by Ferry Bayu | Sep 5, 2023 | Business
GRAB-LED DIGIBANK GXBANK BECOMES FIRST TO GET MALAYSIA CENTRAL BANK’S APPROVAL TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS
The Grab-led digital bank, GX Bank Bhd (GXBank), is the first of the five digital bank licence applicants to receive the approval to commence operations from the Minister of Finance and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) ahead of the April 2024 deadline set by BNM.
GXBank has completed an operational readiness review and has been approved to commence operations effective Sept 1, 2023, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.
GXBank will leverage technology and innovation to serve the needs of the unserved and underserved individuals, and micro and small medium enterprises (MSME). Additionally, the digital-only bank will support customers’ needs through various channels including a bank app and 24/7 customer support via multiple platforms, it added.
The lack of access to financial services and its consequences in particular to the unserved and underserved segments and MSME is not new. The longstanding complexity of financial access, coupled with the unprecedented events over the last few years, have eroded financial buffers for individuals, households and businesses, the bank noted. Since the pandemic, 55 percent of Malaysians’ household income has decreased dramatically, with almost 50 percent now claiming to have difficulty raising at least MYR1,000 ($214.49) as emergency funds.
GXBank, with more than 95 percent Malaysian employees from both the technology and finance sectors, is led by Pei Si Lai, who brings with her over 25 years of extensive experience in consumer and commercial banking. The more than 200-strong team share the same conviction that combining today’s technology and finance expertise will provide the platform to empower local communities and businesses to be financially resilient.
“At GXBank, we are driven by our shared purpose and passion to bring positive transformation to the financial industry, starting with solutions to address the financial struggles of Malaysians and businesses. We are thankful for BNM’s guidance, support and trust in us to offer financial solutions and help the unserved and underserved communities achieve their dreams and better quality of life. Standing on Grab’s legacy of innovative tech and economic inclusion, we hope to redefine banking and reshape Malaysia’s financial landscape. Our collaboration with consortium partners such as Kuok Group and other industry players will enable us to work hand in hand, leveraging our respective ecosystems to nurture a resilient and financially inclusive Malaysia, where no one is left behind,” said Pei Si Lai, CEO, GX Bank Bhd.
Supporting GXBank is the newly appointed Board of Directors, spearheaded by Zaiton Mohd Hassan. She brings with her more than 30 years of experience in banking, audit, risk management and focus on governance and financial inclusion. Her previous roles in a variety of non-profit organisations and local banks reflects her deep passion to build and promote sustainable growth for the financially underserved.
Zaiton shared that the board is excited to be part of GXBank’s journey to drive real change and the reinvention of Malaysia’s financial sector. “We are at the forefront of the region’s fast evolving fintech landscape. With the collective strength of all our partners and digital banks in Singapore and Indonesia, GXBank is poised to offer equitable access to an innovative and transformational banking experience. We hope this will enable moreMalaysians to be financially independent, creating a better future for themselves, their families and the country,” said Zaiton.
With the commencement of operations, the bank will begin beta-testing its app – starting with its employees from GXBank, Grab and Kuok Group – and progressively roll out to a wider pool of users. This will enable GXBank to continuously receive feedback and refine the user experience before launching to the broader public.
GXBank is a subsidiary of GXS Bank Pte. Ltd., – the digital bank joint venture between Grab Holdings Ltd and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) – and a consortium of other Malaysian investors, including Kuok Group, founded by Malaysia’s richest tycoon Robert Kuok.
In Singapore, GXS Bank, which is backed by a consortium consisting of Grab Holdings (Grab) and Singtel, has launched Singapore’s first digital bank for consumers and businesses in August last year.
Banking made better
At GXS, we are a digital bank on a mission to make banking better for Singapore’s everyday consumers and small businesses.
(+65) 3105 2055
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by Ferry Bayu | Sep 5, 2023 | Business
BGC Group names Jarrod Reidy as Director: HR Outsourcing Alongside Enhanced EOR Services for the Asia Pacific Region
[Singapore, 05/09/2023] — BGC Group, a pioneering force in
the Recruitment & HR industry, proudly unveils two significant milestones
that are set to redefine its influence across the Asia Pacific Region.
Meet Jarrod Reidy: Driving HR Outsourcing
Excellence
BGC Group is thrilled to welcome Mr. Jarrod Reidy as the
Director of HR Outsourcing in APAC. With over a decade of experience, Mr. Reidy
has expertly guided international clients through the complexities of HR and
compliance landscapes across multiple countries. This aligns perfectly with BGC
Group’s commitment to delivering people-first solutions, supported by
technology.
Tristan Chew, CEO of BGC Group, emphasized the significance
of the appointment, stating, “Mr. Jarrod Reidy’s selection as the Director
of HR Outsourcing is a strategic move for our organization. His understanding
and experience in the region will undoubtedly elevate our HR outsourcing
initiatives and empower our clients to thrive in the ever-evolving HR landscape.”
In his new role, Mr. Reidy will be instrumental in
overseeing operations, fostering partnerships, driving sales, and shaping
marketing activities.
Enhanced EOR Services for the
Asia Pacific Region
In tandem with this leadership
addition, BGC Group unveils its elevated Employer of Record (EOR) services,
designed to support businesses expanding into the dynamic Asia Pacific Region.
Expanding into new markets, through
the establishment and maintenance of legal entities in each location, involves
risks, uncertainties, as well as significant time and cost, as businesses
navigate unfamiliar local regulations and compliance complexities.
BGC Group’s EOR solution streamlines
this process by utilizing its existing infrastructure and entities, serving as
the legal employer of workers, and managing all compliance, HR, payroll, benefits,
and administration tasks for clients.
“Our
EOR services provide businesses with an innovative expansion approach,”
confirmed Mr. Reidy. “Now covering 14 countries across APAC, we offer a
comprehensive turnkey solution, enabling organizations to go global whilst concentrating
on their core objectives.”
As BGC Group expands its
horizons with EOR services, it offers opportunities for businesses to navigate
new landscapes, access top talent, enable remote work, and drive strategic
growth without geographic limitations.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact: eo*@***************up.com.
BGC Group is a leading Recruitment, Employer of Record (EOR), HR & Payroll Outsourcing firm. Since our establishment in 2005, our highly experienced team has been at the forefront of providing hiring and compliance services.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 5, 2023 | Business
Certificate awarded to Responsible Cyber upon successful fulfilment of the criteria of the CSA Cyber Security Essentials Mark assessment
For many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), limited budget and resources make purchasing a suite of next-gen cyber security tools (as large enterprises typically do) a luxury.
What SMEs can have in their arsenal, however, is a cost-effective baseline of security measures, outlined in a straightforward and proven framework, which they can readily implement to deter opportunistic cyber criminals with fairly basic equipment and not a whole lot of technical skills.
This is where the Cyber Essentials mark comes into play.
SINGAPORE, September 4 — Singaporean cyber security
start-up Responsible Cyber signed itself up for a cyber security audit that
would grant a third-party the information it needs to ascertain whether the organisation
is indeed equipped to protect itself (and therefore its clients, and its
clients’ clients) in the digital domain.
When asked why they did it, the co-founder
and Managing Director Dr Magda Chelly had this to say, “We cannot in good
conscience encourage other businesses to undertake rigorous cyber security
audits while not subjecting our own people, processes and technology to the
same scrutiny.”
“We wanted to demonstrate that adopting
cyber security best practices can be done without necessarily breaking the bank
or stretching resources thin, and I think we did just that.” she added.
Upon successfully passing the audit conducted
by one of CSA’s appointed certification bodies, Responsible Cyber was awarded the
Cyber Essentials mark, a cyber security certification introduced by the Cyber
Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) in 2022 as part of the SG Cyber Safe
Programme.
Frequent news of data breaches has fuelled
apprehension surrounding the security of personal data, prompting the demand
for heightened cyber security measures by businesses – and small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) are no exception.
SMEs may not have the luxury of a dedicated
IT security team, nor the ability to invest in robust cyber security measures
and tools, but there is hope yet, says Project and Compliance Manager Wayne Yan
who described the exercise as “fairly straightforward with ample guidance”.
“We reviewed our existing policies against the checklist that was
provided, and ensured that all required security controls were implemented and
reflected in our policies.”
For organisations that require additional
help, CSA has also made tailored cyber security toolkits freely available for
download on their official website.
As the name suggests, the Cyber Essentials
mark serves to distinguish organisations that have built a minimum level of
security into their operations. It provides a baseline from which organisations
can start to reduce their exposure to common cyber threats and vulnerabilities,
but it is far from a guarantee of protection against emerging threats.
“Safeguarding against threats is a
continuous journey, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation. We are
committed to the protection of the data with which we have been entrusted. We
hope that this sentiment gets reflected to our clients and that more cyber
security companies will take the opportunity to set the tone,” said Dr Chelly.
Every business – whether a small
organisation embarking on its digital journey or a large multi-national
corporation with digitalised business functions – needs to play its part.
Co-founder Mikko Laaksonen has added that they
would be gearing up for the Cyber Trust mark certification next, where
assessments will be even more rigorous, encompassing document review and
verification, as well as an evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness. — Responsible Cyber
Responsible Cyber Pte. Ltd is a Singapore-based cybersecurity and risk management start-up established in 2016 by industry veterans Magda Chelly and Mikko Laaksonen. Today, the company has a presence in the UK, France and Poland. Its corporate shareholders include Singtel Innov8 and NUS Enterprise. The company stands at the forefront of cyber security innovation with the introduction of two pioneering AI-powered products: IMMUNE X-TPRM and IMMUNE GRC.
IMMUNE X-TPRM is our answer to modern third-party risk management challenges. On the other hand, IMMUNE GRC is designed to streamline governance, risk, and compliance processes.
To learn more about Responsible Cyber, visit www.responsible-cyber.com
Magda Chelly
in**@***************er.com
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 5, 2023 | Business
NewJeans, Le Sserafim heading to the Philippines for 2023 Asia Artist Awards
MANILA, Philippines — K-pop girl groups NewJeans and Le Sserafim are included in the first line-up of artists attending the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) to be held in the Philippines this December.
It was announced earlier this week that the 2023 edition of the AAA would be held on December 14 at the Philippine Arena, just the third time the annual ceremony will be held outside of South Korea since starting in 2016 and the first in the Philippines.
Also in the first line-up of artists with NewJeans and Le Sserafim are fellow girl group NMIXX and the boy groups BOYNEXTDOOR and Zerobaseone, all of them from K-pop’s 4th generation though the boy groups are being pegged as the start of the 5th generation.
Last year, NewJeans won the Grand Prize for Performance of the Year while Le Sserafim was a winner for Best Musician; both groups also won the Rookie of the Year Award in the music category.
NMIXX also won two awards at the AAA last year held in Nagoya, Japan both in the music category as well, Best Emotive Award and the New Wave Award.
The AAA is organized by South Korean business newspaper Money Today and its global media brands MTN and StarNews, recognizing Asian artists from the fields of film, television and music.
Earlier this year, AAA 2022 winners Kim Seon-ho, Hwang Minhyun, Lee Jun-young and Kim Young-dae performed at the “Male God” concert which serves as a precursor to the AAA.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Work Tips
Mastering App Development: 5 Best Practices to Grow Your Business Success
In today’s digital age, mobile applications have become an integral part of our lives. Businesses across various industries are leveraging the power of apps to connect with their customers, enhance user experience, and drive revenue growth. However, with the ever-increasing competition in the app market, it is crucial to master the art of mastering app development to ensure your business’s success. In this blog, we will explore five best practices that can help you catapult your business to new heights through app development.
Define a Clear Purpose and Target Audience: Before diving into the development process, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your app’s purpose and target audience. Define the problem your app will solve or the value it will provide to users.
Conduct thorough market research to identify your target audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. This information will help you create a user-centric app that meets the specific requirements of your target users.
Plan a Robust User Experience (UX) Strategy: User experience plays a crucial role in the success of any app. A seamless and intuitive user interface coupled with a well-thought-out user experience strategy can significantly impact user engagement and retention. Begin by creating user personas and user flows to visualize the user journey. Conduct usability testing to identify potential pain points and optimize the app’s navigation and functionality. Remember, a positive user experience will not only drive user satisfaction but also encourage word-of-mouth recommendations and positive reviews.
Adopt an Agile Development Approach: To keep up with the rapidly evolving app market, it is crucial to embrace an agile development approach. Break down your mastering app development process into small, manageable iterations, commonly known as sprints. This iterative approach allows you to gather user feedback early on and make necessary adjustments throughout the development cycle. Regularly communicate with your development team to ensure transparency, collaboration, and swift decision-making. Agile development empowers you to deliver a high-quality app in a timely manner, minimizing the risk of delays or cost overruns.
Prioritize App Security: n an era where data breaches and privacy concerns are on the rise, app security should be a top priority. Build robust security measures into your app’s architecture and design. Implement encryption techniques to protect user data, authenticate users securely, and secure data transmission between the app and the server. Regularly update your app’s security features and conduct thorough security audits to identify and fix vulnerabilities. Demonstrating a commitment to user data protection will build trust and credibility among your users, fostering long-term relationships Monitor App Performance and Gather User Feedback: Once your app is launched, the journey doesn’t end there. Continuous monitoring of your app’s performance is vital to identify areas for improvement and deliver a superior user experience. Utilize analytics tools to track user engagement, app crashes, and other performance metrics. Actively collect and analyze user feedback through app reviews, surveys, and support channels. User feedback provides invaluable insights into user satisfaction, identifies pain points, and helps prioritize future updates and features.
Conclusion: Mastering app development is key to driving business success in the highly competitive digital landscape. By following these best practices —defining a clear purpose and target audience, planning a robust user experience strategy, adopting an agile development approach, prioritizing app security, and monitoring app performance and user feedback—you can create a compelling and successful mobile app that resonates with your target audience, drives user engagement, and propels your business to new heights of success. Remember, mastering app development is an ongoing process, and staying updated with the latest trends and technologies will ensure your app remains relevant and impactful in the long run.
We are a highly productive and skilled team of IT professionals with expertise in Cloud solutions, DevOps, software development and all other IT services.
Tekrella IT solutions
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Call : +91 9361127915
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Business
Sustainable Plus Size Fashion Launched by Hello Curve
Hello Curve, is thrilled to announce the launch of their groundbreaking sustainable plus size fashion line.
[Singapore, 4 Sep 2023] — Hello Curve, a leading fashion brand dedicated to inclusivity and self-expression, is thrilled to announce the launch of their groundbreaking sustainable plus size fashion line. This latest addition to Hello Curve’s diverse collection not only empowers individuals to embrace their unique style but also champions environmental responsibility.
Hello Curve has always been at the forefront of the fashion industry, advocating for diversity, inclusivity, and body positivity. The introduction of their sustainable plus size fashion line reinforces their commitment to offering trendy, eco-conscious clothing options for individuals of all sizes.
Key Features of Hello Curve’s Sustainable Plus Size Fashion Line:
Eco-Friendly Fabrics: The new collection utilizes high-quality, sustainable materials that minimize the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. From organic cotton to recycled polyester, Hello Curve prioritizes eco-conscious choices without compromising on style and comfort.
Inclusive Sizing: Hello Curve understands that beauty and style come in all sizes. Their plus size fashion line ranges from 14 to 32, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect fit and flaunt their individuality. In particular, many of their plus size formal dresses offer size customization.
Versatile Designs: With an array of chic and versatile designs, this collection covers everything from everyday essentials to statement pieces for special occasions. Hello Curve’s sustainable plus size fashion line is perfect for any event, from casual outings to formal gatherings.
Ethical Production: Hello Curve is committed to ethical production practices, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for all involved in the manufacturing process. Customers can wear their Hello Curve pieces with confidence, knowing that their fashion choices support positive change.
Timeless Appeal: These sustainable pieces are designed to stand the test of time. Instead of fast fashion trends, Hello Curve’s collection focuses on timeless, enduring styles that can be cherished for years to come.
Affordable Luxury: Hello Curve believes that sustainability should be accessible to all. Their sustainable plus size fashion line offers affordable luxury, allowing customers to make eco-conscious choices without breaking the bank.
“We are excited to introduce our sustainable plus size fashion line as part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and sustainability,” said Hui C, Owner at Hello Curve. “Our goal is to provide fashion-forward individuals of all sizes with sustainable, stylish, and affordable clothing options that align with their values. With this new collection, we aim to empower our customers to express themselves confidently while making environmentally responsible choices.”
Hello Curve’s sustainable plus size fashion line is now available for purchase online at https://www.hellocurve.com/. Join us in celebrating diversity, self-expression, and a greener future with fashion that makes a statement not only about who you are but also about the planet you love.
Hello Curve is a pioneering fashion brand that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and self-expression. With a commitment to sustainability, ethical production, and affordable luxury, Hello Curve offers a wide range of stylish clothing options for individuals of all sizes, empowering them to embrace their unique beauty and style.
Samantha T
ca**@********ve.com
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Business
Blue Duck Tech helps tenants beat the rental deposit blues
PETALING JAYA: Blue Duck Tech Sdn Bhd aims to replace up to RM500 million in rental deposits per year in the local property industry, which it hopes to achieve within the next five years via its Zero Deposit Programme.
Founder and CEO Earnest Wong said the programme, launched in 2021, intends to assist tenants in securing residential rental or commercial property without the need to pay a hefty upfront deposit. Instead, the tenant will pay a small fee to cover the cash deposit.
Wong said the company which is in the financial technology property segment, has replaced “more than RM12 million of rental deposits”. Based on reports, he said, the monthly gross rental value for residential and commercial properties in Malaysia totalled RM6 billion.
He reckoned that if the average was three months of rental deposits, it would be close to RM18 billion.
Wong said Blue Duck hopes to replace RM500 million in rental deposits per year and expects to achieve its target “five years from now”. Additionally, it aims to increase its market share to 5% within the same timeline.
However, he said the company is essentially focusing on zero deposit solutions, unlike other companies with similar offerings on the market.
“We work with all the stakeholders in the property sector to offer our solutions. We also have the USP (unique selling point) of giving focus on the tenant’s side rather than the landlords in terms of our product mainly because we need the tenant to actually commit,” he told SunBiz.
He said the company operates on business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) models. B2C consists of operators as well as property managers, which manage the properties on its platform. Consumers comprise tenants and landlords.
Currently, there are around 1,000 active tenancies on its platform and close to 90% of its tenants are below 35 years old.
In terms of revenue contribution, Wong said properties in Klang Valley contribute about 70%, followed by Johor Bahru 20% and Sabah 10%.
The company, he said, is targeting to grow by 50% this year, by partnering with players in the local property ecosystem.
“Previously, we worked with tenancy managers, now we’re expanding ourselves to property managers. So, we work with the property managers in town to expand our influence and increase adoption (for our offerings) and gain more market share.
“With property managers on board, then I can introduce more business tools and then we work with those ecosystem partners and they are already familiar with our products … it’s a natural growth, because the market is still very new and 50% is very conservative,” Wong said.
On outlook, he opined that the company is benefiting from increased interest rates due to the overnight policy rate hikes, as it discourages home ownership and indirectly uplifts the rental market.
“Loan costs are getting more expensive. In terms of buying a property, the cost will be slightly more than in the previous years, which will discourage a lot of people from … home ownership. With that, there’s an opportunity for us. Living is still a basic necessity for everyone, whether you are a home owner or renter.
“Our industry will continue to move (forward). (From what) we see on the market, if the interest rate goes up, it will also drive up the rental rate as well. For the past few months, the per square of the room and unit rental has increased more than 10% to 15%, which is alarming but that’s how the market goes.
“We are in the position to help the tenants … landlords and the industry. We need to position ourselves better in order to capture a bigger market share,” Wong said.
Blue Duck plans to expand to Thailand and Indonesia and is open to talking to investors.
We help residential and commercial tenants to save cash up front while landlords and agents are able to rent out faster to a verified tenant.
+6016 6117154
he***@******ck.my
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Banking and Finance
Your UnionBank Mastercard may be the key to a brand-new BMW
Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Mastercard credit cardholders, this is for you! UnionBank has teamed up with BMW for a Mastercard-exclusive raffle that is sure to enhance your credit card usage. Through this UnionBank Mastercard promo, cardholders can get a chance to drive home a brand-new 2023 BMW X1 simply by using their UnionBank Mastercard credit card!
Every P20,000 accumulated spend (from straight local or forex retail, bills payment, and installment transactions) earns five (5) raffle entries for a chance to win a brand-new 2023 BMW X1. Also, card transactions for grocery, gas, pharmacy, and utility bills have never been more rewarding, as cardholders can also win exciting eGCs through the promo’s official scratch game. Simply using their UnionBank Mastercard for every straight local or forex retail, bills payment, and installment transaction with a minimum amount spend of P200, gets cardholders an electronic scratch card for this game.
“Delighting customers at every turn is something that we at UnionBank are always very excited about, and the same can be said for BMW.” said UnionBank’s Cards and Loans Director, Vishal Kadian.
“More importantly, this collaboration is another way for the Bank to deliver a more rewarding experience when using the UnionBank Mastercard credit card, making every spend more enriching for customers.” concluded Kadian.
The promo is open to all active and existing principal UnionBank Mastercard credit cardholders who are in good credit standing. For details on how to qualify for the promo and other related information, visit www.unionbankph.com/bmw. Only successfully registered accounts will qualify.
The registration period is from August 1, 2023 to November 29, 2023, while the spend period is from August 2, 2023 to November 30, 2023. The raffle draw will be on December 12, 2023.
Keep using your UnionBank Mastercard credit card for more rewarding spends, and you could win a 2023 BMW X1!
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Business
NBA, vivo announce multi-year marketing partnership in the Philippines
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and vivo today announced a multi-year marketing partnership that sees vivo return as the Official Smartphone of the NBA in the Philippines.
The agreement builds on a previous marketing partnership in the Philippines that saw vivo serve as an official partner of the Jr. NBA – the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls – and NBA 3X Philippines, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams, interactive fan activities and authentic NBA entertainment.
Through the collaboration, vivo will be the Presenting Partner in the Philippines of NBA All-Star Voting – a platform that gives fans the opportunity to vote for the NBA All-Star Game starters via the NBA App and NBA.com – and return as an official partner of NBA 3X Philippines presented by Mountain Dew, which will take place later this year.
In addition, vivo will launch promotions that will provide fans in the Philippines with the chance to win authentic NBA prizes. The NBA and vivo will also co-develop content for the NBA’s localized Facebook and TikTok pages in the Philippines.
“We’re thrilled to welcome vivo back to our growing roster of marketing partners in the Philippines and align with a brand that shares our commitment to innovation,” said NBA Philippines Senior Director of Global Marketing Partnerships Mae Dichupa. “Our collaboration with vivo represents an excellent opportunity to elevate the NBA experience across digital, retail and events, and showcase vivo’s smartphones as a convenient and ideal device for fans to immerse themselves in the excitement of the NBA.”
“Our passion for innovation extends beyond the confines of technology, and we recognize that sports provide an ideal platform to bring communities together and inspire positive change in the way we live our lives,” said vivo Philippines management. “This guiding principle reinforces our efforts to collaborate with sports organizations such as the NBA that enable us to foster a deeper connection between our brand and the world of sports.”
Fans in the Philippines can shop for official NBA merchandise at the NBA Stores at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia and at NBAStore.com.ph. For all the latest NBA news and updates, fans in the Philippines can visit www.nba.com, download the NBA App, and follow the NBA on Facebook, X, and TikTok.
For more information on vivo Philippines and vivo’s latest product offerings, visit vivoglobal.ph and follow the official vivo accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
by Ferry Bayu | Sep 4, 2023 | Business
Group-IB Exposes Scam-as-a-Service Operation Profiting USD $64.5 Million by Targeting APAC Brands
-Group-IB’s latest findings shed light on an ongoing scam-as-a-service operation known as Classiscam.
-Substantial Profits: This operation has already generated a staggering USD $64.5 million for the scammers.
-APAC Target: The operation’s primary focus has been targeting reputable brands within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Singapore, August 31, 2023 — Group-IB, a global cybersecurity leader headquartered in Singapore, can reveal that the scam-as-a-service operation Classiscam is continuing its worldwide campaign well into 2023. In a new blog, Group-IB analysts detail how the automated scheme uses Telegram bots to assist with the creation of ready-to-use phishing pages impersonating companies in a range of industries, including online marketplaces, classified sites, and logistics operators. These phishing pages are designed to steal money, payment data, and recently in some cases, bank login credentials from unsuspecting internet users.
According to Group-IB’s findings, 251 unique brands in a total of 79 countries were featured on Classiscam phishing pages from H1 2021 to H1 2023. In addition, the phishing templates created for each brand can be localized to different countries by editing the language and currency featured on the scam pages. As a result, one particular logistics brand was impersonated by “Classiscammers” targeting users in as many as 31 countries.
Within the APAC region, the country with the highest number of brands targeted by Classiscammers was Australia (34.6% of regional total). Other heavily affected countries were India (11.5%), Hong Kong (10.3%), Singapore (7.7%), Sri Lanka (7.7%), and Malaysia (5.1%).
Since the second half of 2019, when the Group-IB Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GIB) in cooperation with the company’s Digital Risk Protection unit first identified Classiscam’s operations, 1,366 separate groups leveraging this scheme have been discovered on Telegram. Group-IB experts examined Telegram channels containing information pertaining to 393 Classiscam groups with more than 38,000 members that operated between H1 2020 and H1 2023. During this period, these groups made combined estimated earnings of USD $64.5 million. Group-IB has noted how the threat actors behind Classiscam have worked, since inception, to formalize and expand the scam model’s operations. From 2022 onwards, Classiscammers have introduced new innovations, such as phishing schemes designed to harvest the credentials of victim’s online bank accounts, and some groups have begun to use information stealers.
In line with its mission of combating global cybercrime, Group-IB will continue to share its findings about Classiscam, drawn from the company’s proprietary Digital RIsk Protection solution, with law enforcement authorities. The primary aim of this research is to raise public awareness about the latest scamming methods and reduce the number of victims of this scam operation.
Gone global
Classiscam originally appeared in Russia, where the scheme was tried and tested before being launched across the globe. The scam-as-a-service affiliate program surged in popularity in spring 2020 with the emergence of COVID-19 and the subsequent uptick in remote working and online shopping.
Group-IB experts noticed how the scam scheme was exported first to Europe, before entering other global regions, such as the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the United States, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). As of H1 2021, Classiscammers had targeted internet users in 30 countries. Group-IB experts can reveal that, as of H1 2023, this figure has risen to 79. In the same time period, the number of targeted brands on the global market has increased from 38 to 251.
More than 61% of the Classiscam resources analyzed by Group-IB experts that were created between H1 2021 and H1 2023 targeted users in Europe. Other heavily targeted regions were the Middle East and Africa (18.7% of resources) and the Asia-Pacific region (12.2%). A full breakdown of the share of targeted brands by region can be found in Figure 2 (below).
Within the APAC region, the country with the highest number of targeted brands was Australia (34.6% of regional total). Other heavily affected countries were India (11.5%), Hong Kong (10.3%), Singapore (7.7%), Sri Lanka (7.7%), and Malaysia (5.1%).
The average amount lost by Classiscam victims worldwide was $353, although UK users lost the most, on average, to Classiscammers, as the average fraudulent transaction was $865. Users in APAC and MEA were less likely to fall victim to Classiscam schemes, although victims in Singapore lost $682 on average to the scam. In Australia, this figure was $515, and in Saudi Arabia (MEA), successful Classiscam schemes saw victims lose, on average, $525.
Figure 4: Leaders in average amount charged per fraudulent Classiscam transaction in H1 2023
What’s new?
Classiscam was initially launched as a relatively straightforward scam operation. Cybercriminals created fake ads on classified sites, and leveraged social engineering techniques to trick users into “buying” the falsely-advertised goods or services, whether by transferring money directly to the scammers or by debiting money from the victim’s bank card.
Classiscam operations have become increasingly automated over the past two years. The scheme now utilizes Telegram bots and chats to coordinate operations and create phishing and scam pages in a handful of seconds, and many of the groups offer easy-to-follow instructions, and experts are on hand to help with other users’ questions. A full rundown of how the Classiscam scheme works in practice is provided in the below Figure 6.
Over the past year, Group-IB researchers have seen roles within scam groups become more specialized within an expanded hierarchy. Classiscam phishing pages can now include a balance check, which the scammers use to assess how much they can charge to a victim’s card, and fake bank login pages that they use to harvest users’ credentials. At the time of writing, Group-IB experts found 35 such scam groups that distributed links to phishing pages that include fake login forms for banking services. In total, Classiscam scammers created resources emulating the login pages of 63 banks in 14 countries. Among the targeted banks were those based in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Singapore, and Spain.
“Classiscam shows no sign of slowing down and the ranks of the Classiscammers are continuing to swell. Over the past year, we have seen scam groups adopt a new, expanded hierarchy, and roles within organizations are becoming increasingly specialized. Classiscam will likely remain one of the major global scam operations throughout 2023 due to the scheme’s full automation and low technical barrier of entry,” Afiq Sasman, Head of Group-IB’s Computer Emergency Response Team in the Asia Pacific, said.
Group-IB will continue to monitor global Classiscam campaigns, engaging with both law enforcement and affected brands to assist in efforts to take down these scams. Companies whose brand and likeness are impersonated by scammers are recommended to leverage Digital Risk Protection solutions that can actively monitor, identify, and take down phishing domains.
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Group-IB, with its headquarters in Singapore, is one of the leading solutions providers dedicated to detecting and preventing cyberattacks, investigating high-tech crimes, identifying online fraud, and protecting intellectual property. The company’s Threat Intelligence and Research Centers are located in the Middle East (Dubai), Asia-Pacific (Singapore), and Europe (Amsterdam).
Group-IB’s Unified Risk Platform is an ecosystem of solutions that understands each organization’s threat profile and tailors defenses against them in real-time from a single interface. The Unified Risk Platform provides complete coverage of the cyber response chain. Group-IB’s products and services consolidated in Group-IB’s Unified Risk Platform include Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence, Managed XDR, Digital Risk Protection, Fraud Protection, Attack, Surface Management, Business Email Protection, Audit & Consulting, Education & Training, Digital Forensics & Incident Response, Managed Detection & Response, and Cyber Investigations.
Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence system has been named one of the best in its class by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. Group-IB’s Managed XDR, intended for proactively searching for and protecting against complex and previously unknown cyber threats, has been recognized as one of the market leaders in the Network Detection and Response category by KuppingerCole Analysts AG, the leading European analyst agency, while Group-IB itself has been recognized as a Product Leader and an Innovation Leader.
Gartner has named Group-IB a Representative Vendor in Online Fraud Detection for its Fraud Protection. In addition, Group-IB was granted Frost & Sullivan’s Innovation Excellence award for Digital Risk Protection (DRP), an Al-driven platform for identifying and mitigating digital risks and counteracting brand impersonation attacks, with the company’s patented technologies at its core. Group-IB’s technological leadership and R&D capabilities are built on the company’s 20 years of hands-on experience in cybercrime investigations worldwide and over 70,000 hours of cybersecurity incident response accumulated in our leading DFIR Laboratory, High-Tech Crime Investigations Department, and round-the-clock CERT-GIB.
Group-IB is an active partner in global investigations led by international law enforcement organizations such as Europol and INTERPOL. Group-IB is also a member of the Europol European Cybercrime Centre’s (EC3) Advisory Group on Internet Security, which was created to foster closer cooperation between Europol and its leading non-law enforcement partners.
Group-IB’s experience in threat hunting and cyber intelligence has been fused into an ecosystem of highly sophisticated software and hardware solutions designed to monitor, identify, and prevent cyberattacks. Group-IB’s mission is to protect its clients in cyberspace every day by creating and leveraging innovative solutions and services.
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