The surge in mobile app usage has come a parallel rise in mobile-specific fraud. Attackers are exploiting device spoofing, emulators, SIM-swap attacks, compromised WiFi networks and malware designed to bypass app security. The most forward-thinking retailers attending the Fraud Prevention Summit are turning to mobile device intelligence to stay ahead, using data from device behaviour, network signals and telco-level attributes to uncover risk that traditional fraud tools simply can’t see…
Beyond the Browser: Why Old Tools No Longer Work
Most fraud systems were built for desktop e-commerce and rely heavily on browser signals, cookies or static credentials. But mobile devices behave differently, and fraudsters know how to exploit those blind spots. Mobile fraud techniques such as:
- Device spoofing
- App tampering
- Emulator-based attacks
- Jailbroken/rooted devices
- IP masking via mobile proxies
- High-risk carrier networks
…all make it far harder to distinguish legitimate users from malicious actors. Retailers need deeper, device-level insight to make confident risk decisions without adding friction for genuine customers.
What Mobile Device Intelligence Delivers
Modern mobile device intelligence platforms ingest hundreds of real-time attributes to assess risk before login, before account access and before checkout. Key signals include:
- Device integrity (rooted/jailbroken, OS anomalies, emulator detection)
- Carrier and SIM data (SIM-swaps, porting events, mismatched identities)
- Device fingerprinting (unique cryptographic identifiers, repeat device usage)
- Network intelligence (malicious IPs, TOR networks, high-risk geos)
- Behavioural telemetry (tap cadence, accelerometer data, app interaction patterns)
Together, these signals provide a 360° view of device trust, enabling fraud teams to identify risky mobile activity long before a transaction takes place.
Stopping Fraud Earlier in the Journey
One of the biggest advantages of mobile device intelligence is early-stage detection. Retailers can block or step-up authentication for high-risk devices at:
- App download
- First login
- Password reset
- Loyalty account access
- Wallet top-up
- Checkout
This shifts fraud prevention from reacting at the payment stage to preventing the fraud attempt entirely.
Reducing Fraud Without Adding Friction
Customers expect fast, one-tap mobile commerce, and friction kills conversions. Device intelligence allows retailers to apply adaptive friction only when needed: trusted devices move through seamlessly; suspicious devices trigger biometrics, step-up checks or manual review. The result?
- Fewer false declines
- Lower checkout abandonment
- Higher trust and conversion
- Stronger fraud protection for loyalty, payments and accounts
A Strategic Must-Have for 2026
Mobile device intelligence is quickly becoming a core capability for retail fraud teams. With mobile now the fraudster’s preferred attack vector, the ability to understand device-level risk, invisibly and in real time, is no longer optional.
In 2026, the retailers who win will be those who detect risk before the fraudster ever attempts the transaction.
Are you searching for solution to help combat Mobile Fraud? The Fraud Prevention Summit can help!
Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash
