Open to opportunities

Catia Tavares

@catiatavares

Message

Detail-oriented fraud specialist leveraging data to detect, investigate, and prevent financial loss.

Portugal

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek a collaborative role where I can use data and tooling (SQL/Python) to reduce fraud risk, mentor others, and improve controls.

I am a detail-oriented and analytical fraud specialist with experience detecting, investigating, and preventing fraud across payments and account-takeover cases.

I use SQL and Python to build tools and analyze trends, improving team performance and driving high-dollar savings through early detection of ATOs, impersonations, chargebacks and unauthorized charges.

I have worked cross-functionally with content moderation, product support, compliance, engineering and security teams, and I mentor and train new hires while prioritizing urgent investigations in Zendesk and internal queues.

I am familiar with regulatory requirements, cybersecurity practices and threat intelligence analysis, and I bring a practical, collaborative approach focused on compliance, risk reduction and continuous improvement.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Fraud Specialist

Current

Catia Tavares

Jan 2020 - Present (5 years 8 months)

Detects, investigates, and prevents fraud (ATO, chargebacks, impersonations), built SQL tools to improve team performance, and presented new threat trends that delivered measurable dollar savings. Collaborates cross-functionally with product, support, compliance, and security teams while mentoring new hires.

SQL Python Zendesk Chargebacks Risk Assessment Cross Functional Collaboration

Customer Support Specialist

Airbnb

Jan 2018 - Jan 2020 (2 years)

Provided customer and floor support handling disputes and urgent cases, assisted users with platform navigation, and supported mentoring and nesting of new hires across office and remote settings.

Customer Support Conflict Resolution Escalation Management Floor Support Mentoring Communication Cross Functional Collaboration Stress Management)

Store Manager

Hamleys South Africa

Jan 2015 - Jan 2018 (3 years)

Managed store operations, achieved sales targets, handled stock control and cash-ups, led staff training, and executed brand transition from Aladdin's Caves to Hamleys while maintaining visual merchandising and performance standards.

retail management Team Leadership Stock Control Visual Merchandising Sales Coaching Training Change Management

Store Manager

AZAURA Jewellery

Jan 2013 - Jan 2015 (2 years)

Led store operations and team performance, drove seasonal events and customer engagement, and was promoted based on sales and leadership results.

retail management Sales Strategy Visual Merchandising Customer Engagement Inventory Management

Retail Sales Representative

Michael's Designs

Jan 2012 - Jan 2013 (1 year)

Sold high-end watches and diamonds, developed product knowledge and basic watch repair skills, and supported store sales goals.

Retail Sales Product Knowledge Customer Service Jewelry Handling Sales Targets

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

IBM (Coursera)

Professional Certificate, Cybersecurity

2025 - 2025

Completed the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate in 2025.

Coursera

Certificate, Computer Programming

2024 - 2024

Completed a Python Programming course via Coursera in 2024.

CIFAS / AZAURA / NASBA accredited programs

Certificates, Fraud Prevention and Payments

2021 - 2023

Completed multiple accredited fraud and payments courses between 2021 and 2023, including CIFAS Digital Fraud Practitioner and NASBA-accredited modules.