Rob Wang (Square): Machine Learning for Financial Fraud Detection

Please join us for a seminar of the Advanced Financial Technologies Laboratory (AFTLab):

Time: Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5:00pm-6:00pm

Location: Huang 305

Speaker: Rob Wang (Square)

Title: Machine Learning for Financial Fraud Detection

Abstract: Fraud detection is a critical focus for industries such as payments, brokerages, online marketplaces, and B2B software, as companies strive to protect their systems, safeguard customers, and build trust in their products. This talk will explore how machine learning (ML) techniques can be applied to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, with a particular focus on the fintech industry. We will cover key challenges in fraud detection, including handling complex labels, adapting to evolving fraud patterns, and reducing false positives. Special emphasis will be placed on the integration of ML models into production environments, the development and tracking of success metrics, continuous model monitoring, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust fraud prevention systems.

Brief Bio: Rob Wang is a Director of Data Science at Block Inc. (Square). Before Square, he also worked at several other technology companies, including Robinhood Markets, Slack Technologies, and Airbnb. Rob received his Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering (Operations Research) from Stanford University in 2017, where he was advised by Prof. Peter W. Glynn. 

Webpage: https://robjwang.github.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robjwang/