In his recent remarks at the Women in Housing and Finance Public Policy Luncheon, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu addressed the growing challenge of financial fraud and its impact on society. He emphasized that, while fraud might not have the high profile of issues like Basel III or cyber risk, it harms consumers and erodes trust in financial institutions and systems. Hsu likened the situation to littering, where neglecting small acts of fraud can lead to a normalized environment of disorder and distrust. He called for all stakeholders, including banks and social media platforms, to exceed legal requirements in combating fraud. Hsu noted that many banks are already taking proactive steps such as enhancing fraud detection and monitoring systems and educating customers about scams. However, he stressed that banks cannot tackle fraud alone and urged other sectors, including social media and telecommunications (among others), to contribute to maintaining a safe and trusted financial environment.
