What is Synthetic Accounts?

Synthetic accounts are a type of fraudulent account that is created by cybercriminals. These accounts are not linked to a real person, but instead, are made up of a combination of real and fabricated information. The purpose of these accounts is to deceive financial institutions, online services, and other organizations into thinking that they are dealing with a legitimate customer.

These accounts pose a significant threat to cybersecurity, as they can be used to carry out a variety of malicious activities, including identity theft, money laundering, and fraud. In this glossary entry, we will delve into the complex world of synthetic accounts, exploring their creation, uses, detection, and prevention.

Creation of Synthetic Accounts

Synthetic accounts are typically created using a combination of real and fabricated information. The real information is often stolen from unsuspecting individuals, through methods such as phishing scams, data breaches, or social engineering tactics. This information is then combined with fabricated details, such as a made-up name or address, to create a new, synthetic identity.

The creation of synthetic accounts is a complex process that requires a deep understanding of the systems and processes used by financial institutions and online services. Cybercriminals often use sophisticated tools and techniques to create these accounts, including automation and machine learning algorithms.

Use of Stolen Information

The use of stolen information is a key component in the creation of synthetic accounts. This information is often obtained through illegal means, such as data breaches or phishing scams. The stolen information can include personal details such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and credit card information.

Once this information is obtained, it is combined with fabricated details to create a new, synthetic identity. This process is often automated, with cybercriminals using software tools to generate synthetic identities on a large scale.

Fabrication of Details

The fabrication of details is another crucial aspect of the creation of synthetic accounts. This involves creating fake details, such as names, addresses, or social security numbers, that are combined with the stolen information to create a synthetic identity.

The fabricated details are designed to be plausible, in order to deceive financial institutions and online services. This often involves using real addresses or phone numbers, but with slight alterations, such as a different street name or area code.

Uses of Synthetic Accounts

Synthetic accounts can be used for a variety of malicious activities. One of the most common uses is for financial fraud. This can involve opening credit card accounts, taking out loans, or making purchases in the name of the synthetic identity.

Another common use of synthetic accounts is for money laundering. This involves transferring money between different synthetic accounts, in order to make the funds appear legitimate. This can make it difficult for financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to trace the source of the funds.

Financial Fraud

Financial fraud is one of the most common uses of synthetic accounts. This can involve opening credit card accounts, taking out loans, or making purchases in the name of the synthetic identity. The cybercriminals then default on the loans or credit card payments, leaving the financial institution to bear the loss.

This type of fraud can be difficult to detect, as the synthetic identity is often created to appear legitimate. The use of real, stolen information can make it difficult for financial institutions to distinguish between legitimate customers and synthetic identities.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is another common use of synthetic accounts. This involves transferring money between different synthetic accounts, in order to make the funds appear legitimate. This can make it difficult for financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to trace the source of the funds.

The use of synthetic accounts for money laundering can be particularly challenging to detect and prevent, due to the complex nature of the transactions and the use of sophisticated techniques by the cybercriminals.

Detection of Synthetic Accounts

Detecting synthetic accounts can be a challenging task for financial institutions and online services. This is due to the complex nature of these accounts, and the sophisticated techniques used by cybercriminals to create them.

However, there are a number of strategies that can be used to detect synthetic accounts. These include the use of machine learning algorithms, anomaly detection techniques, and identity verification processes.

Machine Learning Algorithms

Machine learning algorithms can be used to detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate the presence of a synthetic account. These algorithms can analyze large amounts of data, and identify patterns that may not be apparent to human analysts.

For example, a machine learning algorithm might identify that a large number of accounts have been created using similar information, such as the same address or phone number. This could indicate the presence of synthetic accounts.

Anomaly Detection Techniques

Anomaly detection techniques can also be used to detect synthetic accounts. These techniques involve identifying behavior or activity that is unusual or out of the ordinary.

For example, if an account is making a large number of transactions in a short period of time, this could indicate that it is a synthetic account. Similarly, if an account is associated with a large number of failed login attempts, this could also indicate the presence of a synthetic account.

Prevention of Synthetic Accounts

Preventing the creation of synthetic accounts is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity. This involves implementing robust security measures, educating customers about the risks of synthetic accounts, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques used by cybercriminals.

There are a number of strategies that can be used to prevent the creation of synthetic accounts. These include the use of multi-factor authentication, identity verification processes, and machine learning algorithms.

Multi-factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide two or more pieces of evidence, or factors, to verify their identity. This can include something the user knows, such as a password; something the user has, such as a physical token; and something the user is, such as a fingerprint.

This security measure can be effective in preventing the creation of synthetic accounts, as it makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to real information. However, it is not foolproof, and other measures should also be implemented.

Identity Verification Processes

Identity verification processes can also be used to prevent the creation of synthetic accounts. These processes involve verifying the identity of a user before they can create an account or make a transaction.

This can involve checking the user’s information against a database of known information, or requiring the user to provide additional evidence of their identity, such as a photo ID. These processes can be effective in preventing the creation of synthetic accounts, but they can also be time-consuming and may not be feasible for all organizations.

Conclusion

Synthetic accounts pose a significant threat to cybersecurity, and it is crucial for organizations to understand how these accounts are created, used, detected, and prevented. By implementing robust security measures, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques, and educating customers about the risks, organizations can reduce the risk of synthetic accounts and protect their customers and their business.

While the challenge of synthetic accounts is significant, it is not insurmountable. With the right strategies and tools, organizations can detect and prevent these accounts, and protect themselves from the risks they pose.