Developed through a partnership between Kount and game-based storytelling company Ponywolf, Fraud Tycoon is designed to educate everyone about the tools and techniques fraudsters use to commit crimes that impact businesses, consumers and our economy.
“Don't be mistaken – this isn't a 'how-to guide' for would-be fraudsters, but a wake up call for retailers and consumers alike,” said Don Bush, VP of Marketing at Kount. “Large criminal organizations are constantly looking for weaknesses in your payment systems. By putting users into the mindsets of these criminals, Fraud Tycoon provides a unique opportunity to create awareness of fraud through game-based storytelling. Our goal is to educate people about the evolving nature of fraud and what we battle every day to keep businesses and customers safe.”
Using puzzle-based gameplay, Fraud Tycoon takes users behind the scenes of criminal organizations that prey on online businesses that have vulnerable security. The game asks players to step into the shoes of a criminal and compete for the fake currency "Bytecash" to purchase stolen credit cards and actual fraud-enabling tools to build their criminal enterprise.
"Delving into the world of online fraud was an eye-opening experience. Fraudsters experience many of the same emotional states as gamers by accumulating risk while looking for reward,” said Michael Wilson, Ponywolf President and former Independent Games Festival Finalist. “The collection of tools, personal and financial information has a strong correlation to game mechanics found in popular mobile games. We wanted to show the hidden story of how a security breach is monetized without making it a training tool – and part of that is highlighting the addictive nature of risk and reward."