Mastercard updates travelers on latest card precautions


With summer vacation season in full swing, the card network suggested ways that its card clients can better protect themselves against the latest fraud threats

The tips from Mastercard come as the industry faces a surge in fraud. In April, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report indicating that credit card complaints rose 38% year over year, some of which involved credit cards being fraudulently opened in consumers’ names. 

As the CFPB receives more credit card fraud complaints, other research indicates that card companies could step up their protection efforts. A survey from Consumer Reports released in March found that banks’ mobile apps are not providing enough protection for unauthorized credit or debit card transactions or peer-to-peer scams. Both established companies, as well as new financial firms, are not adequately providing real-time fraud monitoring and alerts to spot unusual activity, the survey said.

Meanwhile, other card giants are pouring substantial resources into fending off fraud. During an RBC Capital Markets conference in March, Visa CEO Ryan McInerney said the company fends off hundreds of millions of attacks on its perimeter every month, including phishing emails and nation state-backed cyber attacks. McInerney said the company has already spent billions of dollars protecting its system. 


By Tatiana Walk-Morris on July 15, 2024
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