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The rise of AI: Fraud in the digital age

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GATINEAU, QC, March 4, 2024 /CNW/ – Artificial intelligence (AI) is an exciting tool and has revolutionized many aspects of our lives. But it has also given fraudsters opportunities to make their frauds even more convincing.

According to Statistics Canada, fraud cases in Canada have almost doubled over the past ten years, surging from 79,000 in 2012 to 150,000 in 2022. This increase shows that fraudsters are becoming more skilled, and technology like AI is helping them improve their old tricks.

AI can be used to quickly produce texts, emails, and messages in the style and language of a specific person. It can be used to clone anyone’s voice. And in just minutes, it can be used to make fake images, audio, or videos of real people.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s been generated by AI. Luckily, knowledge is your best shield to protect yourself from AI-generated scams.

Fraudsters can use AI to: 

Impersonate a well-known company or individual to promote fake products or services.Generate a convincing fake investment opportunity.Make chat bots spread fake reviews that sound and look like real people wrote them.Use voice cloning for deceptive telemarketing.

Watch out for these red flags:

Realistic-looking videos of a public figure promoting an investment opportunity, or any other promotion they don’t normally do.Unusual body or lip movement in videos.Strange phrasing or inconsistencies, irrelevant content.Websites that mimic real companies.Unexpected phone calls or messages, especially if the sender conveys a sense of urgency, fear, or panic.

To protect yourself: 

Trust your instincts when something doesn’t feel right.If something seems fishy, check names and logos on websites for authenticity.Stay informed about AI and frauds—research, read, and discuss with friends and family.Report suspicious websites. If you believe you’ve come across misleading AI generated content, report it to the Competition Bureau or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Associated links

Fraud Prevention Month 2024Consumer alert: Quick easy money? Sometimes it’s a quick easy LIEConsumer alert: Five-star fake outConsumer alert: Government websites: spot the legitimate among the fakesDeceptive telemarketingDeepfakes: a real threat to a Canadian future (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)

General information: 
Request for information | Complaint form 

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The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth. 

SOURCE Competition Bureau

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Payactiv Launches Visa+ For Fast, Timely Access to Earned Wages

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Introducing more employee-centric options for accessing earned wage advances

MILPITAS, Calif., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Payactiv, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of Earned Wage Access (EWA) and employer-sponsored holistic financial wellness benefits, today announced the launch of Visa+, enabling real-time1 earned wage disbursements to Venmo and PayPal2.

With Visa+, Payactiv is expanding how people access their money – without the need to share debit card or bank account information.

Just fast, seamless access to wages when it matters most.

“Financial security is the foundation for meaningful growth, both at work and in life,” said Safwan Shah, founder and CEO of Payactiv. “Our integration with Visa+ empowers employees to access their money on their terms, enhancing financial control and freedom.”

Why It Matters:

Flexible, Convenient Access to Pay: Transfer earned wages to one’s own Venmo or PayPal account in real-time1.Simple and Secure: Without the need to share debit card or bank account information.

“Our workforce values flexibility and convenience, and with Payactiv’s Visa+ integration, our employees now have real-time1 access to their earned wages through familiar platforms like Venmo and PayPal. This empowers them to manage their finances on their terms, which ultimately boosts employee satisfaction and retention,” said Steve Boyd, Senior Director HRIS at American Senior Communities.

Payactiv remains at the forefront of financial empowerment, providing innovative solutions that remove obstacles to financial growth for both businesses and their people. With Visa+ and five fee-free EWA disbursement options, Payactiv continues its mission to make financial wellness more accessible for all.

Visa+: Simplified and Real-time1 Payouts to Digital Wallets

Visa+ offers a streamlined method for directing funds disbursements to participating digital wallets in real-time1. US-based users can create aliases in their digital wallets and transfer their wages to their designated digital wallet accounts. For example, a PayPal user would provide “+JohnSmith.PayPal” to direct the disbursement to their PayPal account, or “+JohnSmith.Venmo” for their Venmo account.2

About Payactiv
Payactiv, an award-winning certified B-Corp, is the leading provider of Earned Wage Access, offering a suite of financial wellness services designed to empower people to participate in the economy they helped create. Our platform and digital wallet serve 20,000+ businesses and level the playing field for millions of workers who struggle with cashflow between paychecks.
Learn more at www.payactiv.com. Follow us on X and LinkedIn

1 Actual fund availability depends on the receiving financial institution and region. It may take up to 15 minutes to process your Visa+ transactions.
2 Use cases are for illustrative purposes only. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/payactiv-launches-visa-for-fast-timely-access-to-earned-wages-302420241.html

SOURCE Payactiv

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Piermont Bank Unveiled Revamped Website and Enhanced Digital Banking Platform Tailored to Fast Growing Companies

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Refreshed platform reflects Piermont’s commitment to delivering a seamless and modern banking experience to entrepreneurs, startups, and growing enterprises

NEW YORK, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Piermont Bank, an entrepreneur-led, tech-forward digital commercial bank, today announced the relaunch of its website and the rollout of a fully enhanced digital banking experience designed to meet the evolving needs of fast-growing companies.

With our enhanced digital presence, we’re making it even more convenient for our clients to maximize their savings, gain access to the working capital they need to grow their businesses, and enjoy a frictionless online banking experience with us, said Wendy Cai-Lee, CEO and Founder, Piermont Bank.

The refreshed platform reflects Piermont’s commitment to delivering a seamless and modern banking experience to entrepreneurs, startups, and growing enterprises. From intuitive navigation to streamlined onboarding, every element of the experience is built around the unique pace and priorities of fast-growing companies.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new digital platform, which aligns with our mission to deliver smarter, more flexible banking solutions to entrepreneurs,” said Wendy Cai-Lee, CEO and Founder, Piermont Bank. “With our enhanced digital presence, we’re making it even more convenient for our clients to maximize their savings, gain access to the working capital they need to grow their businesses, and enjoy a frictionless online banking experience with us.”

A More Powerful Digital Banking Experience

The enhanced platform offers a suite of upgraded features, including:

Simplified account opening – a seamless digital onboarding flow that allows businesses to open accounts in minutes.Intuitive user interface – a clean and efficient interface that makes it easy to manage finances from anywhere.High yield money market offering – a high-yield business money market account that offers competitive rates to help businesses put their cash to work.Built-in tools for growth – access Piermont’s suite of commercial lending and working capital solutions, which can be customized to fuel growth.

Tailored for Today’s Entrepreneurs

Piermont’s digital offering is built with input from the very businesses it serves – founders, operators, and finance teams seeking a frictionless way to bank while staying focused on growth. Unlike legacy institutions, Piermont combines tech-driven efficiency with client-centered support, offering personalized services backed by banking experts.

“Our clients told us what they needed – speed, simplicity, and transparency, and we listened,” added Cai-Lee. “This is just the beginning of a broader vision to redefine what modern commercial banking looks like.”

To explore the newly launched website and receive more information on Piermont Bank’s products and services designed to help companies thrive, please visit www.piermontbank.com or email hello@piermontbank.com.

About Piermont Bank

Piermont Bank is a digital commercial bank with a mission to serve fast growing companies at the speed they need. Entrepreneur-led and tech-forward, we offer a fully digital experience coupled with meaningful banker relations. We believe in being a partner for enterprising companies, acting as a funding catalyst for mid-market innovation and growth. Piermont’s financial solutions and expertise empower our business community to thrive. At Piermont, we are purpose-driven, responsive, and practical, delivering integrated and flexible solutions that create value for clients in today’s fast-changing economy. For more information, visit www.piermontbank.com.

Media Contact
Bill McCue, Piermont Bank, 1 7182087391, bill.mccue@gmail.com, www.piermontbank.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/piermont-bank-unveiled-revamped-website-and-enhanced-digital-banking-platform-tailored-to-fast-growing-companies-302423000.html

SOURCE Piermont Bank

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EOT.AI Launches ML Workbench Empowering Industrial Operators to Drive AI Innovation

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EOT.AI launched Twin Sight ML Workbench, a no-code machine learning tool that empowers industrial operators and engineers to run, visualize, and benefit from ML models on SCADA and historian data—bridging the gap between OT and AI and accelerating innovation at the edge.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — EOT.AI, the makers of Twin Fusion — the AI-Powered Operational Innovation Platform — today announced the launch of Twin Sight ML Workbench, a powerful new tool designed to help industrial operators and engineers learn and easily apply machine learning (ML) directly on their real-time operational data.

“Twin Sight ML Workbench is the kind of innovation our customers need,” said Damon Vinciguerra, Real-Time Data Practice Manager at CSE ICON. “Bringing data tools closer to those who know the business accelerates outcomes and simplifies deployment.”

Until now, ML tools have largely been confined to data scientists and centralized IT teams. Twin Sight ML Workbench brings those capabilities to the operational edge, enabling operational users to run trained ML models directly on live data streams from SCADA, historians and other industrial sources — without needing to write code.

ML Workbench allows operations users to upload ONNX-based machine learning models and instantly apply them to real-time operational data. Results can be visualized side-by-side with raw data in intuitive dashboards, allowing engineers and operators to monitor predictions, detect anomalies, and support smarter decision-making in real time.

Real-world use cases include:

Upstream Oil & Gas: Predicting pump failures in injection wells to reduce unplanned downtime and avoid production loss.Power Generation: Detecting anomalies in turbine vibration data to prevent costly shutdowns.Discrete Manufacturing: Forecasting equipment wear to optimize maintenance cycles and extend asset life.

“Twin Sight ML Workbench empowers the very people closest to the equipment to use AI—not just observe it,” said Matt Oberdorfer, CEO of EOT.AI. “We believe operational teams should lead the AI transformation, and this tool puts them in the driver’s seat.”

Twin Sight ML Workbench also integrates with OpenPI2AI.com, a new community platform for sharing and discovering ready-to-use ML models tailored for plant operations to deploy industrial intelligence. This gives operations users a head start in applying machine learning without building models from scratch.

CSE ICON, a leader in OT/IT integration and digital transformation services for the industrial sector, partners with organizations to bridge the gap between legacy infrastructure and modern analytics solutions.

“Twin Sight ML Workbench is exactly the kind of practical innovation our customers need,” said Damon Vinciguerra, Real-Time Data Practice Manager at CSE ICON. “Bringing data science tools closer to the people who know the business best will accelerate outcomes and simplify deployment across complex environments.”

Twin Sight ML Workbench is now available to all Twin Fusion customers and will be showcased at AVEVA World in San Francisco on April 8, 2025. More details about TwinSight ML Workbench at: www.eot.ai/ml-workbench

About EOT.AI

EOT.AI is a leader in industrial intelligent software solutions, enabling industrial enterprises to optimize assets and modernize operations using AI and enterprise-wide insights. EOT.AI leverages cutting-edge technologies to deliver real-time insights and drive data-driven decisions. EOT.AI’s customers represent over $160 billion in revenue, $45 billion in assets, and 60,000 employees. For more information, visit www.eot.ai.

Media Contact
Annie Lieu, EOT.AI, 1 (858) 633 8822, annie@eot.ai, https://eot.ai

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/eotai-launches-ml-workbench-empowering-industrial-operators-to-drive-ai-innovation-302421763.html

SOURCE EOT.AI

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