Security at scale: How Thinkst and Airwallex empower global enterprises to prevent fraud

Your enterprise is thriving — expanding to new markets and handling more transactions globally. But with growth comes an unsettling reality: as your business volume increases, so does the risk of fraud, security breaches, and loss — at scale. In fact, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), organizations lose roughly 5% of their annual revenue to fraud.¹ 

In the high-stakes world of payments, where sensitive financial information is constantly at risk, security and innovation must go hand in hand. At Airwallex, we provide secure, scalable infrastructure for diverse financial use cases. By supporting innovative solutions like those developed by Thinkst, we help enterprises stay ahead of fraud and protect every transaction.

An innovative path to fraud protection 

For businesses seeking proactive, enterprise-level fraud detection, Thinkst Canary offers a unique layer of security. Thinkst’s Canarytokens are small pieces of data, such as Office documents or AWS API keys that are sprinkled in a network to expose fraudulent access. Canarytokens now include credit card tokens to address the massive challenge of payment fraud — an industry threat estimated to surpass $40 billion in losses by 2027.² 

With the support of Airwallex’s Core API, Thinkst can issue these credit card tokens with unique Bank Identification Numbers (BINs). This setup adds complexity for attackers, who won’t find discernible patterns in these BINs, thwarting attempts to bypass detection systems. 

These Canary credit card tokens can be deployed across payment gateways, card data stores, or confidential documents. If an attacker tries to misuse them — such as by testing a card with a small-value transaction that might otherwise be missed — these tokens trigger an instant alert. This real-time alert provides immediate details on ‌activity and location, empowering teams to identify and respond to security threats quickly. 

Canary credit card tokens offer flexible fraud protection across several other use cases:

• Guarding corporate accounts against insider threats: If an employee falls victim to a phishing attack and the attacker tries to use the stolen card, the token sends an alert, allowing teams to respond before any damage occurs.

• Securing transactions during global expansion: As businesses enter new international markets, fraud risks increase due to unfamiliar payment systems and currencies. Canary credit card tokens monitor transactions as they happen, identifying suspicious activity across regions.

• Detecting supply chain fraud: Deploying Canary credit card tokens within payment flows for new suppliers offers additional protection. If an unauthorized transaction occurs — such as an attempt to reroute payments — tokens will alert teams, allowing for rapid intervention.

Benefits of Thinkst’s new credit card token

Thinkst’s credit card tokens, supported by Airwallex, offer a multi-faceted approach to fraud prevention. Designed to adapt to the demands of global enterprises, these tokens empower businesses with proactive security measures, streamlined operations, and actionable insights that go beyond traditional fraud detection.

Enhanced fraud prevention and “conspicuous deception”

Thinkst’s Canary credit card tokens deter fraud through “conspicuous deception” — a strategy that discourages attackers by making security measures visible. Knowing these credit card tokens exist and could trigger alerts at any moment forces attackers to second-guess their actions, reducing the likelihood of fraud attempts.

Scalability and efficiency for growing enterprises

As businesses expand globally, Thinkst’s credit card tokens, enabled by Airwallex BINs, can scale seamlessly to meet high transaction volumes across regions. This adaptable approach lets companies secure transactions at scale, supporting growth without adding complexity.

Improved operational efficiency with webhook style alerting

Canary credit card tokens integrate smoothly into existing systems and use real-time webhook alerts to notify teams of unauthorized activity. Unlike complex fraud systems, these tokens enable quick responses without requiring manual oversight, reducing operational burden and minimizing workflow disruptions.

Enhanced reporting and fraud model insights for better detection

Beyond proactive alerts, Canary credit card tokens provide valuable insights into fraud patterns. Using credit card abuse data, enterprises gain a deeper understanding of how and where attacks happen, allowing their company to stay ahead of emerging threats and adapt their strategies fast. 

Airwallex + Thinkst: a partnership built on security and innovation

As global enterprises expand, protecting financial transactions becomes increasingly challenging. By offering Thinkst scalable BIN coverage and robust API support, Airwallex enables the deployment of a flexible, multi-layered fraud prevention strategy that adapts as businesses grow.

With Airwallex’s Core API, Thinkst can issue tens to hundreds of thousands of virtual cards annually across multiple BIN ranges, creating an effective ‘fake-out’ for fraudsters. The broader the BIN coverage, the stronger the deterrent — even for organizations that haven’t directly deployed these tokens.

See our impact in action

Want to learn more about how Airwallex has helped companies across various industries scale their businesses and secure their operations? Explore our case studies to discover how we empower businesses like yours to achieve more — with less risk.

Sources

1. https://legacy.acfe.com/report-to-the-nations/2024/ 

2. https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/fraud-losses-realtime-payments-banks-aci-push-payment-scams/653219/