Machine Learning Approach to Detection of Credit Card Fraud

Abstract: With the increasing reliance on online transactions across sectors such as banking, telecommunications, insurance, and e-commerce, credit card fraud has emerged as a critical concern. The widespread use of electronic payment systems, particularly credit and debit cards, has made fraudulent activities more prevalent and sophisticated. Credit card fraud detection presents a complex classification problem that can be effectively addressed using machine learning (ML) techniques. This study explores the capabilities of ML algorithms in detecting fraudulent credit card transactions by examining both the challenges and opportunities in this domain. Adopting a mixed-method approach that combines a comprehensive literature review with experimental evaluation, the study investigates how past transaction data distinguishing between legitimate and fraudulent activities can be modeled to classify new transactions accurately. The research advocates for a progressive transition towards hybrid models that integrate machine learning with deep learning techniques to enhance the robustness and adaptability of fraud detection systems.