Latest news with #Renata
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
‘I owed £300,000 in debts after my identity was stolen age 6'
A quarter of children will have their identities stolen before the turn 18, according to new research Renata Galvão faced the daunting task of paying off $400,000 (£295,000) in debts that weren't hers throughout her early adulthood after her identity was stolen at the tender age of six. A relative had convinced her mother to authorise this fraudulent use at the time. "I do not blame her for a second, she was coerced and told information that was not true. I'm choosing to speak up now, so no one else has to go through what I did," she remarked as part of LSEG Risk Intelligence's 'One in Fifty' documentary film. Renata's predicament shows a growing pattern with fraudsters exploiting children's clear financial history, causing havoc that can go unnoticed for many years. She continued: "I was only six years old when my identity was stolen and for years, I had no idea. By the time I started work, it was already too late." In Renata's case, her identity was used to establish businesses which later failed, leaving her as the unwitting 'legal owner' saddled with the debt. She recounted visits from debt collectors during her childhood, who were astonished to learn their supposed debtor was merely a child. Accumulating over $400,000 (£295,000) in debts that weren't hers still annihilated Renata's credit score and wreaked financial ruin. The full magnitude of her ordeal, however, was only uncovered when she reached 18. She said: "When I turned 18, was working, opened a bank account and bought a car, everything that happened during my childhood came crashing down on me all of a sudden. I now had a financial life, and those things could be taken away from me. They froze my assets and took my savings to pay off the debts." For many young victims, pursuing legal action against the perpetrator is the only recourse for clearing their names. But that wasn't an option for Renata because her mother, despite also being a victim, could have faced charges due to her involvement. Renata, alongside her mother, spent ten years repaying the debt until she was 28 instead. Alarmingly, an LSEG Risk Intelligence report indicates that child identity theft is an escalating problem, not an isolated case like Renata's. Identity theft has increased by 13% since last March, with the US Federal Trade Commission revealing a 40% surge between 2021 and 2024. To shed light on this disturbing trend, Renata shares her story in the newly released documentary One in Fifty. The film aims to raise awareness among consumers and financial organisations of the severity and prevalence of child identity theft in the US. Now a risk and compliance professional at LSEG, Renata commented: "Globally, there are entire systems in place to protect children from physical or sexual abuse from a family member. But no such system exists for protecting children from financial abuse. No one should have a say in my financial life other than myself." David White, Global Head of Product & Data, LSEG Risk Intelligence, cautioned: "Since Renata's ordeal over twenty years ago, fraudsters have become more sophisticated, using AI and social engineering to target the most vulnerable. "Children are being targeted because they know our systems weren't designed to spot them. This has to change. No one organisation can fix this alone - it's going to take the entire industry working together to protect the most vulnerable among us." LSEG Risk Intelligence is calling on financial institutions to adopt new safeguards to shield customers from the severe consequences of identity theft and fraud, as outlined in their latest report. The recommendations include introducing checks to confirm a person's age and identity, along with multi-factor authentication for individuals lacking a credit history. The report also notes that 25% of children will have their identity stolen, at an average age of just eight, and 73% of victims know the perpetrator. The majority of these victims face financial fraud being lodged against them, but a small percentage are also left with a criminal record for offences they didn't commit.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Project set to cultivate new designers
Gaming — it is a buzz word for innovation, creativity, entertainment and dedication, INNOV8HQ founder Heidi Renata says. It might come as a surprise but gaming did not start as entertainment, it began in the 1950s as a scientific tool, built to test thinking and simulate systems, Ms Renata said. "It was always about expanding minds, not just passing time. "Today, gaming is still doing that — but at scale," she said. Back in the 1980s, when she was growing up in Milton and playing Donkey Kong, gaming was about escape, strategy, creativity and challenge. Gaming helped her to think differently, try new things and test herself. That was the same spark she wanted to light with the award-winning youth entrepreneurship programme Mana Rangatahi for people aged 16-24. On May 20, a game developer workshop series is being launched at Alexandra Community House, providing an opportunity for participants to network with others interested in game development and to listen to speakers. The initiative is a collaboration between INNOV8HQ, Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme (Reap), Puna Rangatahi and the Central Otago Game Development (COGD) Network. Ms Renata was excited to provide a bridge between location and pathway development, with a collaborative approach more powerful than an individual one, she said. "I'm really interested in making sure our youth, regardless of where they're from, get access to highly skilled pathways." When game designer Chantal Duxfield, the co-founder of the COGD Network, moved to the area, she discovered there were a lot of very passionate and driven youth interested in learning about game development, animation and digital art. Many finished school and headed to the cities for university, thinking it afforded more opportunities. It was great to discover INNOV8HQ and have the opportunity to bring education and awareness to rural communities so careers could be pursued without necessitating a move to the city. Emma McLean, of Reap, said there were many young people in the area who were passionate about gaming but they were not connected to the industry, they did not realise the pathways available for careers. Through collaboration, there was an opportunity for them to realise their dreams. Mana Rangatahi graduate Nikita Stone, from Cromwell, had a passion for animation and the arts. She noted many studios were in the North Island and her big dream was to open a studio in Central Otago. Ms Renata said there was potential if the initiative went well to transition it into greater Otago.
Malaysian Reserve
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
Renata Simril, President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation, to Receive THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation 2025 Woman of the Year Award
LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Distinguished youth sports advocate and civic leader, Renata Simril, President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation, will be honored as the 2025 Woman of the Year by THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation. The annual luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Jonathan Town Club in Los Angeles, honors women who are leaders and trailblazers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), business, or academia. Renata's career is defined by leadership, service, and a lasting positive impact. Committed to the communities and children of Los Angeles, Renata is dedicated to uplifting those around her, regardless of their background or economic status. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for youth—especially those with the least access—to engage in physical activity. Under her leadership, the LA84 Foundation has become a national leader in positive youth development through sports. Renata has been involved with the California Science Center for decades, including previously serving on the Board of Directors as an appointee of Governor Jerry Brown. Additionally, Renata is a driving force behind the Science Center's newest exhibition – GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play – opening May 15, 2025. She helped to shape GAME ON! from an early concept and led the effort to secure significant funding and high-profile partnerships to make the exhibition possible. A respected advocate for the vital role of sport and play in children's lifelong well-being, Renata works to address today's pressing issues with an eye toward their impact on future generations. She is an appointee of Mayor Karen Bass to serve as President of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to California's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being. Renata is also a board member of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. Prior to joining LA84, Renata was Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Publisher of the Los Angeles Times, and Senior Vice President of External Affairs of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For over a decade, she worked in real estate development with Jones Lang LaSalle, Forest City Development and LCOR, Inc. Her public service includes serving as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Housing in the James K. Hahn Administration. She was Development Deputy to Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, helping rebuild communities in South Los Angeles after the 1992 civil unrest, and began her career as a U.S. Army Military Police Officer in Germany and the U.S. The annual Woman of the Year luncheon is the major fundraiser that allows THE MUSES to support youth education programs of the California Science Center. Proceeds help to fund educational programming for children from underserved communities who are historically underrepresented in STEM fields, including scholarships to Hands-On Science Camp, Young Curators after-school enrichment programs, and Community Teen internship opportunities at the Science Center. Tickets to the Woman of the Year luncheon are $200 each, with sponsorships of tables for 10 beginning at $2,000. To RSVP and obtain tickets, or for further information, please contact Melanie Miller at mam645@ and Michelle Conrad at hollywoodmich@ About THE MUSESLike the mythological figures for which they are named, THE MUSES strive to be patrons of learning to stimulate innovation in science education. Over six decades after the group was established in 1962, their membership and spirit of commitment continues to grow. Today, THE MUSES encourage public goodwill and provide financial assistance for youth education programs of the California Science Center, contributing to the Science Center's role as a world-class learning institution for children, families, students, and educators. More information about THE MUSES and the luncheon is available at: About the California Science CenterThe California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults, and children can explore the wonders of science through hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs, and awe-inspiring large-format movies. The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission to the Science Center is FREE. The California Science Center is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Visit for more information. Media Contact: Kristina Kurasz Cutting(213) 744-7446 | kkurasz@
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Video showing hundreds of people trapped on sinking ship cropped to remove 'AI' label
Claim: A six-second video authentically shows hundreds of people clinging to life aboard a sinking ship. Rating: A rumor that users circulated online in March 2025 claimed a six-second video authentically showed hundreds of people clinging to life aboard a sinking ship. For example, on March 21, a Facebook user named Pcgs Agila Dabon shared the video (archived) with a caption reading "ship going to sink down." Within six days, the clip had received over 11 million views. Users also shared posts featuring the same video on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. However, the truth was that those users shared a cropped version of a video that earlier featured an "AI" label. In other words, a person we have yet to identify originally created the clip with a generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tool. The aforementioned Facebook user did not yet respond to a request for comment regarding where the clip originated. A reverse-image search located several posts displaying the full-size video with its AI label. For example, users on Instagram (archived) and Threads (archived) shared the clip with people reacting to the fake scene of the sinking ship. Both videos displayed the word "Daryka," potentially as a watermark for a Facebook user posting videos and other AI-generated clips with similar watermarks. That user did not yet respond to an email asking about the video's creation, and the clip did not appear on the account's profile feed. One Facebook user's upload of the video featured a clean thumbnail image without a person's reaction superimposed on top of the clip. (Readers can download the thumbnail image for themselves by inserting the clip's link into a third party video-downloading website such as The fake scene of people clinging to life aboard a sinking ship resembled genuine tragic incidents involving boats carrying migrants. For example, in June 2023, a commercial fishing vessel packed with as many as 750 men, women and children from Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine and Syria sank off the coast of Greece. Reuters reported the final figures of passengers as 104 survivors, 82 located corpses and hundreds missing, all believed dead. For further reading, previous fact checks examined other instances of AI-generated content, including a photo purportedly showing a demon posing with a family, as well as a picture of a flight attendant handing out cigarettes to to passengers on an airplane. Brito, Renata. "Diverging Narratives Emerge after Trawler with Hundreds of Migrants Sinks in the Mediterranean." The Independent, 17 June 2023, "Facebook Video Downloader - Free Online Tools." Toolzin, "Google Lens - Search What You See." Google Lens, Tagaris, Karolina, et al. "A Year after Greece Migrant Boat Tragedy, Answers and Justice Still out of Reach." Reuters, 7 June 2024,
