Suspicious transaction step-up: verify identity without blocking
Transaction looks suspicious but blocking = false positive risk. Step-up authentication lets you verify without disruption.
Discuss Your ChallengeScenario
Customer X tries to transfer $5000 to a new recipient at a late hour. Fraud score — high. Block ⇒ if legitimate, customer suffers. Approve ⇒ if fraud, money lost.
Step-up: let the customer prove identity via an additional factor.
Trigger
Real-time fraud scoring:
- New recipient + large amount.
- Unusual time / location.
- Recent device change or login from new IP.
- Pattern matching known fraud (social engineering victim characteristics).
Action
No auto-decline. Step-up via one of:
A) Push to app with biometric confirmation (Face ID).
B) Voice call automated by bank with PIN confirmation.
C) Live agent call for very high-risk.
D) Video selfie matching.
Customer responds within a window (e.g. 5 min) — proceed. No response — hold for review.
Banking-specific concerns
cbu.uz biometric requirements make biometric step-up the obvious choice by 2026.
False positive cost — customer churn for legitimate transactions frequently blocked.
Vulnerable customers — elderly, less digital — alternative non-app methods.
Liability shift. After step-up — if customer confirms and transaction is fraud, customer is social engineering victim — bank policy decides.
What is measured
Step-up acceptance rate (customer reaches step-up).
Confirmation rate within window.
True positive vs false positive ratio.
Customer NPS post step-up.
Fraud loss prevented.
What not to do
Do not auto-decline without step-up — false positive disasters.
Do not use SMS OTP alone — SIM swap defeats.
Do not make step-up too friction-heavy — customer abandons.
Do not ignore accessibility — some customers cannot use biometric.
How SamaraliSoft engages
Sprint Step-Up Use Case — 4-6 weeks. Trigger calibration, channel orchestration, biometric integration.
Related
- /en/solutions/banking-fraud-platform/ — fraud platform
- /en/architecture/banking-ekyc-architecture/ — eKYC
- /en/insights/banking-biometrics-april-2026/ — biometrics
- /en/architecture/banking-realtime-decisioning/ — decisioning
What else is worth exploring
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