Core Insights - The FICO Consumer Survey reveals a concerning trend of financial dishonesty among South African consumers, with 26% believing it is acceptable to exaggerate income on loan applications and 22% for mobile phone contracts [1][2]. Group 1: Consumer Behavior and Fraud - There is a growing normalization of first-party fraud in South Africa, where consumers misrepresent their financial circumstances to access credit [2]. - Despite the willingness to misrepresent information, 25% of respondents prioritize strong fraud protection when selecting financial service providers, with two-thirds ranking it among their top three priorities [3][4]. - The majority of consumers (73%) are willing to undergo rigorous identity checks if it means better protection, indicating a shift towards valuing security over convenience [5]. Group 2: Security Preferences - Biometric authentication methods are preferred by South African consumers, with 65% favoring fingerprint verification and 60% favoring facial recognition, while traditional passwords are losing trust [6]. - Concerns about identity theft and deception remain prevalent, with 7% of respondents reporting their identity has been misused to open accounts, suggesting a potential underreporting of fraud incidents [7]. Group 3: Expectations from Financial Institutions - Consumers expect higher standards from financial providers regarding data safety and fair application evaluations, emphasizing the need for adaptive and intelligent identity verification systems [8].