Worldline, one of Europe’s top payments processors, has seen its shares drop by 20% following allegations that it concealed client fraud to protect its revenue stream. The allegations surfaced as part of the “Dirty Payments” investigation, a collaboration led by the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) network and 21 media outlets. The report, citing confidential internal documents, accuses Worldline of accepting high-risk clients in sectors such as online gambling, pornography, and dating services across Europe.
The investigation suggests that Worldline overlooked suspicious transactions tied to some of these clients. In some cases, if a particular division was flagged for handling too many fraudulent merchants, the clients were reportedly shifted to a different division. This tactic was allegedly used to avoid scrutiny and maintain business continuity.
In response, Worldline released a statement denying wrongdoing but acknowledging that it had already started cleaning up its operations. Since 2023, the company claims it has conducted a comprehensive review of high-risk merchants—such as those in online casinos and adult services—and has since terminated numerous non-compliant accounts. The company said these actions impacted clients representing about €130 million in 2024 revenue.
Worldline further stated that it enforces a zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance and continues to cooperate closely with relevant regulatory authorities. The firm also emphasized that merchant risk controls have been significantly strengthened in the past year.
This controversy comes at a time when the European payments industry is under growing regulatory scrutiny, particularly around financial crime and money laundering. As consumer trust becomes increasingly vital, companies like Worldline face mounting pressure to prioritize compliance over short-term profits.
Whether this scandal results in legal action or further erosion of investor confidence remains to be seen, but the impact on Worldline’s reputation and financial standing is already significant.