot attacks – algorithms designed to break into customer accounts using stolen credentials. However, LexisNexis Risk Solutions believes this relatively calm global picture may obscure underlying signs of a coming storm powered by AI.

The attack rate on Communication, Mobile and Media (CMM) companies increased by 15% year on year and global Financial Services firms saw an 18% uplift in automated bot attacks.

Attack rates also vary at a regional level:

EMEA continues to see the lowest regional attack rate globally at 0.6% of transactions, according to the LexisNexis® Identity Abuse Index, which records daily attack rates.LATAM has also seen a sustained decrease in its attack rate (1.6%) since the end of 2023, now putting it lower than North America at 2.2%.In contrast, APAC’s attack rate grew significantly by 37% through 2024, now standing at 1.5% of all transactions in the region.

Topliss continued, “We are at a potential tipping point. While many organisations have improved their defences over the past few years, we also know that cybercriminals are embracing new innovative, AI-enhanced capabilities and we will likely see these extensively tested and executed over the coming months. Our analysis of attacks over a longer multi-year period shows that significant attacks often come in waves and this latest set of figures could indicate the imminent arrival of the next, AI-enabled wave of global attacks.”

Download a copy of The Calm Before the Storm? LexisNexis® Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report today.

Methodology: The LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report analyses over 104 billion transactions through its LexisNexis Digital Identity Network between January and December 2024. It identifies fraud attempts during near real-time analysis of consumer interactions across the online journey, from new account creations, logins and payments to non-core transactions such as password resets and transfers.

About LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

LexisNexis® Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses across multiple industries and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions and RELX.

Media Contact:
Mike Normansell
Mike.normansell@lexisnexisrisk.com
07743899948

1 The attack rate is the volume of high-risk transactions detected, expressed as a percentage of the overall volume of transactions in the network.

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Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alcott HR announces Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects. Michael brings over ten years of experience in HR operations and project management.

Before joining Alcott HR, he held senior roles leading technology upgrades and launching new employee benefits programs. This experience supports Alcott’s initiatives, helping the company grow while putting clients first.

As Director, Michael drives operational excellence at Alcott HR by leading strategic projects. He maintains processes to ensure Alcott stays flexible and personalized during growth. Michael focuses on projects that further enhance client support.

Improving Data Accuracy: Michael connects Alcott’s main systems with partners. Automating these connections streamlines onboarding and enrollment, ensuring benefits and payroll are accurate and secure. This gives clients confidence their information is in good hands.

Creating a Seamless Client Experience: Michael is improving how Alcott manages projects and client renewals. With consistency in these processes, Alcott delivers a seamless, dependable experience, especially during year-end reporting and enrollment.

Building for Growth: By replacing manual tasks with digital solutions, Michael helps Alcott grow with its clients. This allows the team to focus on building relationships and offering expert HR guidance to help clients achieve their goals.

“Michael doesn’t just manage projects, he builds systems that help our team excel,” said Kristen Bartolotta, Sr. Director of Operations at Alcott HR. “His ability to transform complex processes into streamlined solutions has improved our efficiency and enhanced our client service.”

“Working with the talented Alcott team has been a great experience,” said Michael Pascucci. “I’m excited to continue working across departments to improve our processes, boost efficiency, and help the company keep growing.”

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

About Alcott HR: Alcott HR is an IRS Certified* and ESAC Accredited, Professional Employer Organization that provides a comprehensive range of human resources solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. With nearly four decades of experience, Alcott HR offers customized services that allow businesses to manage their workforce more effectively while staying compliant with state and federal regulations. Their services include payroll, benefits, risk management, and HR support, designed to help businesses grow and succeed.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Vaultzy and Miracle University Pilot Demonstrates AI-Powered Document Management for Students. Expansion Planned for California Foster Youth Programs

Published

4 hours ago

June 19, 2026

A successful student pilot demonstrates how secure digital records and AI guidance can help them access education, employment, housing, and life opportunities

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Vaultzy, an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform, today announced the successful completion of a pilot with Miracle University, demonstrating how secure digital records and intelligent guidance can help students overcome barriers to education, employment, and economic mobility.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

For many students, particularly those facing economic hardship or life disruptions, lost identification, unavailable transcripts, and scattered paperwork can delay enrollment, employment, housing applications, financial aid, and access to public services. Vaultzy was created to address this challenge by providing a secure, user-controlled platform for lifelong document management.

Beyond document storage, Vaultzy recently launched the first version of its AI-powered Life Agent. The platform allows users to interact with their personal records and receive guidance related to major life transitions. By understanding what documents a user has available, the Life Agent can help identify requirements and next steps for education, employment, healthcare, government services, financial planning, and other important milestones.

The pilot was conducted in partnership with Miracle University, a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students who have left the traditional education system earn their high school diplomas and achieve academic and career success. The initiative focused on helping students digitize, organize, and securely manage their most important records while introducing them to emerging technologies that can support their long-term success.

“Our mission is to help students overcome barriers and unlock their full potential,” said Dr. Kadhir Raja, Founder of Miracle University. “Students need access to their documents, confidence in managing important life transitions, and guidance on what comes next. Vaultzy helps bring all of these together, empowering students to navigate education, employment, housing, and other life opportunities with greater confidence and independence.”

The pilot demonstrated the importance of giving individuals lifelong access to trusted records while providing the tools and guidance needed to use them effectively. As California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

Looking ahead, Vaultzy plans to continue expanding its AI-powered capabilities. “We envision a future where every individual has a trusted AI companion that not only safeguards their records but also helps guide them through life’s most important transitions,” said Avanti Ramraj, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Vaultzy.

The success of the Miracle University pilot is helping inform broader discussions with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions, and public-sector leaders interested in modernizing how individuals manage and access trusted records while receiving guidance through important life transitions. One of the most promising opportunities is the potential application of Vaultzy within programs serving foster youth, seniors, and other underserved populations.

About Vaultzy

Vaultzy is an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform that helps individuals securely store, manage, and share important records throughout their lives. Combining secure document management, document intelligence, multilingual assistance, and agentic AI capabilities, Vaultzy is building the infrastructure for lifelong document ownership and trusted digital identity.

About Miracle University

Miracle University is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students overcome educational barriers and achieve academic, personal, and professional success. Through mentorship, education, and community support, Miracle University equips students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to transform their futures.

Media Contact
Anupriya Ramraj, Vaultzy, 1 510-255-0657, contact@vaultzy.ai, www.vaultzy.ai

Twitter, LinkedIn

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SOURCE Vaultzy