-- Digital Transformation throughout the World Continues to Drive Transaction 
Growth and Fraudulent Activity

LexisNexis(R) Risk Solutions today released the findings of its latest 
Cybercrime Report, which covers the first half of 2021. This edition of the 
biannual report reveals that bot attack volumes grew 41% year over year with 
human-initiated attacks falling 29%. The report confirms earlier trend patterns 
showing the financial services industry and media businesses bear the brunt of 
increased automated bot network attacks.

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The Cybercrime Report is an analysis of transaction data from the LexisNexis(R) 
Digital Identity Network(R). It analyzed 28.7 billion transactions over the 
six-month period, up 28% year over year, attributed to increased transaction 
volumes from existing customers and an increased customer base within the 
Digital Identity Network(R). The increased shift to digital payments seen 
across advanced economies during the pandemic appears to be a permanent change, 
while accelerated digital transformation in emerging economies and industries 
continue to drive transaction growth as well as catch the attention of 
fraudsters.

The first half of 2021 saw geographical shifts in attack volume observed across 
transactions occurring within the Digital Identity Network. Based on bot IP 
addresses, Mexico joins Brazil on the top ten list of largest originators of 
bot attacks by volume, further establishing Latin America (LATAM) as a hotspot 
for both automated and human-initiated attacks. Attack rates originating from 
North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) have historically been 
similar and lower than the other regions. Since March 2021, however, North 
America recorded higher daily attack rates that now exceed those in EMEA, 
marking a sustained change in cybercriminal behavior in the U.S. and Canada, 
which may be linked to an earlier transition towards a post-pandemic world.

Key findings from The LexisNexis(R) Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report, January 
to June 2021:

   -- Bot attacks increase globally – All regions have recorded growth in bot
      volume between January-June 2021 in comparison to the same period last
      year. This was most marked in the Asia Pacific (APAC) and LATAM regions,
      with EMEA experiencing the smallest growth.

   -- Industry innovations altered risk profiles – The online payment market
      continues to proliferate and diversify. Buy now pay later (BNPL) services
      and digital wallets are becoming an increasingly popular payment method,
      with BNPL transactions growing 182% year-over-year. This growth is likely
      to continue as it caters to the increasing population of consumers who
      are transacting more online. However, it also creates new avenues of
      attack for cybercriminals.

   -- Financial services institutions deployed new methods to track money mules
      – Advances in beneficiary intelligence within the Digital Identity
      Network are making it less complicated for banks and other payment
      service providers to track payment transfers involved in money mule
      activity. This includes when the beneficiary tries to hide their tracks
      by splitting the initial payment and routing it via other entities in the
      payment network.

"Today's report not only confirms cybercriminals' reliance on automated 
processes, but also highlights that fraudsters are further establishing 
sophisticated and expansive networks to conduct fraud," said Stephen Topliss, 
vice president of fraud and identity for LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "Explosive 
transaction and user growth rates in industry sectors such as virtual banks and 
buy now pay later are likely exposing emergent risks for these newer businesses 
as they grab the attention of fraudsters. The digital businesses that survive 
and thrive will be those that deploy layered cybercrime prevention solutions as 
they scale."

Download a copy of the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report, January 
through June ( 
https://risk.lexisnexis.com/insights-resources/research/cybercrime-report?utm_campaign=bsgmfi21.portfi.ccrsep21&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_source=prnewswire&utm_content=lexisnexisrisksolutionscybercrimereportpressrelease 
) 2021. Join Stephen Topliss in a global webinar ( 
https://www.digitalidentitysummit.com/ ) on Tuesday September 14th 11am ET, 4pm 
BST, 5pm CET, when he will highlight the latest Cybercrime Report findings.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis(R) Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics 
to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk 
and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and 
technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, 
financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, 
Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: 
REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision 
tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please 
visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com.

Media Contacts:
Marcy Theobald
LexisNexis(R) Risk Solutions
+1.678.232.0948
marcy.theobald@lexisnexisrisk.com

SOURCE: LexisNexis Risk Solutions