Matthew RosenquistFounder & CISO Advisor, Cybersecurity Insights · CISO, Cybersecurity Strategist, & Industry Advisor

Rising Threat of Payment Cybercrime

26 Feb 2026 · 2 min

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2:04

In this presentation, the speaker warns that the digital economy faces a rapidly intensifying wave of cybercrime targeting payment systems. He highlights that credit card fraud has merged with modern cybercrime, making card‑not‑present (CNP) transactions the primary attack surface, responsible for roughly 70% of payment fraud because criminals only need the card number, expiration date, and CVV, which can be harvested through many channels. The speaker stresses that while cybercriminals are relentless and adaptive, organizations can stay ahead by deploying advanced threat intelligence, specialized fraud‑prevention tools, and strategic partnerships. He concludes by directing viewers to MasterCard’s Threat Intelligence Hub for deeper insight into the company’s integrated protection strategies.

Chapters

Today's digital economy is under siege. Cybercriminals and fraudsters are relentless, adaptive, and motivated by one thing: money. Credit systems, payment rails, online banking, mobile wallets, e-commerce platforms—every one of them is being targeted at a scale and speed that is accelerating beyond what many organizations are prepared to handle. One of the fastest-growing crises in our digital economy is cybercrime targeting payment systems. The threat is evolving, the criminals are adapting, and the victims, both consumers and businesses, are paying the price. Traditional credit fraud and modern cybercrime have merged into a powerhouse capability. From the perspective of the cybercriminals, Credit card fraud is a gold mine. It is easy and scalable. The most exploited area is card-not-present transactions, which includes online and in-app purchases. CNP accounts for roughly 70% of all payment fraud. That's the attack surface they exploit. Why? Because criminals don't need the physical card. Just the number, the expiration date, and the CVV code. And that data can be harvested in dozens of ways. Cybercriminals are evolving, but so are we. They may be relentless, but we can outsmart them with the right tools, intelligence, and partnerships to protect the digital economy, safeguard consumers, and stay ahead in this escalating battle. To learn more about how MasterCard is protecting the financial ecosystem through advanced threat intelligence and integrated fraud prevention strategies, I encourage you to visit MasterCard's Threat Intelligence Hub.