Latest news with #Roussel
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Turn AI To Your Advantage In The New Age Of Fraud
AI-driven Identity Fraud Is Artificial Intelligence a friend or foe when it comes to fraud? The answer, right now, is both. The battle lines have been drawn, and the pace of innovation is going to determine the ultimate winner. We are undeniably living in a new era of fraud, driven by deepfake and generative AI technologies, which empower sophisticated synthetic IDs and even the ability to bypass verification systems altogether. AI has begun rapidly replacing more rudimentary fraud methods of decades gone by. According to a recent Prosper Insight & Analytics survey, 58% of consumers are extremely/very concerned about their personal information being used for fraudulent activities. This figure continues to steadily rise alongside the awareness of how AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can be manipulated for more nefarious means. Prosper - How Concerned are You About Your Privacy Being Violated From AI Using Your Data In fact, one in four consumers believe that identity verification systems are not strong enough to protect their data. This erosion of trust is prompting 47% of consumers to say they would abandon a brand entirely if they fell victim to fraud through that platform. This year alone, reports show generative AI has been used extensively to create life-like fake passports, capable of bypassing digital verification systems that were once considered top-of-the-line. To understand this evolving problem and how businesses must stay protected, I spoke with Jimmy Roussel, CEO of identity fraud leader As the company verifies an average of 18 million IDs per month, Roussel has a front-row seat at the rapidly expanding battleground that is digital fraud. The new face of identity fraud Businesses around the world are looking at AI as a tool to improve efficiency, but as the rate of adoption increases, so too does the number of cybercriminals seeking to weaponize it to commit fraud. 'We are seeing everything from AI-generated IDs to deepfakes used during onboarding and verification processes,' Roussel said. 'This isn't a hypothetical threat – it's already here.' One category Roussel believes is scaling faster than most is synthetic ID fraud. Unlike traditional identity fraud, where someone steals an individual's real information, synthetic fraud involves creating a completely new identity using a mix of real and fake data. These identities are then amplified through AI-generated documents, like passports or driver's licenses, which make detection difficult for traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) systems. 'Some of these fake passports are so good, even experienced border officials would have a hard time spotting them,' Roussel added. A failing legacy system A 2024 report from McKinsey highlighted that global cybercrime costs could reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, with identity fraud representing one of the fastest-growing contributors. Many of today's verification tools weren't designed to deal with AI-generated deception. Until now, it seems the fraudsters have been adapting and innovating at a faster pace. Systems that rely solely on image scans, basic metadata, or selfie-video checks are hopelessly outmatched by fraudsters who are testing, tweaking, and improving fake assets. Companies are constantly playing catch-up. According to Roussel, most businesses are relying on outdated verification tools. 'They're using 2015-era KYC systems to take on a 2025-era fraud problem. These systems weren't built with deepfakes or generative AI in mind, so they're easy to get around.' This security problem is dangerous in many sectors of business, including financial, travel, and e-commerce. Building a Smarter Defense All is not lost. While many scammers have access to advanced tools, so do businesses, but it may mean replacing legacy products with previously acceptable standards. One technology that Roussel believes will become increasingly critical is Near Field Communication (NFC) scanning. This technology isn't something you can fake in Photoshop. It verifies the data that's stored in the chip itself, making it one of the most reliable defenses against ID fraud. A recent report from found that 84% of the AI-generated fake IDs were identified with image and symbology analysis alone. When combined with third-party database checks, was able to catch 99.6% of the fraudulent IDs. Other innovations include behavioral biometrics, which measure unique user behavior, such as typing patterns and mouse movements, and liveness detection tools that differentiate between real people and deepfakes. Alongside the technological risk, there is also a considerable financial incentive to act now. A recent Gartner survey revealed that 53% of consumers would prefer to use a brand that incorporates stronger AI-based ID verification, even if it added a few seconds to their user journey. This shows businesses can protect both their bottom line and user experience by implementing smarter tools. Companies that fail to update their fraud prevention protocols can also result in regulatory breaches, reputational damage, and broken customer trust, particularly in industries where consumer data security is paramount. Roussel warns that too many businesses are stuck in a reactive mode. 'What we're seeing is companies only getting serious about upgrading their fraud prevention after a major incident. But by then, the damage is already done. What they need is a proactive mindset. One that treats identity verification as a strategic priority, not a box to tick.' Bridging the knowledge gap Education is one of the most important tools for organizations to combat fraud. Many decision makers are unaware of how powerful AI has become, particularly in the wrong hands, and how easy it is for cyber scammers to access information. Within the last year alone, has reported an increase of 34% from the previous year in fraudulent activity in the financial and banking sectors. March 2024 showed a 37% increase in fraud volume, with April just behind March at 21.4% over annual averages. A recent Nationwide survey shows a staggering 86% of consumers do not feel informed enough to protect themselves from AI-driven identity theft. This gap in consumer knowledge should serve as a wake-up call for businesses to double down on education and transparency as part of their fraud prevention strategies. The accessibility of information is what makes fraudulent activity so dangerous. Fraud isn't just something that's done by advanced criminal groups anymore. Businesses need to understand that anyone can be a potential threat and need to keep ahead of the game in order to keep their data safe. Securing the Future with Digital Trust Looking ahead, Roussel believes the verification space will split into two distinct camps: Those who modernize and those who remain vulnerable. The organizations that integrate advanced verification methods into their user journeys, without compromising the customer experience, will be better equipped to compete, innovate, and grow securely. 'Digital trust is everything now,' he concluded. 'Whether you're onboarding new customers, verifying employees, or securing access to sensitive systems, your ability to confirm someone's identity accurately and instantly is foundational. Businesses that get this right will thrive.' In a world where artificial intelligence is being used to both build up and break down systems, the stakes for identity verification have never been higher. However, businesses that have a powerful tool at their disposal will be the victors. By utilizing these tools and investing properly, they will be able to not only survive but thrive.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Global News
RCMP say 2 Manitobans charged with arson in connection with wildfires
Manitoba RCMP have made a pair of arson arrests connected to the rash of wildfires spreading across the province. Police said a man from Lake Manitoba First Nation, 55, was charged after a controlled burn got out of control and caused a blaze that spread over more than 200 acres Wednesday. The same day, a 46-year-old Fort Alexander man's controlled burn damaged a home and a shed, according to police. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Cpl. Melanie Roussel said Friday that the incidents shouldn't have occurred. 'These fires could have been prevented and should not have been started,' Roussel said. 'Lives and communities are being put at risk. Our officers will strictly enforce all laws related to burning restrictions that are in place across the province; this is for the safety of all Manitobans. Story continues below advertisement Mounties said they're working with provincial officials to help curtail the spread of wildfires.
Time Out
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Delta unveils new ‘soccer-field' sized airport lounge at the busiest airport in the U.S.
Delta has unveiled a game-changing lounge at the world's busiest airport: the sleek, 24,500-square-foot Sky Club at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. Big enough to fit a soccer field—or a third of the White House floor space—the airline's eighth lounge in ATL is also its second largest. Located at Concourse D-Center Point, the new space seats 506 travelers and features a 16-seat bar, theater-style media wall, soundproof phone booths for working and sweeping panoramic views of the airfield. There's also a sprawling buffet, two beverage stations and plenty of space to unwind or power through a layover. The new lounge captures Atlanta's Southern hospitality, with design elements—a brick entryway, shutter screens and coffered ceilings—that reflect its charm. A mural by local artist Ryan Coleman pays homage to the city's wealth of greenspace, featuring magnolias and dogwoods. Funky lighting and metallic accents give the space a modern, upscale feel. 'As the heart of our operation, Atlanta is more than just a hub—it's our home,' said Claude Roussel, Delta's VP of Sky Club and Lounge Experience. 'This new space is thoughtfully designed to ensure that guests traveling through Atlanta feel the Southern hospitality of the city we know and love.' The launch comes as Delta marks its 100th year alongside ATL's own centennial. It's part of a broader investment in the airline's hometown, which includes the expansion of Concourse D and updates to Sky Clubs in Concourses A and C. For travelers passing through ATL, Delta's newest Sky Club isn't just a lounge—it's a destination.
CBC
13-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian short trackers show up in Milan as complete force less than one year from Olympics
The standings would tell you that Canada's short track speed skating team has enjoyed a thoroughly successful World Tour season. But head coach Marc Gagnon said one thing is still missing. "I have to say that some moments have to be bad to get even better, but the reality is that we didn't get that many bad moments this year," Gagnon said. It's champagne problems for the Canadians as they arrive at the final World Tour stop of the season in Milan at the same venue that will host competition at the 2026 Olympics. Live coverage from Italy is available on Saturday at 7 a.m. ET and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on and CBC Gem. Canada has all but locked up the first-ever team Crystal Globe, which takes every race into account but weighs relays slightly heavier, while star William Dandjinou leads the men's standings. Now, the Canadians will hit the Milano Duomo ice with targets on their backs, which should provide a solid test run for the Olympics. Montreal's William Dandjinou earns gold in 1,500m short track World Tour final 2 months ago Duration 9:55 "Teams want to beat us right now. We're at the top pretty much everywhere. So we know that, but again, it's not our concern right now. It's to just stay focused on the process, to keep being there and to keep being good, no matter the target that we have," Gagnon said. Part of the team's renewed success has come from a breakout year in the mixed relay event. The four-person team of Kim Boutin, Florence Brunelle, Felix Roussel and Steven Dubois won bronze and gold in the first two events of the season in Montreal and has since added another bronze, too. The victory was just Canada's second since the discipline was introduced in December 2018. "There was a lot of work understanding each other, who we are, and how we can work better together and make sure that we work positively and try to have comments that will bring us upwards and better instead of just not understanding what the hell the girls are doing or what the hell the guys are doing," Gagnon said. Roussel, the 23-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., is hoping to make his Olympic debut in Italy. He missed out on qualification for Beijing four years ago and suffered an injury soon after that left him training with the women's team throughout the summer. "I just really improved a lot during the summer and then I qualified to be on the team for the World Cups and that's what started basically my real international journey," Roussel said. WATCH | Canada captures short track mixed team relay World Tour gold on home ice: Canada captures short track mixed team relay World Tour gold on home ice 3 months ago Duration 4:46 That 2022 summer also represented the first step toward the mixed relay coming together. "I built a connection with the girls because we spent all the time together. I was leading a lot of training. We were working hard together. So I think for the mixed relay, that's where the chemistry started," Roussel said. "And for me … I really discovered that there's another level to this and I can train much, much, much harder." Gagnon, 49, is a three-time Olympic champion, five-time medallist and four-time overall World Cup champion. He rejoined Skate Canada's coaching staff in 2020 and was recently promoted to head coach. Two of his Olympic gold medals came in the relay, in which he said the key to a success is fully understanding that it is a team event as opposed to four individual skaters. "We have to know what each individual can do to help the team and make sure that the continuous speed stays there so we don't lose speed somewhere and we don't lose a position because somebody tried to do a superhero pass and that didn't work," Gagnon said. "So doing stuff that they know they're good at, and always making the choice of doing it, knowing that it's gonna help the team and not just their one lap and a half individually." WATCH | Brunelle adds to season medal haul in women's 500m: Brunelle claims more Canadian gold at short track speed skating World Tour stop in Tilburg 4 days ago Duration 4:22 He added that one of the team's strengths is its flexibility — even though they've mostly determined that Roussel is ideally used as the third skater, he'll race the anchor lap in Milan this weekend. "A lot of chemistry, a lot of speed, a lot of confidence and trust between our teammates. You only skate a quarter of the time, [and] we're four in a team. So you got to trust your teammates when it's their job and when it's their time to do the job," Roussel said. Beyond Roussel's summer training session with the women, he said the team has worked hard to establish that trust in each other. Everything from exchanges to motivations to pre-game rituals can look vastly different the in men's and women's relays, he said. "It's been like a whole journey. But when we finally showed up in Montreal and had good performances, then we knew we did [something] right," Roussel said. "There's a lot of like handshakes going on, a lot of remembering what's your role. "Just find a moment to feel the energy between us four and have some good eye contact and just telling each other that we're confident in each other and we believe in them." The team is dripping confidence as it gets set to confirm its Crystal Globe and launch into the world championships in March and the Olympics in a little less than 12 months time. And while Gagnon is concerned about the lack of adversity the team has faced, Roussel is happy to keep racking up the hardware. "I don't think the team has felt as strong before. We feel like we're just dominating everything. Every time we touch the ice, it's gold, gold, gold. And if it's not gold and silver, sometimes we're making double podiums in individual distances," he said.
