Latest news with #Danial
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Caterer tricked by AI deepfake of UiTM deputy rector
ALOR STAR: A young caterer avoided major losses after falling victim to an elaborate scam involving an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video call impersonating a university official. The fraudster, posing as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang deputy rector Dr Ahmad Asri Abd Samat, contacted 20-year-old Muhammad Danial Azim Mohd Yusof through text and a hyper-realistic AI video call to place a fictitious catering order last Tuesday. Danial said the scam began after he submitted a quotation for 100 meal packages worth RM4,500 for the university's programme at its Merbok branch. The impersonator then made an additional request to include door gifts and insisted that these be procured from a 'preferred vendor'. "I told him I already had a vendor, but he said the university only worked with their appointed supplier and that I needed to follow protocol," Danial told the New Straits Times after lodging a report at the Kota Setar police headquarters yesterday. He was then given the contact number of the so-called vendor, who demanded an upfront payment of RM14,400 and refused to accept a formal letter of order (LO), claiming they only dealt with private arrangements. "I told 'Dr Asri' about the vendor's demand. He said if there were no door gifts, there would be no programme. Later, the vendor offered to accept a 50 per cent payment of RM7,200 instead," he said. Growing suspicious, Danial refused to pay. However, having already prepared the food, he delivered it to UiTM Merbok on Saturday, only to learn he had been scammed. "The university's security guard looked at my LO and told me I'm the third person that day asking for Dr Asri — and the only one who actually brought food." Danial later found out that other vendors across Penang and Kedah had also been targeted in similar scams. The impersonation was so convincing that when the real Dr Ahmad Asri contacted Danial to clarify the matter, the resemblance stunned him. "He said, 'I'm the real one. Want to compare faces?' When I video called him, I was shocked — the AI scammer version looked exactly like him," he added. Danial said UiTM Merbok confirmed no such order had ever been made. The real Dr Asri has also lodged a police report after learning that his identity had been used in several impersonation scams. Meanwhile, Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad confirmed that a report had been received. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail, whipping, and a fine.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Caterer duped by AI video call impersonating UiTM deputy rector
ALOR STAR: A young caterer avoided major losses after falling victim to an elaborate scam involving an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video call impersonating a university official. The fraudster, posing as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang deputy rector Dr Ahmad Asri Abd Samat, contacted 20-year-old Muhammad Danial Azim Mohd Yusof through text and a hyper-realistic AI video call to place a fictitious catering order last Tuesday. Danial said the scam began after he submitted a quotation for 100 meal packages worth RM4,500 for the university's programme at its Merbok branch. The impersonator then made an additional request to include door gifts and insisted that these be procured from a 'preferred vendor'. "I told him I already had a vendor, but he said the university only worked with their appointed supplier and that I needed to follow protocol," Danial told the New Straits Times after lodging a report at the Kota Setar police headquarters yesterday. He was then given the contact number of the so-called vendor, who demanded an upfront payment of RM14,400 and refused to accept a formal letter of order (LO), claiming they only dealt with private arrangements. "I told 'Dr Asri' about the vendor's demand. He said if there were no door gifts, there would be no programme. Later, the vendor offered to accept a 50 per cent payment of RM7,200 instead," he said. Growing suspicious, Danial refused to pay. However, having already prepared the food, he delivered it to UiTM Merbok on Saturday, only to learn he had been scammed. "The university's security guard looked at my LO and told me I'm the third person that day asking for Dr Asri — and the only one who actually brought food." Danial later found out that other vendors across Penang and Kedah had also been targeted in similar scams. The impersonation was so convincing that when the real Dr Ahmad Asri contacted Danial to clarify the matter, the resemblance stunned him. "He said, 'I'm the real one. Want to compare faces?' When I video called him, I was shocked — the AI scammer version looked exactly like him," he added. Danial said UiTM Merbok confirmed no such order had ever been made. The real Dr Asri has also lodged a police report after learning that his identity had been used in several impersonation scams. Meanwhile, Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad confirmed that a report had been received. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail, whipping, and a fine.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Todak have lost their identity, says their esports manager
KUALA LUMPUR: Todak esports manager Danial Aizat Rames Abdullah could not hide his displeasure after his squad failed to make the playoffs for Season 15 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY). Their fate was sealed over the weekend (week six) after Team Vamos and DX Soul secured victories against JP Niners and Aero Esports respectively, leaving Todak in seventh place, one spot short of the final qualifying slot. This marks the first time the esports giants have missed the playoffs since making their debut in Season four of the MPL MY six years ago. Danial is determined to rebuild the Todak squad ahead of Season 16 which will be held later this year. "We have lost our identity," said Danial, better known by his nickname Abang Lord. "I believe our players are talented. They just need the right coaching staff to guide them. "Therefore, it is our task as top management to bring in the right coaching team. "We will inform them of our desired direction, but the coaching team will handle recruitment and squad preparation. "Throwing money at the problem is not going to guarantee success. We need to be meticulous in our planning" Todak parted ways with their MLBB manager Syazlan 'Ashi' Mohd Rosdi, head coach Saiful Aujang and assistant coach Ajwad 'Kuja' Mohd Yusof after Week five. The team played without a coach against JP Niners on Sunday (May 25). A win would have been inconsequential as Saturday's (May 24) victories for Team Vamos and DX Soul had already determined Todak's fate. Todak's failure to reach the play-offs overshadowed Selangor Red Giants ( finishing the regular season undefeated for a second time. They last achieved this feat in Season 13, when they also went unbeaten in the playoffs to claim their first league title. League newcomer DX Soul and Team Vamos claimed the final two playoff spots, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. They join Homebois, Monster Vicious, and Aero Esports in the post-season. Ocean Black (OB) are relegated after finishing bottom of the league, winless. The play-off stage of Season 15 will commence this weekend. MPL MY Week 6 Results Friday, May 23 Aero 2 MV 1 2 Ocean Black 0 Saturday, May 24 DX Soul 2 JP Niners 1 Vamos 2 Aero 1 Homebois 2 MV 1 Sunday, May 25 Todak 0 JP Niners 2 2 Team Rey 0
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Straits Times
Dad pleads for lighter sentence for 20-year-old NSF who traded child porn online: 'I understand he has done wrong'
Dad pleads for lighter sentence for 20-year-old NSF who traded child porn online: 'I understand he has done wrong' Christine Tan The Straits Times May 6, 2025 A 20-year-old full-time national serviceman who had 10 sexually explicit videos of children on his electronic devices, and traded such videos with other individuals on social networking platforms, has been sentenced to 12 months' reformative training. Mohamed Danial Rafiuddin Mohamed Rashid was deemed unsuitable for probation. He will be detained in a centre to undergo a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling. Danial pleaded guilty on Feb 4 to one count of having the video clips on his iPad and mobile phone. At his sentencing hearing on May 6, Deputy Public Prosecutor Samuel Chew said that after Danial pleaded guilty, he gave information to his probation officer that contradicted court documents. This showed that he lacked remorse and acceptance of responsibility for his offence, said the prosecutor. Danial had told investigators that he was first exposed to child pornography some time in 2016, when he came across a Facebook group containing videos of children engaging in sexual acts. He obtained copies of such videos by screen recording and saving them on his electronic devices. DPP Chew told the court previously: "The accused also admitted that he traded and exchanged child pornography videos with other like-minded individuals on Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook. "The accused admitted to doing so... until a few weeks prior to his arrest (in 2023), and that he had traded with around 10 to 15 individuals." Without revealing details, the prosecutor said that in December 2023, the police received a tip-off that Danial was suspected to be in possession of child abuse materials. Officers raided his home later that month and arrested him. They also seized his electronic devices, including his mobile phone and iPad. One of the clips showed a girl who appeared to be between five and seven years old, while the other nine videos showed boys who seemed to be between six and 14 years old. After Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh handed down the sentence, Danial's father pleaded for a more lenient sentence for his son. Speaking through a Malay interpreter, his father said: "I understand that he has done wrong and his offence is quite serious. However, I hope your honour could lower his sentence as he is still young; he is still in national service." His father added that he always accompanied Danial while he was out on bail, and his son has not reoffended since. Judge Soh said he understood the sentence was difficult for Danial's father to accept, but that the duration of reformative training is necessary to ensure he does not reoffend. The judge also directed the family to speak to a court counsellor after the hearing. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on: Share this article Show Comments
The Star
06-05-2025
- The Star
Reformative training for Singapore man who owned and traded sexually explicit videos of children
Mohamed Danial Rafiuddin Mohamed Rashid was deemed unsuitable for probation. - ST SINGAPORE: A 20-year-old national serviceman who had 10 sexually explicit videos of children in his electronic devices, and traded such videos with other individuals on social networking platforms, has been sentenced to reformative training. Mohamed Danial Rafiuddin Mohamed Rashid was deemed unsuitable for probation. He will be detained in a centre to undergo a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling. Danial pleaded guilty on Feb 4 to one count of having the video clips in his iPad and mobile phone. At his sentencing hearing on May 6, Deputy Public Prosecutor Samuel Chew said after Danial pleaded guilty, he gave information to his probation officer that contradicted court documents. This showed that he lacked remorse and acceptance of responsibility for his offence, said the prosecutor. Danial had told investigators that he was first exposed to child pornography sometime in 2016, when he came across a Facebook group containing videos of children engaging in sexual acts. He obtained copies of such videos by screen recording and saving them in his electronic devices. DPP Chew told the court previously: 'The accused also admitted that he traded and exchanged child pornography videos with other like-minded individuals on Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook. 'The accused admitted to doing so... until a few weeks prior to his arrest (in 2023), and that he had traded with around 10 to 15 individuals.' Without revealing details, the prosecutor said that in December 2023, the police received a tip-off that Danial was suspected to be in possession of child abuse materials. Officers raided his home later that month and arrested him. They also seized his electronic devices, including his mobile phone and iPad. One of the clips showed a girl who appeared to be between five and seven years old, while the other nine videos showed boys who seemed to be between six and 14 years old. After Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh handed down the sentence, Danial's father pleaded for a more lenient sentence for his son. Speaking through a Malay interpreter, his father said: 'I understand that he has done wrong and his offence is quite serious. However, I hope Your Honour could lower his sentence as he is still young; he is still in National Service.' The father added that he always accompanied Danial while he was out on bail, and his son has not reoffended since. Judge Soh said he understood the sentence was difficult for Danial's father to accept, but the duration of reformation training is necessary to ensure he does not reoffend. The judge also directed the family to speak to a court counsellor after the hearing. - The Straits Times/ANN
