With the recent high-profile collapse of the crypto exchange FTX, the future is looking shaky for crypto enthusiasts. FTX’s collapse represents the largest cryptocurrency failure to date. No one is absolutely sure what the fallout will look like. This clearly underscores a core problem in crypto payments: value is volatile. Although blockchain technology does allow for greater transactional transparency, in …
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I had the opportunity to discuss the problem of card skimming at length in a recent interview with Fox 26 Houston. The piece hinged on a particularly startling new stat: there’s been a 700% spike in the card skimming activity since 2021. What’s most concerning is that this surge in skimming attacks have occurred even despite EMV mandates. So, what’s …
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Data breaches are a real and present danger for everyone, but they’re particularly troubling for consumers. An estimated 254 million people were exposed during attacks on various financial organizations in 2022, with 9.4 million of those affected hailing from the US. Add to this targeted attacks conducted on popular social media platforms like Facebook, which was fined $277 million in …
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Banking regulation is once again a hot topic for 2023. This latest debate centers on the relevance and efficacy of The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (or TCFB). Proponents of deregulation argue that our current approach to consumer protection is broken. Regulatory supporters, on the other hand, view deregulation as a dangerous prospect that could leave millions of consumers at the …
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It turns out that the holiday season was more profitable than expected, considering inflation, lingering supply chain woes, and projected economic turbulence. People shopped longer, earlier, and spent more than they have in the last three years. According to data from the National Retail Federation, online Black Friday sales were up 2.3% compared to 2021, with $9.12 billion spent online …
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Let’s face it: the last 5 years have been incredibly turbulent for everyone. Business leaders and executives are no exception to the sentiment. We’ve seen the pandemic and its related supply chain and inflation woes, as well as political instability, and the normalization of hybridized work environments. Against all that is the backdrop of ever-increasing attempts at fraud in the …
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Restaurants, bars, and cafes have always been a target for fraud. That said, the food and beverage space hasn’t traditionally been an industry rife with chargebacks. Now, however, these businesses are becoming a hot target. What gives? Why does it feel like things are getting worse? The easy answer is that the economy has yet to recover from the pandemic. …
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Across the US, peak holiday shopping is in full swing. Thousands of merchants are so busy they scarcely have time to breathe, let alone worry about supply chain issues, inventory breakdowns, or customer service snafus. Yet… here we are. It’s the 2022 holiday season, and we’re still experiencing residual supply chain woes leftover from the pandemic, and will be for …
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After nearly two decades, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting dozens of highly-qualified leaders in technology. Many of the brightest minds I’ve had the pleasure to know have been women. In fact, successful women present in every aspect of the industry, from development and design to management and leadership. Yet… another thing that I can’t fail to notice is how …
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Contemporary workers are more concerned about their health than ever before. With increasingly sedentary lifestyles, quick and easy access to bad food, and exacerbating factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder that workers are concerned. And, as we’ve seen, employers are paying attention. Employee happiness and wellbeing are becoming key issues for companies to address throughout employee tenures. Indeed, …
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