Beyond risk-based authentication
The invisible forcefield against digital scams

 

Enhancing security without compromising customer convenience. 

Here's why traditional fraud prevention solutions are ineffective:

“The proactive nature of the [Entersekt] solution transforms potential negative interactions into positive experiences of trust and security”

Casey Reynders, Senior Vice President, Consumer Product Strategies, Columbia Bank (formerly Umpqua Bank)

99%

reduction in ATO fraud

90%

reduction in peer-to-peer (P2P) fraud

60%

increase in authentication success rates

98%

frictionless logins
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Entersekt was recently named Best Authentication Innovation for the 5th Annual Datos Insights’ Impact Awards in Fraud & AML. Learn more.

Protecting customers from evolving scams and fraud

Due to advanced technology like GenAI, scams are more sophisticated than ever. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) warns that fraudsters can clone a voice in just 3–5 seconds. These tools reinforce their manipulation tactics, helping them exploit emotions like fear and empathy to trigger careless responses in their victims — with devastating consequences.

To prevent customers from falling victim, financial institutions (FIs), merchants, and issuers need a clear view of who's transacting, how, and when. In other words, insight into the behavior and level of risk of each transaction.

Breaking down risk-based authentication

Risk-based authentication (RBA) assesses the risk of each transaction by checking risk signals, scoring the risk, and enabling a security response that matches that level of risk.

The benefits?

As Mastercard shares:

“[RBA] allows maximum security, minimal interruption to user experience and therefore maximum conversions.”

In this video, our Chief Technology Officer, Gerhard Oosthuizen, explains RBA in more detail.

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The core components of RBA

Modern RBA taps into risk signals and risk scoring to detect suspicious activity and add friction that blocks fraudsters, not customers.

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Risk signals: Data points collected during a transaction, such as device ID, geolocation, transaction amount, time of day, behavioral signals, and account history.
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Risk scoring: When a risk engine uses these signals to assign a score to a transaction. A high score indicates a high-risk transaction, while a low score suggests lower risk.
Behavioral biometrics vs analytics

The other vital components needed for fraud prevention are behavioral biometrics and behavioral analytics:

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Behavioral biometrics verify who the user is by analyzing unconscious physical behaviors — like typing rhythm, swipe speed, or how a phone is held — to confirm their identity.
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Behavioral analytics assess what the user is doing by examining contextual and transactional patterns — such as typical payment amounts, login times, or device locations — to flag suspicious activity.
Many believe behavioral biometrics alone can stop fraud — but that’s a misconception.

While behavioral biometrics can confirm who is interacting, they don’t reveal why. Behavioral analytics goes further, interpreting intent and context to expose hidden fraud signals. It detects coercion, social engineering, and other manipulative tactics that biometrics alone miss — making it the smarter, more complete foundation for fraud prevention.

Download the brochure to learn why biometrics alone are not enough.

It takes more than just a risk score to truly prevent fraud

Global State of Scams Cover

In their ‘State of Scams in the United States of America 2025’ report, the GASA revealed that a staggering 70% of American adults fell victim to scams in 2025. Even more disturbing: today’s consumers seem to be under constant attack.

“The average American now encounters a scam attempt every single day — 377 times per year,” GASA adds.

To prevent the devastating losses that affect customers’ livelihoods and mental well-being, FIs and merchants need smart fraud prevention solutions. Solutions that use risk as more than just a score, leveraging risk intelligence to create an invisible forcefield against digital banking scams.

Entersekt’s adaptive defense against today’s sophisticated scams

Entersekt's Authentication Advisor goes beyond traditional risk-based authentication that relies on rigid, predetermined rules.

By using dynamic risk conditions, we combine historical behavior and transaction context to identify suspicious activity at the individual level.

Unlike static signals that flag all “high-risk” merchants, dynamic conditions recognize when a user’s behavior is legitimate. 

For example, instead of automatically declining a transaction and risking user frustration and the loss of 'top of wallet' status, a dynamic system may allow the transaction to proceed if the user's established, low-risk history supports it.

This sophisticated, individualized analysis delivers effective fraud mitigation, and balances security with a seamless user experience.

Protecting customers with a layered security approach

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Behavioral analytics: to detect anomalies.
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Risk engine: to enrich data and determine the right advice.
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Device and transaction consortium data: to deepen contextual risk intelligence.

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Strong authentication: for step-up challenges when risk indicates a need to verify who is transacting.

What you get when you partner with Entersekt

Feature

Value

Benefit

Detection accuracy

Accurately identifies fraudulent activities while minimizing false positives.

Improves CX, reduces fraud losses, increases deposits.

Real-time analysis

Immediate action to prevent fraudulent transactions.

Improves CX, reduces fraud losses.

Optimization

Replaces SMS OTPs with stronger and more user-friendly methods.

Reduces fraud and reimbursement costs, alleviates fraud investigation.

Adaptability

Continuous platform learning adapts to fraudsters’ ever-evolving tactics.

Reduces fraud and builds customer trust.

Data integration

Integrates with numerous data sources (beyond what a single issuer typically achieves) – breaking down siloes with data sharing across channels.

Protects all customer interaction channels, reduces fraud, and builds customer trust.

User experience

Intuitive, consistent user experience across channels, including silent and passwordless.

Minimizes friction and abandonment.

Customization

FIs, merchants, and issuers can create and adjust rules themselves.

Fraud prevention aligned with your organization's risk appetite.
Additional benefits:
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Lowers customer support costs
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Improves customer retention

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Increases deposit value
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Cuts operational inefficiencies and costs

In a digital world where every interaction carries risk, an outdated approach to security is a liability, not a safeguard. Download our brochure to learn more about redefining trust through risk-based intelligence with Entersekt’s Authentication Advisor. 

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Entersekt’s risk intelligence use cases

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Login
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ACH transfers

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Call center authentication

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Trusted device management

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High-risk transactions

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Push payments

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Wire transfers

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Alerts changes

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Password resets

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Account recovery

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Internal transfers
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CNP payments

Let's continue the conversation!Get in touch or request a personalized demo.

Copyright © 2020 Entersekt

Copyright © 2020 Entersekt