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Metro
14-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Bank customers given option to undo payments in 'industry first'
If you ever get buyers' remorse after paying for things like a gigantic Snorlax, TukTuk, or even a bus, help is at hand. Monzo Bank have introduced an 'undo payment' feature which they claim is an industry first. It means that if you send a payment and immediately have second thoughts, there's a way back from the precipice. The feature could be helpful if someone sends money to the wrong person, types in the wrong number of zeros, or at the last minute realises they have been scammed. You'll have to be quick if you want to use the feature, though, as it will only work for up to 60 seconds after the payment is sent. The Undo Payments feature will begin rolling out to the 12 million Monzo customers from today and will be a 'comfort blanket' giving users peace of mind with their transfers, the bank said. After making a bank transfer, customers will see a timer appear on the payment confirmation screen with an option to undo the payment (the default time is 15 seconds). The customer can tap the 'Undo Payment' button there, or from the Home screen or payment detail screen, before the timer runs out. As soon as the user hits that button, Monzo stops the payment from being sent. The money never leaves the account, and the person or business won't even know that the money was almost sent to them. Customers can configure the Undo Payments timer, choosing between the following lengths of time to undo a payment, or turn it off all together: 10 seconds 15 seconds (default) 30 seconds 60 seconds They shared their research carried out by Censuswide showing that almost one in three Brits (30%) have either sent money to the wrong person or sent the wrong amount in the last year. The data which studied of 2001 representative Brits highlighted that over three quarters of those who sent a wrong payment (78%) realised they'd made an error within a minute of it happening. This is a major issue: the bank says that over £825m was sent by mistake in the past year. Over two thirds of Brits (68%) who this affected claim a simple typing error, such as adding a zero, was the reason for sending a wrong payment. But trying to retrieve mistakenly sent payments from any bank is usually a long process, with no guarantee of success. The new 'undo payment' feature offers a customisable 10-60-second window that allows customers to cancel a bank transfer. In terms of how it works, it's really more of 'delayed payment' option, as the payment is not actually made to anyone else's account until the buffer time runs out. More Trending In recent years, the options for editing things once they have been sent have become more widespread. It is now possible to edit WhatsApp messages, iMessages and tweets within a certain time frame, whereas in the past you just had to live with the annoying typos. Andy Sacre, head of payments at Monzo, said: 'We know it's important to be able to send money quickly and easily – but we also know that mistakes can happen, whether that's sending the wrong amount to someone or paying the wrong person. 'In another industry-first, we're bringing the best of banking and technology together to solve that problem for our customers, with this simple yet powerful feature that ensures they can send money with Monzo more confidently and safely than ever before.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. View More » MORE: Major UK bank with over 2,500,000 customers to hike account fees within weeks MORE: Full list of 45 NatWest branches closing in UK in 2025 MORE: Lloyds and Halifax down leaving thousands of customers locked out of banking apps
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Forbes
Are iPhone Farms The Next Billion Dollar Criminal Enterprise?
Image of the Messages icon. getty Security researchers have discovered sophisticated criminal operations using banks of iPhones called "iPhone farms" to send over 100,000 scam messages daily through Apple's encrypted iMessage system, as reported by 9to5Mac. Unlike traditional scam texts, these attacks bypass standard carrier security protections by exploiting the trusted nature of Apple's messaging platform. An iPhone farm is a collection of physical iPhones connected to create a messaging factory. These operations use temporary, rotating Apple IDs to distribute phishing messages at scale while evading detection. Each device can send thousands of messages before switching identities, making blocking these attacks nearly impossible for mobile carriers. The blue bubble that appears on iMessage Apple's proprietary messaging system creates an immediate sense of trust for many users. By using iMessages rather than texts, scammers can bypass spam and scam filters implemented by mobile carriers. Most people have been trained to be suspicious of strange SMS texts, but messages from fellow Apple users often bypass our psychological defenses. The criminal masterminds behind these operations have created an entirely new business model: Phishing as a Service, or PhaaS. Fraudsters don't even need any technical skills to carry out their attacks, as there are companies offering phishing as a service. Just as legitimate companies offer Software as a Service, these criminal enterprises now provide turnkey scamming infrastructure to anyone willing to pay. The research from security firm Catalyst reveals that these services have created a democratized criminal marketplace. A Telegram group used to sell these PhAAS attacks has more than 2,000 members. Technical barriers that once limited scamming operations have disappeared, allowing anyone with criminal intent to launch enterprise grade attacks. One platform identified by the researchers, Lucid, is operated by threat actors from China and targets victims across 88 countries. This represents a shift from opportunistic criminal activity to organized, industrial scale operations. One group called the XinXin group was seen putting phishing templates on sale. These are created to copy postal services, tax refunds and even road toll fee systems. This level of professionalism and scale transforms what was once small time fraud into a potential billion dollar criminal industry. End to end encryption, a technology designed to secure communications from prying eyes, has become a double edged sword. Research experts at Catalyst say that scammers are switching to iMessage as they're encrypted. Networks cannot see the material, so they aren't ever blocked or highlighted. When messages are sent through iMessage, they're encrypted on the sender's device and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. This means neither Apple nor mobile carriers can see or filter the message content while in transit creating a perfect delivery mechanism for scammers. These criminal operations have perfected their techniques through experimentation and analytics. Common scams doing the rounds at present include fake demands for unpaid road toll fees, claims that shipping fees are needed to release valuable packages from Customs and fictitious warnings about unpaid taxes. Each message typically contains a link to a professional looking but fraudulent website designed to steal credentials or payment information. Some scammers go all the way to produce convincing looking alternatives to pages for organizations that seem so real, like a courier service. What makes these scams effective is the creation of artificial urgency. Never click on these phishing links seen in emails. If there's any message asking for a quick acceptance or forcing you to act immediately to avoid a fee, there is high likelihood that something is wrong. As these attacks become more sophisticated, digital self defense becomes essential. The main safeguard against phishing attacks is to never click on links sent in emails. Always use your own bookmarks, or type in a known URL. Additional protection strategies include: These iPhone farms represent significant investment sometimes millions of dollars in equipment and infrastructure suggesting extraordinary profit potential. It's all very scalable, and the subscription based designs enable cybercriminals to carry out large scale phishing attempts. These can harvest sensitive details like credit cards for matters like money fraud. The economics are compelling for criminals. The subscription model for phishing services creates recurring revenue streams for criminal enterprises, paralleling legitimate SaaS business models. This financial stability allows for continuous refinement of techniques and greater operational sophistication. Apple now faces difficult questions about how to maintain its encryption standards while combating abuse. Traditional carrier based filtering becomes ineffective when messages travel exclusively through Apple's encrypted channels. The company may need to develop advanced on device detection systems that respect privacy while identifying suspicious message patterns. This technical challenge sits at the intersection of security, privacy and user experience.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple appeals to overturn UK government's 'back door' order, Financial Times reports
(Reuters) - Apple has appealed against a British government order to create a "back door" in its most secure cloud storage systems, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the matter. Last month, Apple had removed its most advanced security encryption for cloud data in Britain, in an unprecedented response to government demands for access to user data. The change affected a feature called Advanced Data Protection, which extends end-to-end encryption across a wide range of cloud data. It meant Apple could access iCloud backups in certain cases that it otherwise could not, such as copies of iMessages, and hand it over to authorities if legally compelled. With end-to-end encryption enabled, even Apple cannot access the data. Britain's Home Office and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, while Apple declined to comment. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
04-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Apple appeals to overturn UK government's 'back door' order, Financial Times reports
March 4 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab has appealed against a British government order to create a "back door" in its most secure cloud storage systems, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the matter. Last month, Apple had removed its most advanced security encryption for cloud data in Britain, in an unprecedented response to government demands for access to user data. The change affected a feature called Advanced Data Protection, which extends end-to-end encryption across a wide range of cloud data. It meant Apple could access iCloud backups in certain cases that it otherwise could not, such as copies of iMessages, and hand it over to authorities if legally compelled. With end-to-end encryption enabled, even Apple cannot access the data. Britain's Home Office and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, while Apple declined to comment.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Trio charged with murder, armed robbery in death of Alexander Lucus Smart
The Brief Three suspects, including a 16-year-old girl, have been arrested in connection with the January homicide of Alexander Lucus Smart in northwest Atlanta. The suspects face multiple charges, including murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Alexander Lucus Smart was found shot inside his car near an abandoned home, and his family reported concerns after losing contact with him days before his body was discovered. ATLANTA - A third person has been arrested in connection with a January homicide in northwest Atlanta. A 16-year-old girl surrendered at Atlanta Police Headquarters on March 2. SEE ALSO: 29-year-old man killed Saturday on Gun Club Road in Atlanta The backstory On Jan. 25, a 29-year-old man, later identified by family members as Alexander Lucus Smart, was found with multiple gunshot wounds at 1200 Gun Club Road NW just after 1 p.m., but despite medics' lifesaving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Timeline On Feb 25, Atlanta police apprehended a 17-year-old male suspect. Just two days later, on Feb. 27, 18-year-old Israel Byrd turned himself in at the Atlanta Police Headquarters. The series of arrests concluded on March 2, when a 16-year-old girl surrendered to authorities. What we know The three suspects face serious charges related to the January shooting. The 16-year-old girl is charged with murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm under the age of 18. She is currently held at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center. Israel Byrd, 18, faces similar charges, including murder and armed robbery, and is detained at the Fulton County Jail. The 17-year-old male suspect is charged with murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm under the age of 18, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is also held at the Fulton County Jail. What they're saying Authorities discovered the body of Alexander Lucus Smart just after 1 p.m. Saturday near an abandoned home, his mother, Deanne Ewing, said. "He was found by an abandoned home. The car was by the abandoned home. He was still in his seatbelt and he was shot while inside the car five times, and they took his phone and his book bag," Ewing said. The family became concerned after not hearing from Smart on Thursday or Friday. Ewing recalled their last conversation on Wednesday night. "All I know is that Wednesday night he left here and we were talking about him starting school and how his grades were, and of course, telling me he loved me," she said. By Friday, Smart's phone had stopped receiving iMessages and calls went straight to voicemail, raising further alarm. Ewing said her son had aspirations of becoming a business owner, had recently started school, and was dedicated to his community. "I'm asking because my son was the most humane person with wanting to help the youth get off the street. He fed the homeless on a regular basis, and he just wanted to be the person to give back to his community," she said. Smart also leaves behind a young daughter. "He has a one-year-old daughter that is going to grow up without a father," Ewing said. As police continue their search for a suspect, Ewing hopes someone will come forward with information. "I have to live the rest of my life without my baby," she said. "Whoever it is, they took a life that had so much more to live and so much more to give." What we don't know Despite the arrests, many questions remain unanswered. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that the information released so far is preliminary and subject to change. Details about the motive behind the shooting and the relationship between the suspects and the victim have not been disclosed. The Source The details in this article were provided by the Atlanta Police Department. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used.
