ACFE Calgary - Loyalty Fraud: Uncovering New Frontiers in Financial Crime

Loyalty Fraud: Uncovering New Frontiers in Financial Crime

Loyalty programs have become a lucrative target for fraudsters, with attacks growing in scale and sophistication across industries. In this session, we will unpack the latest trends, tactics, and real-world cases that illustrate how loyalty fraud is reshaping the risk landscape for organizations of all types.

Topics covered include:

• The evolution of loyalty fraud, from AI-driven attacks to insider threats and data breaches—impacting not just retailers, but any organization with customer-facing programs
• Up-to-date statistics and case studies from Canada and abroad, revealing the true cost and operational impact of loyalty fraud
• How criminals exploit vulnerabilities in loyalty systems, mobile wallets, and third-party partnerships, and why traditional controls are often insufficient
• Actionable strategies and best practices for detection, prevention, and response
• Emerging risks and regulatory developments shaping the future of loyalty fraud prevention

This session is designed to spark discussion, share practical insights, and highlight the importance of staying ahead of evolving fraud threats in today’s dynamic environment.

Taher Talib

Taher Talib is a Manager in the Financial Crime practice at Ernst & Young LLP, with over a decade of experience in the risk industry spanning telecom, finance, loyalty, retail, and other sectors. He specializes in fraud risk management and cybercrime prevention, focusing on the design and implementation of industry-leading fraud prevention and detection measures, deployment of fraud tools and technologies, and shaping product roadmaps to help organizations address evolving risks. Prior to joining EY, Taher worked at Shaw Communications, where he contributed to fraud strategy and business assurance initiatives, supporting the development of new fraud programs for emerging products and services. He also spent five years delivering consulting services to Saudi Telecom Company through Subex, and has held a software engineering role at CenturyLink. Taher holds a Diploma in Business Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications.

Alonso Rion

Alonso is a Senior Manager in the Fraud and Financial Crime practice of Ernst & Young LLP. He has over 10 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, specifically in Fraud Management, Payments, Risk Management, Retail and Commercial Banking. He has worked across various major Canadian banks and financial institutions where he has successfully delivered engagements focused on Payments Fraud Strategy, Fraud Risk Assessments, Business Architecture and Operating Models, and RFP Vendor Selection Process and Implementation. Alonso holds an M.B.A. from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Economics from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.