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'A team sport:' Responding to cyber threats in the age of AI

Financial experts emphasize that industry-wide collaboration and AI-driven defense are now essential to protect merchants and lenders from sophisticated fraud.

Curated by Financing Your Way from original reporting by American Banker — Top News. Summary is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed — see our editorial standards.

FYWBy Financing Your Way EditorialOctober 21, 2026

AI is changing the landscape of fraud, making it easier for bad actors to target both lenders and the merchants who offer financing. This news highlights a shift in how the financial industry handles cybersecurity. Experts are moving away from keeping security protocols secret and toward a 'team sport' approach. For retailers, this means the lenders you partner with are likely increasing their data-sharing practices to spot fraudulent applications before they hit your point-of-sale. The rise of generative AI means that fake IDs and synthetic identities are becoming harder for traditional systems to catch. As a business owner, you should expect your financing partners to implement more robust verification steps. These updates are designed to protect your revenue and reduce the risk of chargebacks or fraudulent transactions that can damage your merchant standing. The key takeaway for operators is that security is no longer just a backend IT issue. It is a critical part of the customer checkout experience. You may need to prepare your staff for slightly more rigorous identity checks as lenders roll out new AI-driven defense tools to counter sophisticated phishing and identity theft.

Source: American Banker — Top News

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