Snippings

xxx

Despite all the trouble of updating her ID and registering her new face on all the online platforms she used, Huan said she was very happy with her new nose.

The growing popularity of cosmetic surgery is proving a challenge for facial recognition technology. In January, another woman, in Urumqi, Xinjiang, failed to pay a fine for a traffic rule violation because her face did not match the one stored in the police system, according to online news video platform Pear Video.

Officers at the police station where the woman tried to pay the fine accused her of using someone else’s identity card, until she admitted she had undergone plastic surgery.

From Facial recognition technology in China beaten by a nose job | South China Morning Post.

xxx

xxx

A new study finds that the total value of digital wallets transactions will rise from $9 trillion in 2023 to $16 trillion in 2028, a growth of 77%.
This trend is driven by growth across both developed and developing markets, as the increased adoption of advanced services such as BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) and microloans drives end-user engagement.
The study found that in a highly congested wallets landscape, diversifying their appeal to users is vital.

From Digital wallets transaction value to surpass $16 trillion globally.

xxx

xxx

The Uptrip app empowers passengers to convert their conventional boarding passes into valuable NFT trading cards, which can subsequently be used to unlock a spectrum of exciting rewards. This unique concept adds a layer of gamification to the travel experience, incentivizing passengers to engage further with Lufthansa’s services. To participate in this novel approach, users must connect their crypto wallets to the app to seamlessly mint and transfer their Uptrip NFTs. By assembling specific NFT collections, travelers become eligible for an array of enticing rewards, ranging from flight upgrades and access to exclusive airport lounges to prestigious frequent flyer statuses and valuable award miles.

From Lufthansa airline’s mind-blowing NFT loyalty program – Cryptopolitan.

xxx

xxx

‘I was so shocked. They made me go through security and seemingly had all of my details – and the number flashed up as being Monzo’s genuine one.’

Scammers often employ a tactic called number spoofing, whereby they change the caller ID to disguise their identity. To do this they either hide the identity or try to mimic the number of a real company or person.

From Scammers took £10,000 from me and Monzo ignored me for FIVE weeks – it’s ruined my life | This is Money.

xxx

Doris Neuberger, head of the money and credit department at Germany’s University of Rostock. 

Neuberger claimed much more criminal activity is conducted with digital money than with cash. “Nowadays, the ideal medium for illegal drug transactions is not cash, but Amazon gift cards,” she said. “Gift tokens allow for anonymous payments anywhere in the world and, unlike cash, do not require a face-to-face transaction. The same holds for prepaid credit cards, which can be loaded with cash anonymously.”

From Germany Is Addicted to Cash.

xxx

xxx

In 2019, the Bundesbank conducted a study on the extent of “illicit cash use” in Germany, in collaboration with Friedrich Schneider, a professor at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. It said that without more in-depth analysis it was “impossible to distinguish those stocks of banknotes that are being held as a store of value—and kept at home under the mattress totally legally and legitimately by every citizen—from illicit banknote stocks.” On average, a German hoards more than 1,300 euros at home or in a safe deposit box.

From Germany Is Addicted to Cash.

xxx

xxx

Over the last couple of days several more Zambian nationals have been arrested at a makeshift fake-gold processing plant, and more arrests may well follow.

From Zambia-Egypt plane seizure: The cash and fake gold that no-one is claiming – BBC News.

xxx

xxx

The total number of active payment cards in circulation reached 36.4 million on July 1, 2023, representing a tremendous growth rate of 20.4 percent over June 20, 2022.

Furthermore, the infrastructure for payment of goods and services has grown significantly. The number of merchants accepting payment cards has increased by 1.8 times, reaching 702,482 businesses by June 2023.

Furthermore, the number of POS terminals installed by enterprises and banks climbed by 1.4 times to 934,000 units. The QR code payment capability is supported by up to 90.7 percent of POS terminals on the market.

From Cashless Transactions Take Off In Kazakhstan | MENAFN.COM.

xxx

xxx

In a significant development, according to Changchun Mu, director of the People’s Bank of China’s Digital Currency Research Institute, China’s CBDC, the digital yuan, is undergoing major upgrades.

Digital yuan integration for retail scenarios
Mu spoke at the China International Service Trade Fair, emphasising the importance of wallet providers enabling digital yuan payments in all retail scenarios.
Mu particularly addressed prominent commercial banking apps like WeChat and Alipay, reminding them of their obligation to adhere to regulatory standards.

From Bank of China mandates digital yuan integration for retail scenarios.

xxx

xxx

By Rob MacDonald, VP product Marketing, 1Kosmos
In today’s digital era, the remote and hybrid work paradigm has introduced new risks when it comes to new employee onboarding. According to one survey, there has been a 92% increase in candidate fraud since the pandemic, which can compromise the security of an organization in various ways.

From Four ways digital identity is transforming employee onboarding | Biometric Update.

xxx