Marketplace payment companies, responding to "counterfeit money online" trends, have increased partnerships with authentication start-ups. Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) both saw 1% intraday gains as security upgrades improve transaction trust—a bullish sign for sustained digital commerce growth. Williams was charged with identity theft, as well as two counts of stealing and retaining a "financial transaction device without consent," and driving without an operator’s license on him. The drop is likely due to enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures in U.S. currency. However, scammers continue to find ways to exploit cash-based transactions, especially peer-to-peer sales on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or OfferUp. Investors in international banking ETFs are revising exposure models after "counterfeit money online" concerns emerged in Asia-Pacific markets. Currency risk hedges and selective equity positions are becoming preferred portfolio strategies for Q3.
