Meet Noam Grinberg, Nuvei’s Chief Risk Officer, Global Enterprise

Noam’s role is to ensure that payments flow smoothly and securely, especially during high-volume events like Black Friday Weekend.

“When everyone’s out shopping online, we’re making sure legitimate transactions go through instantly, while stopping fraudsters who try to take advantage of the chaos.”

What happens behind the scenes

Much of the work Noam’s team does is invisible, but critical.

In peak periods, Nuvei monitors and optimizes more transactions than most regional banks, all while ensuring performance doesn’t drop even when volume surges.

Noam’s team fine-tunes fraud models and velocity rules in advance to align with each business’s risk profile.

They also rely on AI-driven scoring and network tokenization. These are the tools that identify suspicious behavior at the earliest possible opportunity, while simultaneously protecting sensitive card data.

It’s a process that goes unnoticed by shoppers and brands alike, but it’s what keeps the payment experience frictionless for all.  

When fraud attempts escalate

In one instance, Noam recalls how Nuvei detected a sudden spike in small-value test transactions from multiple users using the same BIN for a large retail client. Within minutes, the system flagged it as a BIN attack attempt. The Nuvei team blocked the compromised ranges before any large-scale fraud could occur, preventing chargebacks and losses in the process.

Walking the tightrope between security and convenience to maximize revenue

Striking the right balance is a daily focus. If your fraud prevention rules are too strict, legitimate customers are blocked, potentially costing the business millions in lost revenue with each percentage point drop in approval rates. On the other hand, set the rules too soft, and fraud gets through.  

Instead of relying on static rules, which often miss evolving fraud patterns, Noam’s team deploys adaptive risk models powered by behavioral data to minimize false declines while safeguarding revenue.

“A returning customer on the same device shouldn’t face the same friction as a first-time buyer from a high-risk region.”

Trends to watch

Fraudsters thrive during peak seasons because high transaction volume helps mask bad actor activity.

One surprising pattern Noam’s team has observed: attackers using stolen card data to place full-value orders with correct billing details. The orders pass authorization but are then diverted through mule addresses or redirected deliveries, so the goods never reach the cardholder. The losses surface later through chargebacks.

Geographically, Latin America and areas of North America tend to show higher fraud attempts. Spikes of friendly fraud and chargebacks are more prevalent in Europe and Asia.

Advice for peak-season readiness

Noam’s top recommendation for merchants preparing for peak seasons?  

Start early.

“Review your fraud rules and velocity limits before peak season. Test your payment flows, ensure your descriptor and routing logic are up to date, and have a plan for rapid decision-making.”

The key, he says, is preparation. Not reaction.