Sandeep Rana
Hawthron Woods,IL
Summary
I am a seasoned fraud risk executive with over 15 years of experience, known for delivering secure, seamless experiences across both lending and deposit products. I specialize in leading data science and product teams to combat a wide array of fraud types, including transactional fraud, first-party fraud, and identity theft across the entire customer lifecycle.
Over the years, my role has evolved to head the strategic development and execution of advanced fraud capabilities, balancing fraud risk mitigation with business growth. I have driven initiatives to enhance customer engagement through the integration of sophisticated fraud detection technologies, advanced authentication tools, and enterprise-wide rule engines. Additionally, I have built key partnerships to source innovative data and develop new fraud prevention features.
I played a pivotal role in supporting the launch of several major digital products at Discover, including cashback debit, instant credit, and various new digital wallets, ensuring both seamless user experiences and robust fraud protection measures.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Application Fraud and Identity Product
Discover Financial
10.2023 - Current
- Lead and develop the team of 15+ data science and Product owners and 40+ members in engineering team supporting Identity and First party product team.
- Achieved 35%+ reduction in application fraud for discover card and deposits portfolio while delivering 20%+ reduction in queued applications.
- Played a critical role in launching Discover Cashback debit product, multiple new digital products like Google Virtual card, Secure remote commerce, Voice biometrics and flexible authentication toolkit for enterprise etc.
- Develop and execute strategic roadmaps for fraud prevention, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Responsible for setting up team goals, metrics and fostering the culture of "We play to win", "We are good partners" and "We take responsibility".
Director Authentication and Identity Product
Discover Financial
07.2021 - 09.2023
- Responsible for authentication strategy for card and bank portfolio across the channels.
- Delivered 60% reduction in challenge rate/step-up with historical lows account take over losses.
- Head team of product owners and engineering teams responsible for delivering best in class fraud capabilities (Voice biometrics, ID risk engines, Models, decision platform, flexible authentication toolkit)
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors for reduced costs and improved service quality.
- Ran cross functional team forums to gain alignment across different value streams to achieve fraud goals.
Senior Manager/Manager Fraud Risk
Discover Financial
05.2016 - 07.2019
- Leading the team of Data Scientists and Analytics Professionals responsible for supporting Card Present, Card not present & Account Take Over fraud and authentication strategy. D
- Leverages new data and feature to design new and enhanced strategies and refine existing strategies with the aim of minimizing fraud losses while delivering a seamless customer experience.
Senior Manager Fraud Risk
JP MORGAN CHASE
03.2015 - 05.2016
- Develop real time authorization strategies to manage fraud losses/customer experience on card not present space
- Oversee merchant engagements in the fraud policy area and manage analytics to develop excellent experience
- Develop best in class data for merchant sharing, work cross functionally across different fraud types to understand the merchant influence
- Manage fraud strategies/capabilities on new digital payment experience Chase Pay
- Develop/Manage merchant specific fraud capabilities like merchant database, merchant focused fraud capabilities.
Risk Management Specialist
PayPal
05.2014 - 03.2015
- Responsible for driving initiatives end to end that reduce consumer pain points driven by risk controls and processes and initiatives
- Identify and resolve system loopholes being exploited by fraudsters to bypass existing risk controls and will propose solutions and measure effectiveness of solutions post-implementation
- Identify opportunities as well as gaps or vulnerabilities within the current portfolio of PayPal’s Consumer Risk controls and created capabilities to avoid these in future.
Senior Manager
American Express
01.2009 - 05.2014
- Manage Global Internet fraud numbers and analyze latest online fraud trends to create appropriate authorization, and post-authorization (Case Sets ups and Scanners) strategies
- Manage Identity theft fraud and coordinate with operations teams for proper actioning on these cases
- Provide fraud risk consultancy services to US Merchants
- Leverage Enhance Authorization data (Email, Phone, IP address) to reduce fraud losses and maximize customer experience
- Create new variables/capabilities to reduce fraud and/or enhance customer experience.
Education
Master of Economics - Economics, Econometric, Game Theory
Delhi School of Economics (New Delhi)
Delhi2018
Bachelor of Arts in Economics - Economics
Delhi University
Delhi India 2016
Skills
- Conflict resolution
- Inspiring others
- Carrier navigation
- Leading high performing teams
- Dependable and Responsible
Organizationalcontour
- Head Application Fraud, Identity and First Party Fraud product, Discover Financial, 10/2023, Present
- Director Authentication strategy and Identity product, Discover Financial, 07/2021,10/2023
- Senior Manager Authentication Strategy, Discover Financial, 06/2019, 07/2021
- Leading Fraud strategy @ Phoenix COE, Discover Financial, 05/2016, 06/2019
- Senior Manager Fraud Risk, JP MORGAN CHASE, 03/2015, 05/2016
- Risk Management Specialist, PayPal, 05/2014, 03/2015
- Senior Manager, American Express, 01/2009, 05/2014
Profilesynopsis
A visionary fraud risk executive with 15+ years of experience, driving innovation in fraud prevention across lending and deposit products. I lead dynamic teams to develop cutting-edge fraud solutions, blending advanced technology and strategy to fuel business growth. My key initiatives, including the launch of Discover’s cashback debit and instant credit, focus on delivering secure, seamless customer experiences while setting new industry standards in fraud prevention.
Timeline
Head of Application Fraud and Identity Product
Discover Financial
10.2023 - Current
Director Authentication and Identity Product
Discover Financial
07.2021 - 09.2023
Senior Manager/Manager Fraud Risk
Discover Financial
05.2016 - 07.2019
Senior Manager Fraud Risk
JP MORGAN CHASE
03.2015 - 05.2016
Risk Management Specialist
PayPal
05.2014 - 03.2015
Senior Manager
American Express
01.2009 - 05.2014
Master of Economics - Economics, Econometric, Game Theory
Delhi School of Economics (New Delhi)
Bachelor of Arts in Economics - Economics
Delhi University
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