The New Standard in Fraud Fighting: Profiles, Patterns, and Proactive Prevention

When I started in accounting, I never imagined I’d end up here: digging through data and chasing down fraud rings. But one spreadsheet led to another, and after diving into physical security and loss prevention, I found myself in the world of fraud investigations. That journey eventually led me to consulting and, now, to Spec, where I help shape our product with insights from years spent on the frontlines of fraud.

Through it all, I’ve realized that fraud-fighting isn’t just about stopping the bad guys – it's about using the right tools, processes, and mindsets to protect the good guys, too. Here’s what I’ve learned and how Spec is helping fraud professionals do their jobs better.

The Data Barrier: When Teams Don't “Do Data”

One of the biggest challenges I see today is that some fraud teams still don’t engage with data because they don’t know how to code. Others rely on someone else to pull the data for them, which can slow everything down. It’s not always a big deal, but speed matters when you’re chasing fraud.

At the same time, platforms could alleviate this challenge by being more user-friendly. Fraud fighters need access to relevant information quickly, without having to dig through mountains of data to get there. With Spec, we’ve learned that having lots of data isn’t enough – you need the right data, fast.

Why Session Data Matters (And Why Most Aren’t Using It Yet)

Interestingly, session data – widely used in behavioral analytics – has yet to become a core part of fraud detection. Most tools rely on retroactive prevention, meaning they catch fraud only after the fact. Meanwhile, fraudsters have learned to game the system, timing their attacks to avoid detection during scheduled API checks.

At Spec, we’ve flipped the script. Instead of waiting for API calls, we stream data in real time from the moment a visitor lands on the site to when the session closes. This live-streaming approach means fraud fighters can act instantly, without waiting for an API trigger – and that’s a game-changer. It’s also cost-effective: every API call adds expense, so continuous streaming reduces operational costs while improving detection accuracy.

This is also where relevance becomes essential. Spec captures 14x more data than traditional tools, gathering insights for every visitor, user, and customer, anonymous or otherwise. But data alone isn't enough – it has to be structured into labels, profiles, and signatures so fraud fighters can quickly find what they need to act.

Fraud professionals on the front lines know when and where they’re most vulnerable, but if they only have access to snapshots instead of streams or piles of data they can’t act on, they will always be playing catch-up. The real breakthrough lies in taking action during the session – while the fraud is unfolding. Without this live-streamed data, organized in ways that make it actionable, even the best fraud teams are limited in how much they can do.

Get Micro to Rule Out False Positives

Fraud detection isn’t just about isolated events. It’s about building profiles and understanding how different behaviors connect across journeys. We orchestrate data from multiple sessions and accounts to make it possible to spot suspicious patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Imagine you’re investigating a spike in refund requests, for example. Without access to real-time data, you’re forced to sift through historical snapshots and disconnected accounts. Meanwhile, fraudulent refunds continue to pile up. This is a reality many fraud teams face today, and it’s exactly what tools like Spec are designed to solve for by offering live streaming data, behavioral linking, and instant insights.

And with behavioral linking, they can uncover hidden connections, which can reveal more than just singular cases of fraud, but complete fraudulent networks. This is only made possible with fraud tools that can see across accounts and sessions, not just at individual moments in time, to understand the full picture.

Fraud teams need the flexibility to go deep into the details. Sometimes, you have to get exceptionally micro to fully analyze behavior patterns, and it helps to standardize for relevance at a glance. The more granularity you can build into your workflows, the more false positives you can rule out. And it’s not just about stopping bad actors, it’s about keeping genuine customers safe, too.

Why Spec Works for Fraud Teams

Our customers reap the benefits of approaching fraud detection differently – being proactive, employing adaptive defenses, and increasing accuracy as a result. Here’s why I’m excited about what we’re building at Spec:

• Ease of integration—no need to rework your existing systems
• Amount and ease of data capture—everything you need, without the clutter
• Customization of workflows and labels (our “signatures”).
• Streaming data in real-time—from the moment a visitor lands until session closure, giving you full visibility
• Action without waiting for API calls—we don’t miss a beat, and neither will you when taking action on fraudulent behavior in real-time
• Not just fraud detection—protecting genuine customers by ruling out false positives

The Future of Fraud Prevention: Stay Ahead by Staying Flexible

The fraud landscape is always changing, and fraudsters are getting smarter. But with the right tools and insights, we can stay ahead. It’s all about building detailed profiles, orchestrating data from multiple touchpoints, and acting in real-time – before fraud happens. And most importantly, it’s about balancing detection with customer experience, ensuring we protect both the business and the people we serve.

With Spec, we’re not just chasing fraud; we’re building a better way to fight it with the right data, the right tools, and the right insights, all at your fingertips.

That’s what makes this work so rewarding. Fraud-fighting isn’t just my job – it’s my passion. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that the devil is in the data. But only if you know how to look for it.

Learn more about Spec by contacting us here.