Latest news with #JonnyPryn
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
WhatsApp number will tell you instantly if you're being scammed
Ask Silver is a free AI-powered scam-checking service that allows you to check any suspected scam attempt through WhatsApp UK households lose billions of pounds to scams every single year - but a new tool could help you detect whether you're being conned. Ask Silver is a free AI-powered scam-checking service that allows you to check any suspected scam attempt through WhatsApp. How it works, is you just send a photo or screenshot of the email or text message you've received to the Ask Silver number. It will then use AI to scan the information and check it against official websites to determine whether it is likely a scam or not. If the details you've flagged are definitely a scam, Ask Silver will respond with a red flag. You can ask Silver to report the scam to relevant agencies on your behalf. You'll be sent an amber flag if there isn't a match on the database, but there are suspicious elements that suggest the details you've sent are likely a scam. If you receive a yellow flag, this means the details are likely legitimate, but you should still be careful. To get access to the service, you need to sign up with your mobile number through its website, You will then automatically receive a message on WhatsApp from Ask Silver, which has its own number. Ask Silver was set up last year by 32-year old tech entrepreneur Alex Somervell and his business partner Jonny Pryn. The Mirror previously reported how Chris Cooper, 34, a wedding photographer based in London, stepped in to help his parents Des and Wendy Cooper, who are in their 70s and live in West Sussex, after they started to receive phishing emails, asking for their bank account details. A phishing email is a type of scam where a fraudster pretends to be from a reputable company, and then they ask the recipient to provide personal or financial information, or to click a dodgy link that gains access to their device. Chris used Ask Silver to double check the emails his parents were receiving were definitely from scammers. According to research from CIFAS, published in November 2024, UK consumers lost £11.4billion to scams in the 12 months prior. This is an increase of four billion from the 12 months before that. How to report scams If you suspect a scammer is calling you, hang up immediately and search for the contact details online of the place you're supposedly being called from. Never call back the number provided by the caller. Contact your bank straight away if you think a fraudster has got access to your account. You can call the 159 hotline, which will connect you to your bank. Passwords that have been leaked or compromised should be changed immediately. Make sure you report scams and fraud to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or through the Action Fraud website. If you're in Scotland, report a scam through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or on the Advice Direct Scotland website. You can also report scams to Police Scotland on 101. For scam emails, forward them to report@ and for scam text messages, forward them to 7726 for free. You can report dodgy websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Bank unveils AI-powered scam detection solution
Metro Bank has unveiled an AI-based scam detection service in collaboration with Ask Silver, aiming to assist customers in identifying fraudulent communications. The tool, named the Metro Bank Scam Checker, enables personal and business clients to immediately determine if they are at risk of falling victim to scams. Customers of Metro Bank can now take a photograph or screenshot of any suspicious emails, websites, letters, or promotional material, and send the image via WhatsApp to the Metro Bank Scam Checker. Ask Silver's AI technology then analyses the content and informs the customer within moments whether it is fraudulent, offering guidance on how to proceed and stay secure. This service is available free of charge to Metro Bank customers, enabling them to swiftly identify fraudulent activity and take necessary precautions. The AI-driven tool offers results within 'minutes', providing customers with an effective means of avoiding impersonation scams and other types of fraudulent schemes. Impersonation fraud has become a serious concern in the UK, with criminals increasingly posing as legitimate organisations to gain unauthorised access to personal accounts. By partnering with Ask Silver, Metro Bank aims to reduce the impact of such fraud, empowering customers to identify deceptive communications and minimise the risk of falling prey to fraudsters. UK Finance reports that more than £1bn ($1.28bn) was lost to fraud and scams in 2023 alone. With the introduction of the Scam Checker, Metro Bank hopes to combat these losses by giving customers the means to recognise scams early and report them to the appropriate authorities. The tool not only alerts customers to potential fraud but also automatically informs the relevant authorities, supporting both the financial sector and law enforcement in their efforts to combat crime. Metro Bank reassures its customers that it will never ask for sensitive details, such as passwords, PINs, or security codes, via email or text message. Ask Silver was established by Alex Somervell and Jonny Pryn, inspired by a personal tragedy when a close relative of Alex's lost £150,000 in a scam. This experience motivated the pair to develop technology that could protect others from similar financial harm. Metro Bank Fraud head Baz Thompson said: 'This new partnership with Ask Silver is a game changer in protecting customers from fraud and helping to stop crime. 'We take the security of our customers very seriously and constantly review how we can help them fight fraud. 'Criminals often play on urgency and speed to trick people into parting ways with their hard-earned cash. "Being able to offer a service where customers can know in minutes whether something is fraudulent provides an essential barrier to staying one step ahead of fraudsters.' "Metro Bank unveils AI-powered scam detection solution" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
