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AARP Pennsylvania Warns Residents About Growing Threat of AI Scams

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HARRISBURG, Pa., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AARP Pennsylvania is alerting residents about a rising wave of sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) scams targeting older adults. With AI becoming increasingly advanced, scammers are using tools like deepfake videos and voice cloning to deceive individuals into handing over money and personal information.

Watch AARP Pennsylvania’s Fraud Watch Alert about AI Scams on YouTube.

Mary Bach, AARP Pennsylvania Volunteer and Chair of the Consumer Issues Task Force, highlights the dangers. “The misuse of AI in scams is a growing concern. Scammers can now convincingly mimic the voices and faces of trusted individuals, making it harder than ever to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake. We must stay informed and cautious to protect ourselves.”

A recent incident in Hong Kong illustrates the potential damage. A finance worker was tricked into wiring $25.6 million after participating in a videoconference with what appeared to be his company’s CFO and other executives. The entire interaction was a sophisticated AI-generated hoax.

David Kalinoski, AARP Associate State Director, emphasizes the need for vigilance. “AI technology can create incredibly realistic scams. We urge everyone to verify any unusual requests, especially those involving financial transactions. Always contact the person or company directly using known contact information before taking any action.”

To protect yourself from AI scams, AARP Pennsylvania recommends the following tips:

Verify Caller Identity: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a business or a family member in crisis, hang up and call back using a known number.Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Requests: Never give out personal or financial information in response to unexpected requests.Use Safe Communication Practices: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or text messages. Instead, visit the website directly by typing the URL into your browser.Set Up Family Codes: Establish a secret code word with family members to confirm identities during emergency calls.

You can sign up for free, biweekly Watchdog Alerts to have information on the latest scams delivered right to your phone. Text FWN to 50757.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Pennsylvania Fraud Resource Page at aarp.org/pafraud.

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Contact:
TJ Thiessen
tthiessen@aarp.org
717-381-7420

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SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania

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ZINZINO AB (PUBL.): ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE DIP FINANCING TO ZURVITA INITIATING CHAPTER 11 PROCESS

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Zinzino has in a press release dated 20240617 announced that a letter of intent to acquire 100% of the shares in the North American direct selling company Zurvita Inc. “Zurvita or the Company” was signed. Since then, Zinzino has negotiated with the owners of Zurvita Inc. and instead concluded that the purchase of Zurvita’s assets in a Chapter 11 proceeding for the Company is in Zinzino’s best interest.

Zinzino is providing a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to Zurvita, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on the 20th December 2024. By entering as a financier in Zurvita’s Chapter 11 with loans totaling USD 4.5 million, Zinzino simultaneously makes an offer to acquire the company’s assets via a so-called stalking horse bid. If the bid is accepted, the DIP loan will be converted into part of a debt-settled purchase price, which will be determined after Zurvita has completed the sale process that is subject to higher and better offers in accordance with the applicable terms of Chapter 11. Other bidders have the right to submit bids for Zurvita during the process and if another bid is accepted, Zinzino’s loan will be repaid and certain of its costs associated with the process will be reimbursed. 

Zurvita is a direct selling health company with operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The brand portfolio offers a range of innovative health and wellness products. The business has total annual sales of approximately USD 30 million with good gross margins. A potential transaction with Zinzino is expected to add growth through the synergies arising from the joint networks, combined with Zinzino’s test-based product concept. The profitability of the Company will thus be able to develop well by utilizing Zinzino’s existing technical platform and organization.

A visionary mindset, tech first perspective, test-based nutrition at the cellular level and a strong position to capitalize on current trends will form the basis of the new partnership. Following the acquisitions of VMA Life in 2020, Enhanzz in 2022, the strategic partnership with ACN and the recently completed asset acquisition of Xelliss, Zinzino has been looking for further strong investments to maintain its sustainable, profitable growth, strengthen its distribution power, expand into new markets and leverage the product portfolio in new consumer areas.

– “Individualized advice and tailored solutions are the future, and not just in health and wellness,” says Dag Bergheim Pettersen, CEO of Zinzino. “Together, we have years of combined industry experience and everything it takes to drive the modern, personalized shopping experience through direct sales”. Jay Shafer, CEO and co-founder of Zurvita, states “After considering multiple options for the company and under the guidance of our attorneys and third-party advisors, we feel this presents the best opportunity to continue Zurvita’s mission, deliver the highest quality products, and provide continuity for our staff and consultants. We are excited to see what the future holds for Zurvita.” 

For more information:
Dag Bergheim Pettersen CEO Zinzino +47 (0) 932 25 700, www.zinzino.com

Pictures for publication free of charge:
marketing@zinzino.com

Certified Adviser:
Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ.)

Zinzino AB (publ.) is obliged to publish this information in compliance with current EU regulations governing market abuse. The information was provided by the above contact person for publication at 20.00 on the 21st of December 2024.

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

https://news.cision.com/zinzino/r/zinzino-ab–publ–enters-into-agreement-to-provide-dip-financing-to-zurvita-initiating-chapter-11-pr,c4086040

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Meet With Culture: Exquisite Craftsmanship of Traditional Chinese Architecture

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BEIJING, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Temple of Agriculture in Beijing played a significant role during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Over nearly 600 years, 25 emperors personally visited or sent ministers to perform spring farming ceremonies and offer sacrifices to Shennong, the god of agriculture.

 

Built in 1420 during the Yongle reign, the temple’s predecessor was the Temple of Mountains and Rivers in Nanjing. When Emperor Zhu Di moved the Ming capital to Beijing, he constructed a larger temple inspired by the Nanjing temple, which gradually evolved into the Temple of Agriculture.

The Taisui Hall, the largest building complex in the temple, now serves as a major exhibition hall of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, showcasing models of classical Chinese buildings and demonstrating the solemnity of royal architecture.

Ancient Chinese architecture is predominantly wooden-structured, chosen for its availability, versatility, and earthquake resistance. Artisans developed sophisticated techniques in material selection and construction. The wooden framework consists of columns, beams, girders, and purlins, with innovative structural forms like lifting-beam and piercing-bracket structures.

A unique architectural element is the dougong (bracket sets), which supports weight and connects beam frames with column walls. Mortise-tenon joints were invented to create elastic frameworks by connecting different components.

While discussing the Temple of Agriculture, it’s worth noting another remarkable example of architectural hierarchy which could be found in the Temple of Heaven. The hierarchy of architectural designs reflected social stratification, with eave structures like the triple-layered eaves of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest representing the highest-level architectural design.

Over centuries, the Temple of Agriculture has transformed from an imperial garden to a public park and a museum for historical architecture, now standing as a significant cultural landmark that symbolizes China’s agricultural civilization and architectural heritage along Beijing’s Central Axis.

Quickly join Alexandre to study and explore the traditional Chinese architecture.
https://youtu.be/YpA03WiZ9Wc

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SOURCE China International Communications Group

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Second Opinion Expert Announces Filing of U.S. Patent for Method of Generating Medical Opinions Using Artificial Intelligence

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Patent leverages AI technology to improve patient outcomes and reduce cost of care

DANA POINT, Calif., Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. (SOE), a leading healthcare technology company, announced today that it has filed patent application 133902-0002UT01 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Method and Apparatus for Generating Automated Medical Opinions Using Artificial Intelligence.” The patent covers the company’s proprietary system that communicates a medical opinion to a user based on a trained model that uses artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML).

“In the near future, we’ll launch our free app, enabling users to access high-quality medical opinions. This innovative app empowers individuals with insightful medical guidance that improves health and saves lives,” said Steve Krause, President of SecondOpinionExpert, Inc.”

Medical second opinions have traditionally been obtained by seeking out another healthcare professional who reviews the patient’s medical records, diagnoses, and tests. However, the rapidly increasing complexity of medical information, the demand for faster turnaround times, and the limitations of human expert availability have created a need for automated systems that utilize AI to generate both first and second medical opinions.

Artificial intelligence has made significant strides in medical diagnostics, including image recognition, predictive modeling, and natural language processing (NLP). These advancements present an opportunity to augment traditional second opinion systems by automatically processing patient medical records, diagnostic tests, and clinical data to generate high-quality first and second medical opinions.

SecondOpinionExpert’s technology increases the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery, improves healthcare access and empowers doctors and patients to make better informed medical decisions. The HIPAA-compliant patented platform leverages recent advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning and electronic medical record systems enabling the company to provide fast, reliable and secure online medical opinions. The system provides patients greater peace of mind by leveraging the power of AI and ML.

“Our patent-pending AI enabled technology platform provides a cost-effective choice that improves patient care,” said Steve Krause, President, SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. “In the near future, we look forward to launching our user-friendly app that will be initially free of charge. People using our platform will be able to quickly obtain high quality medical opinions while avoiding unnecessary travel time and expense, knowing that they will be getting insightful medical guidance that improves health and saves lives.”

About SecondOpinionExpert

SOE’s mission is to provide innovative medical technology solutions to improve healthcare while reducing costs.

Our patented HIPAA-compliant platform leverages recent advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning and electronic medical record systems, enabling the company to provide fast, reliable and secure online medical opinions to inform both diagnosis and treatment planning. We empower patients, providers and payors to work together to make the best possible medical decisions, leading to better health outcomes and greater peace of mind for patients. SOE’s panel of 400+ board-certified medical specialists are available to render expert opinions informed as needed by AI and genomics.

SOE also owns and/or manages a rapidly growing network of facilities for post-acute care and substance treatment. Our proprietary platform for Electronic Medical Records (EMR) empowers best practices in administration and medical services.

Our proprietary TeleMedics Mobile Platform empowers and chronicles on-site visits from qualified medics or nurses. Mobile staff provide the human connection, capturing vitals and doing diagnostics and therapeutics, with the patient’s doctor participating as needed through live video. We work with our affiliate Intra Care, Inc. to provide superior home health and hospice care. We provide Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) delivered through a strategic relationship with KangarooHealth, in-home respirators delivered and monitored by SOE affiliate Momentum Equipment and Pandemic Response through our MaxVax solution.

Additional information can be found at SOE.CARE

Media Contact

Jay Kilberg, Second Opinion Expert, Inc., 1 917.543.6285, jay.kilberg@soe.care, https://soe.care

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SOURCE Second Opinion Expert, Inc.

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