Financial crime prevention is meaningful work. You’re protecting real people from real…
Preventing fraud and protecting customers
From impersonation scams to coordinated fraud rings, financial crime has become increasingly sophisticated. At the front line of defence is Skipton Building Society, a mutual organisation deeply committed to safeguarding its members. With the help of ThirdEye, Skipton has been able to detect, stop, and even anticipate criminal behaviour before it causes harm.
This is the story of how Skipton used intelligent monitoring to outpace fraud, disrupt criminal networks, and safeguard its members through swift and focused action.
For the full story, watch the interview with Stacey Blackwell, Head of Financial Crime, DMLRO, Skipton Building Society.
“To fight financial crime effectively, you don’t just need technology; you need flexible technology. ThirdEye gave us the speed and control to act decisively.”
Stacey Blackwell, Head of Financial Crime, DMLRO, Skipton Building Society
Cracking down on a coordinated money mule ring
It started with a single alert. Intelligence from another financial institution flagged a suspicious transaction. At first glance, it could’ve been an isolated incident. But Skipton’s Financial Crime team moved quickly to investigate further.
What followed was a race against time to uncover a potential fraud network before it could scale further.
Using ThirdEye, Skipton’s team:
- Analysed cross-channel data to reveal suspicious behaviour patterns
- Developed a custom rule in the sandbox environment and tested it
- Rapidly deployed the rule live, and began flagging linked accounts
- Froze funds and blocked activity, stopping laundered money in its tracks
The rule’s impact went beyond the initial case. It remained part of a broader suite of detection rules that helped protect customers throughout the year. Together, these rules contributed to identifying around 200 additional fraudulent attempts.
“The tool didn’t just help us respond quickly; it helped us see the bigger picture,” says Stacey. “We weren’t just reacting. We were outsmarting them.”
Stacey Blackwell, Head of Financial Crime, DMLRO, Skipton Building Society
Stopping an APP scam before it was too late
Another case hit closer to home. A Skipton member received an email that appeared to be from HMRC. It was anything but.
After clicking a malicious link and unknowingly handing over personal details, the member was contacted by scammers impersonating Skipton staff. They were told their money was at risk—and persuaded to transfer it to “safe” external accounts.
Thankfully, ThirdEye’s detection engine picked up on an unusual transaction.
The system’s alert prompted the team to:
- Immediately restrict account access
- Reach out to the customer
- Prevent the transfer from completing
- Recover all funds before any losses occurred
“At Skipton, we believe prevention is always better than cure. Financial crime can have a lasting and deeply personal impact on victims. By leveraging ThirdEye’s ability to quickly create, test, and deploy new rules, we’re able to stay proactive and protect our customers”
Stacey Blackwell, Head of Financial Crime, DMLRO, Skipton Building Society
What made the difference
Rapid Response
Rapidly deploying a new detection rule enabled Skipton to detect other potentially suspicious activity and respond to it quickly. Time is everything in financial crime, and ThirdEye helped turn insights into immediate action.
Tailored Monitoring
Skipton didn’t rely on static rule sets. ThirdEye’s sandbox allowed them to build, test, and deploy custom rules tailored to emerging threats without disrupting ongoing operations.
Sustained Vigilance
That initial rule didn’t just work once. It continued to scan for and detect the same fraud pattern over time, flagging hundreds of new cases and keeping customers safe months after the first alert.
Members First
Skipton’s Financial Crime team sees technology as a tool to empower people. With smarter detection, the team can focus on what matters most: protecting members from harm.
The outcome
Smarter tools, safer members
ThirdEye helped Skipton Building Society disrupt organised financial crime, intercept scams, and protect its members from financial harm.
