Payments Innovation Alliance Announces Winners of the Spotlight! Payments Video Challenge
Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance, a premier membership program dedicated to fostering collaboration among diverse global stakeholders in the payments industry, has announced the winners of its inaugural Spotlight! Payments Video Challenge. This groundbreaking competition invited individuals from all walks of life to create compelling short videos—each 60 seconds or less—aligned with the contest theme, “Stand Against Scammers.”
A Contest with a Purpose
The Spotlight! Payments Video Challenge was designed to raise awareness about financial fraud and scams, a growing threat in today’s increasingly digital world. With scammers employing sophisticated techniques such as deepfake technology, phishing scams, and social engineering tactics, the need for public education has never been greater. The Payments Innovation Alliance recognized this urgency and sought to engage the community in an innovative way by leveraging the power of video storytelling.
Grand Prize Winner: Austin Harris’ Deep Fake Scam Education
Taking home the Grand Prize of $5,000, Austin Harris impressed both the judging panel and the public with his powerful video, Deep Fake Scam Education. Harris’ video highlighted the dangers of deepfake scams, which manipulate digital media to create highly convincing but fraudulent messages. With deepfake scams becoming more prevalent in financial fraud cases, Harris’ entry served as a critical educational tool for viewers to recognize and safeguard themselves from such deceptive tactics.
Harris, whose background includes experience in both law enforcement and banking, was uniquely positioned to address the issue with credibility and insight. His video combined expert knowledge with a creative approach, making complex scam tactics easily understandable to the average consumer.
“We are thrilled with the exceptional quality of submissions this year,” said Jane Wallace, Principal at Wallace Consulting and leader of the Payments Innovation Alliance Spotlight! Video Challenge working group. “Each of these talented individuals has showcased their creativity and contributed to a critical mission—protecting the public from financial scams.”
Other Winning Entries and Their Impact
The competition was fierce, with numerous participants delivering compelling and educational content. Alongside the Grand Prize, the following winners were recognized for their outstanding contributions:
- Second Place ($2,500): Ruqayah Baig – Desperate Times
- Third Place ($1,000): Jethro Casinas – Breaking News: Scams on the Rise
- Sponsor Choice Award ($1,500): Catherine Tapling – Duplicitous Puppers
Ruqayah Baig’s entry, Desperate Times, earned the second-place prize of $2,500. Her video effectively illustrated how scammers often prey on individuals facing financial hardship. The narrative-driven approach resonated deeply with audiences, shedding light on the emotional toll scams take on victims while also equipping them with knowledge to recognize red flags.
Taking third place and receiving a $1,000 award, Jethro Casinas submitted Breaking News: Scams on the Rise, a creative news-style video that reported on the growing prevalence of financial scams. His use of an engaging, journalistic format helped viewers understand the evolving nature of scam tactics in a way that was both entertaining and educational.
The Sponsor Choice Award, selected by Payments Innovation Alliance members, was awarded to Catherine Tapling for her creative submission, Duplicitous Puppers. This lighthearted yet informative video used humor and animation to depict common scam tactics in an easily digestible format. The $1,500 award recognized her innovative approach in delivering an important message through an engaging storytelling method.
Selection Process: Creativity, Relevance, and Public Engagement
Finalists in the Spotlight! Payments Video Challenge were meticulously selected based on a rigorous evaluation process. Each submission was assessed for:
- Adherence to the contest theme (Stand Against Scammers)
- Production quality and creativity
- Effectiveness in educating audiences about scam awareness
Once the top contenders were chosen, the winning videos were determined through a combination of public voting and expert panel evaluations. Members of the Payments Innovation Alliance had the honor of selecting the winner of the Sponsor Choice Award. This multi-tiered approach ensured that the most impactful videos received the recognition they deserved.
Winning videos are now prominently featured on the contest website and across social media platforms, extending their reach to a broader audience. By leveraging these platforms, the Alliance aims to amplify the impact of these videos, empowering individuals worldwide with the knowledge needed to combat financial fraud.
Recognizing Community Effort
The success of the Spotlight! Payments Video Challenge would not have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of numerous contributors. Stephanie Prebish, AAP, APRP, CTP, Nacha’s Senior Managing Director of Association Services, expressed gratitude to all those involved:
“Nacha is grateful for the efforts of the contest entrants, the judging panels, the Alliance volunteers, and everyone who played a part in selecting the winners of this challenge. Their contributions have been invaluable in driving awareness and promoting financial safety.”
With the overwhelming success of this year’s competition, the Payments Innovation Alliance is already looking forward to an even larger and more impactful 2025 contest. Future editions of the challenge will continue to harness the power of digital media to drive financial literacy and safeguard consumers against emerging scam threats.
