Latest news with #TonyNeate
Rhyl Journal
02-07-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Online safety campaign helping to protect children in Wales
The Safer Kids campaign, launched by Get Safe Online in partnership with North Wales Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, aims to promote safer internet use among young people across North Wales. The scheme, backed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, targets children who may be spending more unsupervised time online during the summer break. It aims to promote safer internet use (Image: Supplied) Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, said: "The internet has so many benefits and for our children to have the opportunity to use it to support their studies, interact with their friends and even to shop, has become second nature. "However, as with so many other things they do, it's really important that they do so safely. "Our campaign this month focuses on key advice to help kids enjoy a safe and happy experience on the internet." The campaign delivers practical advice to children and parents, including the importance of open conversations about internet safety, using parental controls, and encouraging the use of child-friendly apps and platforms. Mr Dunbobbin said: "Supporting victims and communities across North Wales is a priority in my plan to reduce crime in North Wales and our children and young people lie at the heart of a safe society. "They are what we hold most precious. "As we head into the summer holidays, it is therefore vital we do all we can to ensure our children and young people stay safe online. "As parents and guardians, summer can be a difficult time juggling childcare with work, looking after the home, and seeing to other family members. "This means children can be sometimes less supervised than when at school and that's why advice like that from Get Safe Online is so important at this time." The campaign delivers practical advice to children and parents (Image: Supplied) PC Dewi Owen from North Wales Police's cyber crime team said that while going online offers children opportunities to socialise and learn, it also comes with risks. He said: "For many children and youngsters spending time online is a very important part of their lives. "It's an opportunity to socialise, have fun and relax and to be creative and learn about new things. "However, spending time online can also expose youngsters to bullying, inappropriate content or comments, or risks associated with stranger contact." National figures underline the need for the campaign. The 10- to 15-year-olds' Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 92.6 per cent of children go online every day, with 58.1 per cent spending three or more hours online during a typical school day. The campaign also highlights that more than a third of children have accepted friend requests from strangers. Mr Neate said that parental engagement is vital. He said: "We therefore encourage parents to show an interest in their children's online activities and to have open conversations with them to find out more about which apps they use and which websites they visit and what sorts of things they do on there." Full guidance and resources are available online.
Leader Live
01-07-2025
- Leader Live
Online safety campaign helping to protect children in Wales
The Safer Kids campaign, launched by Get Safe Online in partnership with North Wales Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, aims to promote safer internet use among young people across North Wales. The scheme, backed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, targets children who may be spending more unsupervised time online during the summer break. It aims to promote safer internet use (Image: Supplied) Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, said: "The internet has so many benefits and for our children to have the opportunity to use it to support their studies, interact with their friends and even to shop, has become second nature. "However, as with so many other things they do, it's really important that they do so safely. "Our campaign this month focuses on key advice to help kids enjoy a safe and happy experience on the internet." The campaign delivers practical advice to children and parents, including the importance of open conversations about internet safety, using parental controls, and encouraging the use of child-friendly apps and platforms. Mr Dunbobbin said: "Supporting victims and communities across North Wales is a priority in my plan to reduce crime in North Wales and our children and young people lie at the heart of a safe society. "They are what we hold most precious. "As we head into the summer holidays, it is therefore vital we do all we can to ensure our children and young people stay safe online. "As parents and guardians, summer can be a difficult time juggling childcare with work, looking after the home, and seeing to other family members. "This means children can be sometimes less supervised than when at school and that's why advice like that from Get Safe Online is so important at this time." The campaign delivers practical advice to children and parents (Image: Supplied) PC Dewi Owen from North Wales Police's cyber crime team said that while going online offers children opportunities to socialise and learn, it also comes with risks. He said: "For many children and youngsters spending time online is a very important part of their lives. "It's an opportunity to socialise, have fun and relax and to be creative and learn about new things. "However, spending time online can also expose youngsters to bullying, inappropriate content or comments, or risks associated with stranger contact." National figures underline the need for the campaign. The 10- to 15-year-olds' Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 92.6 per cent of children go online every day, with 58.1 per cent spending three or more hours online during a typical school day. The campaign also highlights that more than a third of children have accepted friend requests from strangers. Mr Neate said that parental engagement is vital. He said: "We therefore encourage parents to show an interest in their children's online activities and to have open conversations with them to find out more about which apps they use and which websites they visit and what sorts of things they do on there." Full guidance and resources are available online.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ticket resale price cap will be a champagne supernova for fraudsters
Cracking down on regulated ticket resale platforms will push touts into riskier corners of the internet, says Tony Neate As we head into a jam-packed concert season, with a star-studded line-up including Oasis, Coldplay, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, ticket demand is soaring. But with extraordinary demand comes extraordinary risk – and a perfect storm for fraud. Get Safe Online has been delivering online safety awareness programmes for nearly 20 years – our priority is and will always be to minimise the risk of online fraud and to help everyone navigate the internet safely, securely and with confidence. So, when we consider the introduction of caps for ticket prices, what sounds like a win for consumers could actually be a ticking time bomb for fraud. The facts are clear: capping resale prices on regulated platforms won't stop touts. It will push ticket sales into the wild, unregulated world of social media, where fraud is rampant and consumer protection non-existent. Meanwhile, touts will simply adapt, flooding riskier corners of the internet where they can operate with impunity. Data from Lloyds Bank found that 90 per cent of scams related to Oasis tickets originated from fake posts and ads on social media; 54 per cent of scams reported to Revolut come from Meta-owned channels like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. According to Santander's Scamtracker, £350,000 was lost to ticket scams in just the first quarter of 2025 – a number that's rising as fans scramble for tickets to sold-out acts like Oasis and Coldplay. This isn't hypothetical, we've seen the damage firsthand. Research by Bradshaw Advisory shows that the incidence of ticket fraud in Victoria, Australia and Ireland – jurisdictions with a resale price cap – is nearly four times higher than the UK. In Australia, after price caps were introduced, over £125,000 (AUD 260,000) was lost to fake Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets. In Ireland, where price caps have been in place since 2021, social media scams have surged – yet not one tout has been prosecuted. The panic surrounding recent on-sales has shown time and again that fans are willing to take risks, turning to unregulated social media sites for tickets when they are desperate to attend a show. Our recent research with Opinium shows that 42 per cent of people have bought tickets through social media, often 'out of desperation' for sold-out events. Yet more than one in 10 end up getting scammed. The demand for tickets is quite simply outpacing supply – and if price caps are introduced, the problem will only escalate. Regulated resale platforms offer transparency and consumer protection. Stripping away that safety net will drive fans to unregulated spaces where scammers thrive, accountability is minimal and recovery is nearly impossible. Meanwhile, touts won't stop, they'll just shift their operations to unregulated spaces, where no one is watching. This isn't consumer protection, it's a fast track to fraud, with devastating consequences for fans. If we are serious about protecting fans, we must start viewing resale as part of the solution, rather than the enemy. Price caps may sound like an easy win. But the reality is they're a shortcut to a surge in fraud – and fans will be the ones footing the bill. Tony Neate is CEO of Get Safe Online Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbnb urges holidaymakers to be vigilant amid AI-generated image scams
Airbnb has urged holidaymakers to be vigilant amid the potential for AI-generated images of holiday properties to be mistaken for the real thing. Research from Airbnb and Get Safe Online said that scams related to booking holidays were among the most common types of fraud in the UK, just behind credit card fraud and phishing scams. Alongside that, the holiday rental company said AI and social media were causing additional problems for consumers. In a survey, 68% of those asked said they were confident they could spot a fake advert for a holiday. This was despite the fact that nearly two-thirds were unable to spot AI-generated images of holiday properties when they were shown. Airbnb said it was publishing the figures to coincide with what its data says is now the busiest window for booking Easter breaks. In response, the property rental firm has issued a range of safety tips alongside Get Safe Online to help people avoid holiday scams. Tips offered included urging users to never click on unexpected links, always report suspected scams and be wary of unusually cheap deals or high deposits. It also encourages users to avoid paying for trips by direct bank transfer, stick to trusted platforms to book and pay and ensure their online accounts are secure with a strong password and multifactor authentication. Amanda Cupples, general manager of UK and Northern Europe for Airbnb, said: 'As people look to plan their Easter break, holidaymakers should remain vigilant when browsing for their trips. 'New technologies are fast emerging and using trusted platforms to book, pay and communicate is the best way to beat potential fraudsters. Recommended reading: Rightmove reveals the two best months for people to put their home up for sale This DIY mistake could ruin your home as Brits issued warning by home experts The countries you can travel to with less than six months left on your passport 'We have safeguards in place to protect stays booked on Airbnb, including secure payment processes and support measures like AirCover.' Get Safe Online chief executive, Tony Neate, said: 'As you seek out deals when securing your hard-earned break away, as the research shows, this year it's more important than ever to stay alert when it comes to booking a holiday. 'When it comes to payment, always pay on a trusted platform, which will provide better protection than parting with your money to someone you don't know. And trust your instincts – if a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is.'
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbnb issues warning of holiday scams fuelled by AI and social media
Holidaymakers have been warned to be vigilant of scams as they book trips away, as new research says nearly two thirds of people struggle to identify AI-generated images of properties. The research from Airbnb and the UK's internet safety platform Get Safe Online found that the average amount lost to fraud is now £1,937 ($2,411) – a figure which has been rising steadily in recent years. The study said that scams related to booking holidays were among the most common types of fraud in the UK, just behind credit card fraud and phishing scams. Airbnb said AI and social media were causing additional problems for consumers, with the research finding that despite 68% of those asked saying they were confident they could spot a fake advert for a holiday, nearly two thirds were unable to spot AI-generated images of holiday properties when shown them. In addition, it warned that young people were leaving themselves potentially exposed to scams on social media, after the study found that more than 40% of those under 30 would search or book a holiday via social media, and more than a third of the same age range said they would be willing to make a large purchase if it was advertised by an influencer or celebrity. Airbnb said it was publishing the figures to coincide with what its data says is now the busiest window for booking Easter breaks. In response, the property rental firm has issued a range of safety tips alongside Get Safe Online to help people avoid holiday scams. Those tips urge users to never click on unexpected links, always report suspected scams and to be wary of unusually cheap deals or high deposits. It also encourages users to avoid paying for trips by direct bank transfer, stick to trusted platforms to book and pay, and ensure their online accounts are secure with a strong password and multifactor authentication. Amanda Cupples, general manager of UK and Northern Europe for Airbnb, said: 'As people look to plan their Easter break, holidaymakers should remain vigilant when browsing for their trips. 'New technologies are fast emerging and using trusted platforms to book, pay and communicate is the best way to beat potential fraudsters. 'We have safeguards in place to protect stays booked on Airbnb, including secure payment processes and support measures like AirCover.' Get Safe Online chief executive, Tony Neate, said: 'As you seek out deals when securing your hard-earned break away, as the research shows, this year it's more important than ever to stay alert when it comes to booking a holiday. 'When it comes to payment, always pay on a trusted platform, which will provide better protection than parting with your money to someone you don't know. And trust your instincts – if a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is.'
