5 Surprising Fraud Elements Organizations Should Assess—but Many Aren’t

Fraud is becoming more sophisticated, and fraudsters continue to exploit overlooked gaps in traditional validation processes. While many organizations rely on standard checks like identity verification and payment validation, there are critical risk indicators that often go unnoticed. By assessing these lesser-known elements and their connections to each other, businesses can bolster their defenses and mitigate fraud more effectively. 

Here are five surprising fraud elements that deserve more attention:

1. Multiple SSNs Associated with a Single Bank Account

When three or more Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are linked to the same bank account within 90 days, the risk of fraud increases by a staggering 59.5%.  

This pattern suggests deliberate manipulation to mask true identity, often used in synthetic fraud schemes. Organizations should implement additional validation steps, such as cross-referencing against verified databases, before onboarding or processing payments for such accounts.

2. Mismatched First & Last Names

Fraud risk rises by 36% when a consumer’s last name cannot be matched against verified sources.  

Legitimate consumers tend to use consistent first and last names, whereas fraudsters frequently manipulate names to evade detection. Regularly cross-checking names against reliable data sources is crucial to reducing false positives and identifying fraudulent activity.

3. Non-Mailable Email Addresses

A recent data study revealed a 130% spike in fraud cases when the provided email address was not mailable.  

Assessing email validity goes beyond syntax checks; organizations should evaluate factors such as the legitimacy of an email domain, ability to connect and deliver to a provided email address, and whether the domain is a recognizable and active one. Such checks help verify identity and prevent fraud at the application and onboarding stage.

4. Temporary Addresses

Consumers identified as fraudulent are 62% more likely to list a temporary address.  

Temporary addresses—such as short-term rentals or P.O. boxes—can signal higher risk. Monitoring address consistency and linking it with verified identity data can help identify fraudsters attempting to obscure their true location. 

5. Phone Numbers

Fraudsters often use prepaid phone numbers, making them 33% more likely to engage in fraudulent activities.  

Prepaid numbers are easy to replace and harder to trace. To mitigate this risk, organizations should assess things like carrier type, delivery type (prison or mail delivery location), validity of phone prefix and number of phone numbers linked to a single consumer. 

Why It Matters 

Fraudulent activity undermines trust, disrupts operations, and drains resources. By incorporating these often-overlooked elements into your fraud prevention strategies, your organization can stay ahead of evolving fraud schemes. 

Predictive bank account and payment intelligence from ValidIFI can uncover hidden patterns, connecting the dots between bank account numbers, routing numbers, SSNs, and other key data elements to expose the larger web of fraud before it disrupts the business. 

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