Technology

Mastercard has agreed to acquire Finicity for a reported price of $825 million, a move the card brand says will strengthen its open banking platform and expand financial services through more real-time access to data.

While it’s inevitable that fraudsters will continue to hone and change their methods, businesses must continually monitor the factors that affect fraud — from changing consumer behaviors to major economic trends — and the actions they can take to safeguard against them.

Wirecard AG’s former chief executive officer was detained by Munich prosecutors after 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) went missing from the digital-payment company, in a scandal that has rattled Germany’s financial industry.

Markus Braun turned himself in to Munich prosecutors, who arrested him on suspicion of false accounting and market manipulation; the Wirecard fallout may make it harder for European fintechs to attract investors.

In a new twist on an old scam, cybercriminals have tried to get thousands of people to surrender their Wells bank account information by sending authentic-looking emails containing malicious links that lead to a fake website bearing the company's name.

The spending and account management capabilities of corporate prepaid cards have been given new purpose in a pandemic-struck world dependent on government and charity aid.

Micro-investing apps that can enable payments, savings management and investment all in one place will gain favorable consideration from investors and consumers alike, says Naples Technology Ventures' Tom Hogan.

With Americans traveling less due to the pandemic, the card, issued by Synchrony, is tailoring rewards to everyday purchases, such as groceries. It also has a contactless feature that could appeal to shoppers fearful of touching terminals.

The company, which has yet to turn a profit since it was spun off from Live Oak Bank, said it would use the proceeds for working capital and possibly to make acquisitions.

In a new twist on an old scam, cybercriminals have tried to get thousands of people to surrender their Wells bank account information by sending authentic-looking emails containing malicious links that lead to a fake website bearing the company's name.