Latest news with #GlobalAnti-ScamAlliance
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
IT expert calls for crackdown on unlicensed crypto platforms
An information technology (IT) advocate called on the government to crack down on unlicensed cryptocurrency platforms, claiming these exchanges have become the financial backbone of kidnappings, human trafficking, large-scale scams, and even drug and illegal gambling operations. In a statement on Wednesday, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) ICT Committee co-chair Reyner Villaseñor claimed that unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges 'operating without regulatory oversight' have become the financial tool of organized crime syndicates operating within and beyond the country's borders. 'Criminal syndicates are exploiting regulatory gaps to carry out diverse illegal activities, using unlicensed and unregulated cryptocurrency platforms as their tools,' Villaseñor said. The IT expert said the unlicensed cryptocurrency platforms enabling criminal syndicates to move millions in illicit funds 'with little to no trace.' Citing data from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Villaseñor said Filipinos have lost an estimated P460 billion to online crime in 2024—equivalent to 1.9% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 'These numbers paint a grim picture: the Philippines is now in the midst of a digitally enabled crime epidemic - one that calls for immediate public vigilance, private sector safeguards, and proactive regulatory intervention and law enforcement action,' he said. Without properly audited KYC or Know-Your-Customer and anti-money laundering controls—standards mandated on licensed platforms—these rogue exchanges offer near-total anonymity, according to the IT expert. Villaseñor said criminals are exploiting blind spots to launder ransom payments, conceal profits from human trafficking, and move massive sums without triggering regulatory red flags. With this, the IT expert called for an urgent, coordinated crackdown from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other relevant agencies. —RF, GMA Integrated News
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First Post
4 days ago
- First Post
$242 million and counting: How Singaporeans keep losing vast sums of money to criminals
According to reports, the city-state of Singapore, since 2019, has witnessed an increase in both the number of scams and the amount of money lost. In 2024, Singaporeans, including the rich and famous, lost around $800 million to scamsters in over 50,000 cases. Why do experts say Singaporeans are 'uniquely vulnerable'? read more Singapore has seen over 13,000 scam cases in 2025. Victims are estimated to have lost $242 million thus far. Reuters Singapore is in the grip of a 'scamdemic'. According to reports, since 2019, the city-state has witnessed an increase in both the number of scams and the amount of money lost. Around $800 million was looted from residents of Singapore in 2024 alone – including from the rich and famous – in over 50,000 cases. But what do we know? What do experts say is to blame? Let's take a closer look What do we know? As per the report in the Financial Times, Singaporeans have been among the biggest scam victims on the planet over the past two years. The city state has seen over 13,000 scam cases in 2025. Victims are estimated to have lost $242 million thus far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Singapore in 2024 recorded 51,501 scam cases. Residents of the city state lost $800 million – a 70 per cent increase over 2023. The police have only been able to recover around $182 million of this money. More from Explainers Liverpool parade crash: Why Europe is witnessing a rise in car-ramming attacks And it's not just ordinary citizens either. Among the victims were the city's rich and famous including actor Laurence Pang. Pang lost around $31,000 (Rs 26 lakh) in crypto to a scammer name 'Mika'. 'Mika' lured Pang to invest in a fake e-commerce company. It took months before Pang figured out he was being conned. In 2023, Singaporeans lost the most amount of money per person of any nation – $3100 (Rs 2,64,000). That's a higher figure than the citizens of Switzerland and Austria lost on average. Worse, experts say these are just the reported figures – meaning that the real numbers could be even higher. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance has claimed over 67 per cent of scam victims in Singapore have not reported the matter to the authorities. The scams are varied – from romance like in the case of Pang to people offering jobs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2023, Singaporeans lost the most amount of money per person of any nation – $3100 (Rs 2,64,000). Representational image The criminals also call Singaporeans and pose as bank and government officials. In 80 per cent of the victims, it is the victims who willingly transfer their money or crypto to the criminals. In many cases, this could be entire life savings. A new survey shows that at least a third of Singaporean looking for work have been targeted by a job scam. Most of these scamsters reach out from Meta platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, authorities say. PYMNTS Intelligence quoted data as showing that scams became the leading form of fraud last year – ahead of digital payment fraud. The share of scam-related fraud rose by 56 per cent, while financial losses from scams jumped 121 per cent. 'Scams now account for 23 per cent of all fraudulent transactions, with relationship/trust and product/service scams responsible for most losses,' PYMNTS wrote in December. 'These scams manipulate individuals into authorizing fraudulent transactions, often using deceptive tactics. Additionally, fraud involving compromised credentials, where individuals are tricked into revealing account details, is also on the rise.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is to blame? As per Financial Times, experts say Singaporeans are uniquely vulnerable. This is because they are rich, tech-savvy, and extremely compliant with authority – a deadly combination in this instance. 'They are rich and naive,' an asset recovery professional told the newspaper. Experts say artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and phishing schemes are making it harder and harder to determine whether one is being scammed. 'As AI continues to evolve, it's becoming harder to tell what's real and what's a scam — especially in digital hiring. This is no longer just a tech problem; it's a human one,' said Kenji Naito, Group CEO of Reeracoen Group, told The Source. 'The value of human involvement and verified interactions is becoming even more important. We must build hiring ecosystems where people feel safe and trust comes by default.' 'Today's AI-driven attacks aren't limited to phish-y emails. Fraudsters now employ voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate executives, tricking employees into authorizing large fund transfers,' a report by PYMNTS Intelligence warned. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance has claimed over 67 per cent of scam victims in Singapore have not reported the matter to the authorities. Credit: Pexels 'The accessibility of generative AI tools means that even low-level scammers can produce high-quality forgeries, blurring the lines between genuine and fake communications.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The problem is getting so out of hand that authorities are considering bringing back certain punishments. 'We believe in caning as a strong deterrent,' Loretta Yuen, chair of the fraud committee at the Association of Banks in Singapore, told Financial Times. 'It's a deterrent, but there is also a sense of revenge to it.' People like Pang are sharing their experiences – in hopes of spreading awareness to others. 'The most important thing to remember is that any time money or crypto is mentioned, it is a massive red flag,' Pang told the newspaper. 'You can be sure at that point that it is a scam.' With inputs from agencies
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Cyber attacks cost Kiwis an estimated $1.6 billion in 2024
'If these numbers are extrapolated across the adult population, it indicates that around $1.6b was lost last year,' said NCSC's director mission enablement Mike Jagusch. He said the numbers are much higher than what is reported to the NCSC through its reporting channels. According to the survey, 44% of people who experience cyber attacks don't report them. Under-reporting often occurs because victims can feel embarrassed, feel it's not significant enough to report or aren't aware of the channels they can report to. As a result, figures around losses can vary too. The second annual State of Scams in NZ report last year, compiled by Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, estimated New Zealanders lost $2.3b to online scams in the 12 months to August 30. 'We know that direct financial loss is only one of the many effects of cyber attacks. These incidents also lead to loss of time, loss of personal information and impacts mental wellbeing,' Jagusch said. 'Overall, cyber attacks have a significant cost on New Zealand's economy and on New Zealanders.' Of those who lost money, 88% described the impact as moderate, significant or severe. Email (59%) was the most common way Kiwis encountered threats, but traditional means such as phone call (46%) and text message (35%) are still prevalent. However, platforms for cyber threats varied by age, with 40% of 18-34-year-olds experiencing more threats on social media compared with the overall average of 33%. Those 55 years old and over were more likely to experience online security threats through phone calls (53%). When it comes to protecting themselves from cyber threats, 86% said not clicking on links in emails or text messages that aren't from trusted sources was the most important action. Not sharing personal information online with unfamiliar people (85%) and using strong passwords (67%) were also seen as strong countermeasures. Jagusch said it was easy to think nothing happens when people report cyber threats. 'Your reports help us to better understand the threats we face and help us to shape our response,' he said. 'It also helps other New Zealanders keep safe from similar attacks and keep them from losing money.'
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Fox News
Google's AI unleashes powerful scam-busting features for Android
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging advanced tools like generative AI to con unsuspecting victims. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, mobile consumers worldwide lose over $1 trillion annually to scams. To combat this growing threat, Google is rolling out cutting-edge AI-powered scam detection features for Android users. However, while Google's efforts are impressive, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself from scams. Let's dive into Google's new features and explore how you can further safeguard your personal information. Join the FREE "CyberGuy Report": Get my expert tech tips, critical security alerts and exclusive deals, plus instant access to my free "Ultimate Scam Survival Guide" when you sign up! Google has introduced two innovative AI-powered scam detection features to protect Android users from increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts. The first feature, Scam Detection in Google Messages, enhances the existing Spam Protection functionality. This new tool utilizes on-device AI to identify suspicious patterns in SMS, MMS and RCS messages. When a message appears suspicious, users receive a real-time warning with options to dismiss, report or block the sender. To ensure privacy, all message processing occurs directly on the user's device, keeping conversations confidential. The feature is enabled by default for non-contacts and can be verified or disabled via Google Messages → Settings → Spam Protection. It is currently available in English for users in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, with plans to expand to more countries soon. The second feature addresses the growing issue of phone scams, with over half of Americans reporting daily scam calls in 2024. Google's Scam Detection for calls employs on-device AI models to analyze calls in real time. If a call is identified as a potential scam, users receive audio and visual warnings alerting them to the risk. Activation requirements: This feature prioritizes user privacy by processing call audio ephemerally without storing or sharing any data. Pixel Watch integration allows Wear OS users to enable call alerts through the Phone app after updating both devices. At present, Scam Detection for calls is available to Pixel 9+ users in the United States, with plans for broader expansion in the future. Both of these AI-powered features are a big win for your mobile security, providing you with advanced protection against evolving scam tactics while keeping your privacy safe. While Google's innovations provide robust protection, scammers are relentless in finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Here are some additional steps you can take. 1. Have strong antivirus software: Google Play Protect, which is built-in malware protection for Android devices, automatically removes known malware. However, it is important to note that Google Play Protect may not be enough. Historically, it isn't 100% foolproof at removing all emerging malware from Android devices. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 2. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just a password. 2FA makes it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to your accounts, even if they obtain your password. 3. Regularly update your software and devices: Keeping your systems up to date ensures you have the latest security patches and protections against newly discovered vulnerabilities. 4. Use strong and unique passwords: Use long, complex passphrases that are unique for each account. Consider using a password manager to help create and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here. 5. Be cautious about sharing information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like financial information or passwords over text or phone calls unless you're absolutely certain of the recipient's identity. Be cautious of phishing attempts and verify the legitimacy of requests for personal information. 6. Invest in personal data removal services: Use a personal data removal service to remove your personal information from people-search websites, making it harder for scammers to find and target you. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but so is technology designed to protect us. Google's AI-powered scam detection features are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud. However, staying safe requires a combination of tools and personal vigilance. By using strong antivirus software, removing yourself from people-search sites and being cautious with your personal information, you can stay one step ahead of scammers. Do you think Google and other tech companies are doing enough to prevent scammers from attacking your Android? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Zawya
18-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Google blocks 5.1 billion harmful ads with AI in 2024
Google has released its 2024 Ads Safety Report, showing how advanced artificial intelligence is transforming the fight against bad ads, scams, and misinformation online. As scams grow more sophisticated—often impersonating public figures or deploying AI-generated content—new tools are helping stop harmful ads before they ever reach people. In 2024 alone, Google blocked or removed 5.1 billion ads, restricted 9.1 billion more, and suspended over 39 million advertiser accounts—most before a single ad was served. This progress reflects how AI models, powered by Gemini, are enabling faster and smarter detection of fraud signals such as stolen payment methods, fake business identities, or coordinated scam networks. This shift toward proactive prevention comes at a critical time. Across Africa and beyond, users are navigating a rapidly evolving digital environment—where trust, safety, and transparency matter more than ever. In Nigeria, public figure impersonation scams and misleading election ads have become familiar threats. That's why in 2024, Google updated its Misrepresentation policy, assembled a global team of over 100 experts, and took down over 700,000 scam-related advertiser accounts—contributing to a 90% drop in reported impersonation scams. With nearly half the world's population heading to the polls in 2024, Google also expanded election ad transparency, requiring all political advertisers to verify their identities and clearly disclose who's paying for the message. More than 10 million election-related ads were removed globally for failing to meet these standards. While these are global figures, their local impact is deeply personal. From the business owner trying to reach new customers online to the everyday user trying to avoid a phishing scam, online safety remains essential for an open, trustworthy web. In Nigeria and across the continent, safe advertising also helps protect livelihoods—ensuring that small businesses, creators, and publishers can continue to benefit from a free and accessible internet. 'We launched over 50 enhancements to our AI models in 2024,' said Alex Rodriguez, General Manager for Ads Safety at Google. 'These improvements helped us move faster, identify threats earlier, and take action before bad actors could reach users. That's the real power of AI—making the internet safer not just reactively, but proactively.' While challenges persist, the report emphasizes that AI is improving both the speed and scale of enforcement—and freeing up human reviewers to focus on the most complex, high-impact investigations. Google also continues to work closely with regulators, consumer protection agencies, and industry peers, including through the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, to stay ahead of evolving threats. Google's 2024 Ads Safety Report offers a glimpse into the systems that help keep billions of people safe online—many without ever realising it. But for those who run small businesses, browse the web, or build tools and content that power Africa's digital economy, safety is not just technical—it's foundational. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
