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Three million ‘Frankenstein’ identities pose a multi-billion pound fraud threat: LexisNexis Risk Solutions

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LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The latest fraud threatening the UK could cost businesses at least £4.2billion if appropriate steps are not taken, new research from LexisNexis Risk Solutions shows.

A new study looked at over 72million consumer profiles and found 2.8million showing several signs of ‘Frankenstein cloning’, where fraudsters stitch real and made-up personal details together to create a ‘new’ synthetic identity to spoof credit checks and commit high-value fraud against banks and credit providers.

In the U.S. where synthetic fraud is already a major issue, businesses report an average $15k[1] loss to each confirmed synthetic fraud case. As a result, experts at LexisNexis Risk Solutions estimate that it could cost the UK economy around £4.2billion by 2027, unless firms start properly screening now, for the threat.

Most organisations’ existing fraud defences are ineffective against synthetic identities because they appear as normal, good customers until the fraud is committed. Once they ‘bust out’ with the funds, the lender is left to suffer the loss, as there’s no ‘real’ person to pursue for the debt.

Noreen Altaf, Identity Fraud specialist at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explains: “At first, a synthetic ID has little value to a fraudster, as it has no credit history, so they need to play the long game. Scammers nurture each false identity by building what appears to be a real credit profile over time, making the synthetic ID seem like a trustworthy customer – because of this the fraud threat is effectively invisible to firms’ existing fraud defences, until it’s too late.

“Once a fraudster thinks the synthetic ID has enough plausibility, they’ll aim to max out available credit lines. This might be applying for a loan or credit card for thousands of pounds, taking a PCP contract for a new vehicle, or making a high-value purchase via a buy now pay later arrangement. The fraudster has no intention of repaying this, leaving organisations to foot the bill and chasing ghosts to recover the debt.

“There is still much businesses don’t know about this fast-emerging threat, so it’s difficult to predict the true potential cost of synthetic fraud to the UK. However, even a very conservative estimate of a £1,500 loss per fraud attack amounts to £4.2 billion in future credit write-offs for companies, with synthetic identities already hiding amongst their customer base – and it could be a lot higher.”

The study found strong evidence of scammers up and down the country using ‘synthetic farms’ in rural locations and ‘synthetic factories’ in urban areas to build up the credit scores of new synthetic identities on an industrial scale, in readiness for fraud attacks.

In one example, rental cottages based on a farm in Chichester appeared to have 439 highly suspect identities ‘living’ there over the past seven years, only 22 of which showed any evidence of being real people. The identities were making hundreds of applications for credit, such as short-term and payday loans and some were also linked to a similar farm hundreds of miles away near Dundee, Scotland. 

A heat map produced alongside the report shows similar activity is happening across the whole UK. Suspected synthetic farms can be seen in multiple locations across rural Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

Noreen continues: “A common characteristic of synthetic farms and factories is that they are properties where the mail can be easily intercepted by the fraudsters making credit applications. A farm, for example, might have a mailbox that’s at the end of a track, while empty buildings or shared mailboxes in cities can be exploited in a similar way.

“Synthetic fraud has been around for a while, but with sophisticated fraud modelling, we can, for the first time, more accurately detect and put a figure on it.

“Businesses need to act fast to protect themselves by investing in tools capable of spotting synthetic identities at application or onboarding stage, before they become customers. Given the length of time fraudsters have already been creating and nurturing synthetic identities in the UK – as evidenced by our research – banks, lenders and credit providers, in particular, should take appropriate action to review their existing portfolios to ascertain the extent to which synthetic identities may have infiltrated their organisations over time, before those identities get a chance to cash out.”

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions  

We harness the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. LexisNexis Risk Solutions have multiple offices across the UK and throughout the world and are part of RELX PLC (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), headquartered in London, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions and RELX.

[1] Synthetic identity fraud: A $6 billion problem, KPMG, 2022, KPMG.com

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Gentoo Media – Mandatory notification of trade

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28 minutes ago

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November 14, 2024

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ST JULIANS, Malta, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MJ Foundation Fundacja Rodzinna, a company related to Mateusz Juroszek, Board Member and primary insider of Gentoo Media Inc. (Gentoo) has today acquired 115,604 shares in Gentoo at a price of SEK 24,996 per share. After this transaction, close associates of Mateusz Juroszek hold 24,027,766 shares in Gentoo.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

For further information, contact:
Tore Formo, Group CFO, tore.formo@g2m.com, +47 91668678

About Gentoo Media

Gentoo Media is a market-leading affiliate connecting operators and players in the online gambling and sports betting industry. Gentoo Media offers an array of iGaming affiliate solutions, such as paid marketing expertise and quality traffic through our prominent industry sites including AskGamblers, Time2Play, CasinoTopsOnline, WSN and Casinomeister. In 2024, Gentoo Media (formerly GiG Media) became Gentoo Media Inc. following a legal split separating the Media and Platform and Sportsbook business in Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) into two independently listed companies. Gentoo Media Inc. is dual listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker “G2MNO”) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker “G2M”). www.gentoomedia.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/gentoo-media-inc/r/gentoo-media—mandatory-notification-of-trade,c4066199

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Xinhua Silk Road: World IoT expo 2024 opens in E. China’s Wuxi to showcase future of smart connectivity

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November 14, 2024

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BEIJING, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The World Internet of Things (IoT) Exposition 2024 kicked off on Monday in Wuxi City of east China’s Jiangsu Province, attracting industry leaders, representatives of enterprises and experts from across the globe to discuss industry trends and demonstrate innovative applications.

At the expo’s opening ceremony, Wuxi unveiled a national pilot project in intelligent connected vehicles, which aims to create a cohesive mode for car owners, vehicles and cities connection, contributing Wuxi’s expertise to smart vehicle initiatives.

Additionally, a new smart sensing chip engineering center was launched, representing an investment of over 1 billion yuan and focusing on high-density large-scale substrates and other advanced chip technologies to strengthen the city’s integrated circuit development.

The event also saw the release of several major IoT research achievements, including the 2024 IoT innovation development Taihu index and the 2024 white paper on advanced sensing technology and applications.

The three-day event features exhibitions, panel discussions, and thematic sessions that showcase the latest development in IoT innovations and applications. This year’s expo is poised to drive Wuxi’s high-quality growth in IoT while promoting global tech collaboration and knowledge sharing in the IoT field.

Wuxi has become a navigator of the IoT industry in China. The latest statistics show that in 2023, the scale of the IoT industrial cluster in Wuxi surpassed 450 billion yuan, taking the lead in Jiangsu Province.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/343117.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road

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Agoda Highlights Five Urban Hikes for Adventurous Travelers

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November 14, 2024

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda introduces five urban hikes across Asia, offering travelers a chance to experience the perfect blend of city life and nature. These hikes, ranging from family-friendly to more challenging trails, provide an unmatched perspective on some of Asia’s most dynamic cities.

Whether it’s Elephant Hill in Taipei, with its stunning views of the Taipei 101, or Hong Kong’s famous Dragon Back, active travelers are in for a treat when embarking on these city hike adventures.

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply at Agoda said: “Asia is special to have so many incredible hike routes right in the heart of these popular cities. The five highlighted hikes are just a sample of the many breathtaking city trails the continent has to offer. Adventurous travelers will want to try them all and thankfully Agoda helps make travel affordable with great value deals on over 4.5 million properties globally.”

These are the five city hikes, ranked from easiest to most challenging:

Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve offers a unique experience of trekking through a tropical rainforest right in the city center. The trail is relatively easy, with well-marked paths and informative signboards about the local flora and fauna, making it a great choice for families and nature enthusiasts.

Elephant Hill in Taipei offers a short but rewarding climb. The trail is well-maintained and provides stunning views of Taipei’s skyline, including the famous Taipei 101. It’s an ideal spot for those looking to enjoy a quick escape into nature without straying far from the city.

In Singapore, the Southern Ridges trail offers a moderate hike through a series of interconnected parks and gardens. Spanning 10 kilometers, this trail provides a lush green corridor amidst the urban environment, with highlights including the Henderson Waves bridge and panoramic views of the city.

Namsan in Seoul presents a slightly more challenging hike, leading to the N Seoul Tower. The trail is popular among locals and tourists alike, offering a mix of natural beauty and cultural landmarks, with several routes to choose from depending on the desired difficulty level.

Finally, Hong Kong’s Dragon’s Back is a favorite for its breathtaking views of the coastline and the South China Sea. This moderately challenging hike is known for its undulating ridges and scenic vistas, providing a rewarding experience for those willing to tackle its ups and downs.

In each of these city hike destinations, Agoda offers great value accommodation. In addition to holiday properties, Agoda’s 130,000 flight routes and 300,000 activities ensure the platform is the one-stop travel solution to help booking an entire trip. The latest Agoda deals can be found in the Agoda app or on agoda.com/deals.

— ENDS —

 

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SOURCE Agoda

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