---
title: The importance of preventing account takeovers
date: 2017-06-09T08:00:00+01:00
author: Charlie Walker
canonical_url: "https://www.ravelin.com/blog/the-importance-of-preventing-account-takeovers"
section: Blog
---
Blog /[Account takeover](/resources?search=&category%5B0%5D=134546#resourceContainer "Go to Account takeover")

# The importance of preventing account takeovers

With data breaches happening all the time, online businesses need to be equipped to manage the different types of fraud threats that result from these breaches. One of these threats is account takeover.

![The importance of preventing account takeovers](https://storage.googleapis.com/ravelin-website-assets-production/assets/images/_blogSmall/1795/S1-Easy-upgrade-to21.webp)

One of the biggest threats facing online businesses around the globe is account takeover. Account takeovers (ATO) happen when a fraudster uses the credentials of a genuine user to gain access to multiple accounts of theirs, and misuse them.

The fraudster is then able to access the account details, potentially changing them, and will more often than not make a purchase using the card on the account. This means that not only are genuine customer cards being used by fraudsters, but they’re doing so from the cardholder’s account - read more about this [here](https://www.ravelin.com/insights/online-payment-fraud).

These details, like stolen cards, are found on the dark web following a large data breach and then purchased by fraudsters to be used across merchants since many consumers use the same login details for multiple online accounts. This can create a frenzy of fraudulent activity on a merchant’s platform in addition to the payment fraud already plaguing them.

With the data breaches not stopping anytime soon, online businesses need to educate themselves on new threats like [ATO](https://www.ravelin.com/account-takeover), as well as get adequate tools in place to protect their business. For more information on ATO, read our blog "[An intelligent response to account takeover"](https://www.https//www.ravelin.com/blog/an-intelligent-response-to-account-takeover-ato-fraud) or download our guide to account takeovers [here](https://pages.ravelin.com/free-account-takeover-guide-for-merchants0219).

[Learn more about online payment fraud here.](https://www.ravelin.com/insights/online-payment-fraud) To learn more about how account takeover works, [check out our insights page here](https://www.ravelin.com/insights/account-takeover-fraud).

## Author

![Charlie Walker](https://storage.googleapis.com/ravelin-website-assets-production/assets/images/_avatarSmall/2073/RAVELIN_STAFF_Charlie_Walker_Sales_Manager.webp)

Charlie WalkerSales Manager

After attending art school and university to study politics and international relations, Charlie made the obvious leap to Sales. He joined Ravelin…

[More from this author](https://www.ravelin.com/author/charlie-walker)

## Related content

[Blog / Payments & payment fraud

### Card payment liability shift – everything you need to know to reduce chargeback burden

The knowledge you need to make the most of liability shifts and reap the benefits for your company – including saving money on chargebacks.

![Freddie burgess](https://storage.googleapis.com/ravelin-website-assets-production/assets/images/_33x33_crop_center-center_none_ns/281707/freddie-burgess.webp)Freddie Burgess,Senior Product Support Analyst](https://www.ravelin.com/blog/card-payment-liability-shift-for-chargebacks)

[Blog / Fraud analytics

### Refund abuse KPIs: How to measure and reduce refund fraud rates

What you need to know to assess and quantify refund abuse – as well as to measure whether your refund abuse solution and strategy are delivering results.

![Can](https://storage.googleapis.com/ravelin-website-assets-production/assets/images/_33x33_crop_center-center_none_ns/280078/can.webp)Can Colak,Senior Product Manager](https://www.ravelin.com/blog/how-to-measure-refund-abuse-kpis)

[Blog / Press release

### Driven by AI, customers now rival criminals for ecommerce fraud, say merchants

Global ecommerce fraud enters a new phase as losses continue to climb. Merchants now view criminals and their own customers as presenting a comparable risk, and there's a gap in AI adoption.

![Ravelin Symbol Blue 1](https://storage.googleapis.com/ravelin-website-assets-production/assets/images/_33x33_crop_center-center_none_ns/187712/Ravelin-Symbol-Blue-1.webp)Ravelin Technology](https://www.ravelin.com/blog/ravelin-fraud-survey-2026-press-release)