MRC Takes Online Fraud-Fighting Experience Abroad
February 25th, 2010 by Jon Karl
The Merchant Risk Council, which brings U.S. businesses together to help combat online fraud and abuse, is taking its experience abroad. The Seattle-based association announced that in April it will launch MRC Europe to help European merchants improve their e-payments strategies and share best practices for managing online payment risk. The inaugural event will take place April 21 and 22 in Brussels, Belgium at the NH Hotel du Grand Sablon.
Executive Director, Tom Donlea, said expanding the merchant-led program is a natural extension for the MRC because both the U.S. and Europe share common problems associated with online payment fraud.
“U.S. and European online merchants face many of the same fraud issues, security risks and payment challenges—there are nuances that MRC Europe will adapt to best serve European merchants.”
As a longtime member of the MRC, we’ve seen first-hand the contributions made by the association towards fighting online fraud and abuse. The group’s success is fueled by its members who have all committed to working together—by sharing information and experience, and establishing best practices—in order to reduce the security and payment risks that all online merchants around the globe must face.
True collaboration between businesses, for the purpose of combating online fraud, is what iovation has always advocated. Especially as we continue to see increasing device crossover in our own database, we see the clear value of a network of companies sharing resources, tools and experiences. This becomes increasingly important if businesses want to stay ahead of cyber criminals who are already internationally organized and only continue to strengthen their networks and skills. The truth is that nobody can do it alone. To combat online fraud successfully, it takes the efforts of groups like the Merchant Risk Council to bring together global businesses, industry experts, law enforcement and others to make the Internet a safe place to do business. The launch of MRC Europe, in my opinion, is another step in the right direction.
Tags: merchant risk council, MRC Europe, Online Fraud, payment challenges, Tom Donlea
