Holiday sales are soaring—projected to hit $1.353 trillion—but so are hidden fees and fraud. From stealthy processor markups to digital scams and chargebacks, merchants risk losing thousands during their busiest season. Stay ahead by auditing statements, strengthening fraud defenses, and negotiating smarter. This year, make sure your holiday profits don’t become someone else’s payday.

Mastercard aims to eliminate passwords and manual card entry by 2030 through tokenization, biometrics, and numberless cards. These innovations target soaring online fraud, which hit $48B in 2023. While offering enhanced security and consumer trust, they also raise concerns over cost, data migration, and accessibility. Businesses must balance adoption challenges with the promise of a safer, frictionless future.

EMV offline fraud lets fraudsters walk out of stores unpaid by tricking terminals into approving fake contactless transactions. With card-not-present fraud surging and offline loopholes exploited, merchants face growing risks. VeriFee helps businesses detect vulnerabilities, implement safeguards like velocity controls and authentication tools, and reclaim control over secure payments—ensuring fraud doesn’t hijack your revenue this holiday season.

Embedded payments promise seamless transactions and faster cash flow, but they come at a cost. Small businesses face rising fees, limited flexibility, and loss of control as platforms lock them into closed ecosystems. Opaque pricing and high switching costs erode profit margins and competition. The convenience of embedded finance masks deeper structural issues threatening merchant autonomy and sustainability.

A class-action lawsuit against Priority Payment Systems exposes alleged deceptive practices, including hidden fees and bait-and-switch tactics. Merchants are urged to monitor processing rates closely as payment fees can significantly impact small businesses. The case highlights the industry's lack of transparency, reminding merchants to stay vigilant against overbilling and ensure they fully understand contract terms before committing.

Central Payment Co. agreed to an $84 million settlement after allegations of misrepresented and improperly added processing fees. The case underscores the importance of auditing payment costs, as hidden fees can quietly erode profits. Businesses should proactively monitor and negotiate fees to protect themselves from overcharges and ensure transparency in their payment processing operations.