Paul Fabara

Chief Risk & Client Services Officer, Visa

Search every verified Paul Fabara interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a March 2023 interview with Forbes Middle East, Paul Fabara, then Visa's Chief Risk Officer, discussed the evolving fraud landscape in the post-pandemic economy. Fabara stated that the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital commerce, which he said created "a tremendous opportunity for bad actors to attack" consumers in a more sophisticated manner. He described past attacks as "single task" efforts to monetize credentials, while current attacks are "a lot more coordinated" and "multi‑science," targeting victims on cyber, fraud, and anti-money laundering fronts simultaneously. Fabara noted that many businesses that built digital presences during the pandemic were not fully protected against cyber threats, which he said "became big business for bad actors." Fabara outlined Visa's response, saying the company worked with clients to provide products and services to protect against cyber, fraud, and AML threats. He stated that Visa had spent "well over ten billion dollars over the past five years" on security, guided by five principles: best-in-class logical access controls, securing internet-facing assets, complying with local regulations, protecting data, and maintaining consumer protection programs. Fabara emphasized the need for continued investment in defenses, citing the entry of new players such as fintechs, neobanks, and crypto.