Tag Archives: Banking

Was Mr Burns Inspired By Jacob Rothschild?!

Was Mr Burns Inspired By Jacob Rothschild?!

Was Mr Burns from The Simpsons inspired by billionaire British baron banker, Jacob Rothschild?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Mr Burns Was Inspired By Jacob Rothschild!

People are sharing a photo comparison the claims to prove that Mr Burns from The Simpsons was inspired by Jacob Rothschild, who has a net worth of 500 trillion and is the most powerful man in the world!

The Most Powerful Man In The World!

Mr Burns from The Simpsons is based off Jacob Rothschild
network 500 trillion
Owners every central bank in the world
Financed both sides of every war since 
Napoleon

Recommended : Is Interpol Investigating Klaus Schwab For Genocide?!

 

Truth : Mr Burns Was Not Inspired By Jacob Rothschild!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by conspiracy theorists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : That Is Not A Photo Of Jacob Rothschild

Let me start by simply pointing out that viral photo is not a photo of Jacob Rothschild.

The source for this photo appears to be a 2014 Imgur post, which claims that the man is a French teacher in an elementary school.

My wife has always claimed her elementary school French teacher looked exactly like Mr. Burns. She wasn’t wrong.

This appears to be corroborated by people in the comments, which further suggest that his name is Mr. Buchilli or Mr. Buchili, possibly from the York Street Public School in Ottawa, Canada.

UrbanGentleman : LOL Mr.Buchili [dont remember how to spell his name] – as funny as this is, he was actually a great french teacher.

nanchang : Do you remember what his full name was and what school he taught at? My aunt thinks that he was her French teacher too haha

Bitchmasterz : Oh snap just found my 8th grade French teacher Mr.Roy @ York St. School 1983.

nadur82 : Mr.buchilli !!!!!!!

Fact #2 : Mr Burns Was Not Based On Jacob Rothschild

The Mr Burns character, appearance and mannerisms were NOT based on Jacob Rothschild. They were based on several different people, and none of them are Jacob Rothschild.

Matt Groening based the Mr Burns character mostly on his high school teacher, Mr. Bailey, as well as oil tycoon,  John D. Rockefeller and his grandson, David Rockefeller.

But when it comes to appearance, animator David Silverman modelled Mr Burns after Fox founder, Barry Diller, with a body of “a praying mantis”.

In no way was Mr Burns based on Jacob Rothschild’s character, appearance or mannerism.

Recommended : Did Philippines Issue Arrest Warrant For Bill Gates?!

Fact #3 : Jacob Rothschild Does Not Have 500 Trillion Dollars

The 4th Baron Rothschild, Jacob Rothschild is a very wealthy man, but he is far from being the richest man in the world.

As of 2023, Jacob Rothschild’s net worth is estimated to be over $44 billion dollars. That is a lot of money, but far from the top billionaires which all have over 100 billion dollars.

Needless to say, neither Jacob Rothschild nor the world’s richest people, have a trillion dollars, never mind 500 trillion dollars!

Fact #4 : There Is Less Than 22 Trillion Dollars In The World

It is impossible for any person, or even country, to have 500 trillion dollars, because there is less than 22 trillion dollars in the world today!

The US Federal Reserve estimates that, as of January 2023, there is anywhere from $2.3 trillion to $21.27 trillion, depending on how you define “money”:

M0: Referred to as the monetary base, M0 includes all the money in circulation, including money banks hold in reserve. According to the Federal Reserve, there was about $2.3 trillion in circulation as of January 2023.

M1: It includes all the M0 money supply, adding the money held in travelers’ checks, demand deposits, other types of checkable deposits and negotiable orders of withdrawal. As of January 2023, the seasonally adjusted stock of M1 totaled $19.64 trillion.

M2: It includes all of the currency from the M1 money supply, and expands to include mutual funds, smaller time deposits, money market securities and other types of time deposits. M2 currencies are usually less liquid than M1, meaning you can’t convert M2 money into cash as easily. The total stock of M2 was $21.27 trillion in January.

Recommended : Did Interpol Order Arrest Of Bill Gates, Justin Trudeau, Klaus Schwab?!

Fact #5 : Napoleon Died 115 Years Before Jacob Rothschild Was Born

Jacob Rothschild was born Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild on 29 April 1936 – almost 115 years before Napoleon died on 5 May 1821.

Unless Jacob Rothschild has a time machine, it is simply impossible for him to have financed any war since Napoleon’s death.

Fact #6 : Central Banks Are Generally Owned By The State

With the exception of the United States Federal Reserve, and the European Central Bank, all other central banks are owned by the state – the countries which created them.

The US Federal Reserve has 12 regional banks, with stock owned by member banks. However, it is governed by a board appointed by the President of the United States, and confirmed by the US Senate.

The European Central Bank, on the other hand, are owned by the central banks of all countries in the European Union, which are each owned by their respective countries.

Neither Jacob Rothschild, nor the Rothschild family, own any central bank.

Please help us fight fake news – SHARE this article, and SUPPORT our work!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Watch Out For Kenanga Free Books Scam!

Is the Kenanga Investment Bank giving away free books on stock investing, to celebrate its 50th anniversary?!

Find out what’s going on, and warn your family and friends!

 

Watch Out For Kenanga Free Books Scam!

Scammers are running Facebook advertisements that claim Kenanga Investment Bank is giving away free books on stock investing, to celebrate its 50th anniversary!

good news 🎉 good news 🎉 good news 🎉
Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad,
Now it is the largest independent investment bank in Malaysia Established in 1973, it is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary 🎉🎉🎉
Kenanga Group will give away 2,000 stock books for free If you are interested in the stock book, you can get it for free Please click on the messenger to get the book for free 📖📖📖
The number of books is limited, and the activity will stop after the gift is completed 👇👇👇

Hi everyone, this is Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad
Now it is the largest independent investment bank in Malaysia
Established in 1973, it is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary 🎉🎉🎉
During these 50 years, we have helped countless stock investors make profits in the stock market
In order to thank investors for their support all the way, 💝💝💝🎊🎊🎊
We will give out the first gift for stock market investors 🎁🎁🎁
Kenang Group has prepared 5000 stock books (1000 sets) 📚📖📖
Free gift to investors who support Kenang Group all the way
Please click on the session, add the assistant’s wapp, and register the mailing address
We will mail the book to your registered address for free
The number of stock books is limited, while supplies last 💝💝💝

Recommended : TNG RFID Bar Code Scanning Scam Debunked!

 

Kenanga Free Books Scam : What You Need To Know!

This Kenanga free book scam is being promoted heavily on Facebook in May 2023, so please alert your family and friend!

Fact #1 : Kenanga Reported These Pages / Ads As Fake

Kenanga is aware of these fake advertisements being run by scam Facebook pages, posting this scam alert on May 12, 2023:

Once again we would like to remind our clients and the public to be careful of scammers impersonating our brand to provide fraudulent product and services.

We are not offering any free books/e-books or make anyone join a WhatsApp group.

If you received any of this communication recently, stop responding and report the page/numbers immediately.

If you have been scammed, contact the National Scam Response Centre hotline 997.

Fact #2 : Kenanga Is A Business, Not A Charity

Please do NOT be naive. Kenanga is an investment bank – a business, not a charity. Just because it is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, does not mean it’s giving anything away.

Even if it wanted to celebrate its anniversary by giving away books, it would be giving them to clients, not to the public!

Kenanga is a public-listed company, whose focus is not make money, not a charity to give you free books!

Recommended : Can SIM Swap empty bank accounts without warning?!

Fact #3 : Giveaways Were Not Posted In Official Website / FB Page

If Kenanga was really giving away free books, it would have posted the offer on:

These scams are being run off fake Facebook pages that are brand new, and have nothing to do with the real Kenanga:

Fact #4 : Kenanga Does Not Use WhatsApp To Communicate

Kenanga offers a multitude of contact options by online forms, email or telephone number. What it does not have is a WhatsApp account. So when scammers message you to collect your “free books” by messaging a WhatsApp number, be warned!

Please add my WhatsApp message, send me your mailing information, and I will mail you stock books for you for free! My WhatsApp: https://xxxx.xx/60113906928

Fact #5 : Kenanga Will Not Ask You To Join WhatsApp Groups

Just to be clear, Kenanga states that it will never ask anyone to join a WhatsApp group for any reason, whether it’s for investment advice, stock tips, or to buy and sell stocks, etc.

Recommended : How To Block Facebook Ads + Pay Scammers!

Fact #6 : Scammers Will Try To Scare You

Scammers will try to scare you into contacting them, by telling you that stock is running out. Just ignore them!

There are only 3 free places left, which have been reserved for you, please add and leave a message as soon as possible Whatsapp : https://xxxx.xx/60113906928

There are many friends who have claimed it, please tell us whether you have added it successfully! If you do not add or reply, it means that you will give up the quota by default and automatically transfer it to the next friend. Thank you for your understanding!

Please help us FIGHT SCAMMERS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Fact Check | Cybersecurity | Tech ARP

 

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TNG RFID Bar Code Scanning Scam Debunked!

Will your phone get hacked if you scan the TNG RFID bar code?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Can Hack Your Phone!

This warning about an RFID bar code scam has gone viral on WhatsApp, and social media, claiming that scammers are sending people RFID stickers, and asking them to scan the bar code.

Allegedly, scanning the RFID bar code will cause your phone to be hacked by these scammers!

They send the RFID to you. When you scan the bar code they hack your hp
It’s a scam

他们将 RFID 发送给您。 当您扫描条形码时,他们会入侵您
这是一个骗局

Mereka menghantar RFID kepada anda. Apabila anda mengimbas kod bar mereka menggodam anda
Ia satu penipuan ☠️👻💩😱😰

Recommended : Watch Out For Telegram Phishing Attack!

 

Truth : Scanning TNG RFID Bar Code Will NOT Hack Your Phone!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : There Is No TNG RFID Bar Code Scanning Scam

First of all – let me just say that there is no such thing as a TNG RFID bar code scanning scam. No one can hack your phone just because you scan an RFID bar code.

The bar code is nothing more than a series of numbers, which you can readily see printed under the bar code. These numbers cannot possibly hack your phone / smartphone.

Fact #2 : TNG Bar Code Is Used To Register RFID Sticker

The bar code visible in the clear window of the TNG RFID self-fitment kit is merely the serial number for the RFID sticker (also known as an RFID tag).

This serial number is used to register the RFID sticker, by scanning scan the bar code using the TNG eWallet mobile app.

All it does is link the RFID sticker to your TNG eWallet account, so that all toll charges are automatically deducted from that account.

Read more : TNG RFID Self-Fitment Guide : How To Do It Yourself

Fact #3 : There Are Easier + Cheaper Ways To Hack Your Phone

Truth be told – there are far easier and cheaper ways to hack your phone, than send you a free RFID sticker and ask you to scan the bar code.

These scammers will have to put in considerable expense and technical expertise into hacking the TNG eWallet app, and inserting their malware that the fake RFID number would trigger.

But why bother? If they can hack the TNG eWallet, they don’t even need to send you any fake RFID bar code to scan!

Making fake RFID stickers (tags) that look like genuine TNG RFID self-fitment kits costs money. Sending these fake kits also put them at risk, because deliveries can be traced.

There are many other ways to compromise your smartphone. There is simply no reason why scammers to waste time and money on such a convoluted scheme.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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How To Block Facebook Ads + Pay Scammers!

Many Facebook users are getting hit by the Facebook Ads and Facebook Pay scams! Here is how you can prevent it from happening to you!

 

Facebook Ads + Pay Scam Hits Many Bank Customers!

Many bank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!

They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved. Some have also stated that their credit or debit cards were used to purchase goods and services using Facebook Pay.

Stephanie WongI found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately. They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.

@ruffleseedI heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook
on multiple bank over the past few weeks.

Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messenger handle your SMS. @MyMaybank has yet to answer us re: this intrusion.

@ItsNeoah : Banyak kali kena kat credit card ambank. Alhamdulilah call ambank dia mintak isi dispute form then tgok next cycle bil dah takde. Letih ngan scammer ni.

Translation : [My] Ambank credit card got hit many times. Alhamdulillah, after calling Ambank, they asked me to fill out a dispute form, then when I checked the next bill cycle [the charges] was removed. Tired of this scammer.

[/su_note]

Read more : Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

 

How To Block Facebook Ads + Pay Scammers!

Here are some ways to prevent getting hit by the Facebook Ads scam, whether you are a bank customer in Malaysia or other countries.

Do NOT Use Debit Cards

First, you should NEVER use a debit card if you can help it. You should certainly not use a debit card online, or register it on any online or mobile payment platform, whether it’s for Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Facebook Pay.

It doesn’t matter if Bill Gates or Elon Musk or BTS endorses debit cards. DO NOT USE DEBIT CARDS!

You should certainly never use your debit card to fund Facebook advertisements. Always use a credit card, which offers you some protection against such fraudulent transactions.

Disable Your ATM Card’s Debit Card Function

Even if you have never requested for a debit card, you likely already own one – your ATM card likely doubles as a debit card! Banks have been forcing customers to take on debit cards, often by making ATM cards double as debit cards.

If possible, ask your bank to disable debit card function in your ATM card. But it is likely that they will refuse to do so – they make money from debit card transactions after all!

If your bank refuses to disable the debit card function in your ATM card, you can ask them to set the limit to ZERO. That will effectively block scammers from accessing your bank account!

Monitor Your Credit Card Transactions

Using a credit card to purchase products and services on online and mobile payment platforms offers you some protection against fraud, but you must always monitor the transactions and report any fraudulent transactions right away.

Depending on the country and card network, you usually have about 60 days to dispute credit card charges. So don’t wait. Report them as soon as you spot them! This will reduce the loss and reports you make, and speeds up the refund process.

Recommended : Maybank FB Ads Scam : How To Recover Your Money?!

Remove Your Credit Cards ASAP

If you register your credit cards for use with Facebook Ads or Facebook Pay, try to REMOVE them as soon as you are done.

Do NOT leave them registered to your Facebook Ads or Facebook Pay account, as a scammer or hacker who gains access to your Facebook account can make fraudulent purchases or run fraudulent advertisements using those credit cards without additional verification.

That appears to be the modus operandi of the Facebook Ads scam that has affected so many Maybank customers in recent weeks.

But if you have never registered your credit or debit cards with Facebook, or removed them after using, even if scammers hacked into your Facebook account or gained access through phishing attacks, they won’t be able to use your credit or debit cards!

Enable PIN For Facebook Pay

If you are using Facebook Pay, a scammer who gains access to your Facebook account could potentially use the debit or credit cards you registered earlier to make fraudulent transactions.

To prevent that, you should enable PIN confirmation for Facebook Pay:

  1. Go to Settings in the Facebook website (not app).
  2. Go to Account Settings, and select Orders and payments.
  3. In the Orders and payments page, select Settings.
  4. In the Security section, select Require PIN Confirmation.
  5. You will be asked to enter a 4-digit number as your PIN.
  6. Key in the 4-digit number again to confirm your PIN.

After that, you will be required to key in the 4-digit PIN whenever you make a payment, or change your bank account details, or connect your payment info with other Meta apps.

Recommended : Can Greeting Photos + Videos Hack Your Phone?!

Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

To make it harder for scammers / hackers to gain access to your Facebook account, turn on two-factor authentication:

  1. Go to your Security and Login Settings.
  2. Scroll down to Use two-factor authentication and click Edit.
  3. Choose the security method you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions.
When you set up two-factor authentication on Facebook, you’ll be asked to choose one of three security methods:
Once you’ve turned on two-factor authentication, you can get 10 recovery login codes to use when you’re unable to use your phone.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Cybersecurity | MoneyTech ARP

 

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Maybank FB Ads Scam : How To Recover Your Money?!

If you are one of the many Maybank (MBB) customers who got hit by the Facebook Ads scam, here is how you can recover your money!

 

Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

Many Maybank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!

They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved.

Stephanie Wong : I think i am a very cautious person as I did not link my card to any platform or make purchase through any unsafe website at ALL, but it still happens to me.

I found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately.

They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.

@ruffleseedI heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook
on multiple bank over the past few weeks.

Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messenger handle your SMS.

@MyMaybank has yet to answer us re: this intrusion.

Read more : Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

 

Maybank FB Ads Scam : How To Recover Money?!

Generally, you should NEVER use a debit card because it does not offer the protection a credit card does – money is withdrawn directly from your bank account, and the bank is not legally obliged to refund any money lost through scams.

However, Hafizah Ayko who was once a victim shared her experience on how she managed to recover money, even though the scammers used her debit card to run those fake Facebook advertisements.

To help you recover any money you may have lost to Facebook Ads scammers, I translated and “improved” her instructions for you:

Disable Your Debit / Credit Card

First, you need to quickly disable your debit or credit card. You can call up the bank, or in Maybank’s case:

Step 1 : Log into your Maybank2U account.

Step 2 : Go to Cards, and select Manage My Debit Card.

Step 3 : Select Debit Card – Replace, Renew, Activate & Block.

Step 4 : Select Block Debit Card. You will need to get a replacement card from any Maybank branch later.

If you feel that the above steps are too complicated, an alternative method would be to immediately transfer your money to another bank account, if you have one.

But please DO NOT transfer your money to another person’s account. Only transfer your money to another bank account that you own.

NEVER EVER transfer your money to a third party, especially they claim to be police officers or bank officers trying to help you. That is a scam!

Police departments and banks do NOT have special bank accounts to hold and protect your money during scams. And legitimate police and bank officers are NOT authorised to receive money, and will NEVER ask you to transfer money to their bank accounts.

Recommended : Must You Disable Facebook Auto-Fill To Block Scams?!

Disable Facebook Ads

Next, you need to immediately disable all advertisements that the scammer has set up using your Facebook account. The longer they continue to run, the more you are being charged for them!

Step 1 : Go to your Facebook account, and select See all.

Step 2 : Select Ads Manager.

Step 3 : You should see a bunch of fraudulent advertisements running. Turn all of them off.

Recommended : Beware Of Telegram Screenshot Hack + Scam!

Ask Facebook For Refund

After turning off the fraudulent advertisements, you need to report them, and ask Facebook for a refund.

Step 1 : Go to Ad account settings, and select Report a problem at the lower right corner.

Step 2 : Select Ad Policy or Fraud. Then select Fraudulent Activity.

Step 3 : Explain your situation the best you can, and upload any screenshots you have, and send the report.

After that, Facebook should respond that they would issue a refund for the fraudulent transactions in 3-5 business days!

Alternatively, you can submit report unauthorised or unknown charges to Facebook using this online form.

Recommended : Can SIM Swap empty bank accounts without warning?!

Ask Your Bank For A Refund

You should also report the fraudulent transactions to your bank and request for a refund. This works for credit cards, but you should nevertheless give it a try even if the scammers hit your debit card.

Step 1 : Download the Maybank Dispute Form.

Step 2 : Print or directly fill in the information into the PDF form.

Step 3 : Email the form to disputemgmt@maybank.com.my, together with any relevant screenshots, within 20 days from the closing date of the billing period.

Again, banks are not obliged to refund fraudulent charges to debit cards, as the money is withdrawn directly from your bank account. But there is no harm trying.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Cybersecurity | MoneyTech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

Many Maybank (MBB) customers are getting hit by the Facebook Ads scam!

Find out what’s going on, and what you can do to avoid this Facebook Ads scam!

 

Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

Many Maybank customers are complaining that they are being charged for fraudulent Facebook Ads advertisement campaigns!

They discovered that their debit cards were charged for Facebook advertisements that they never approved.

Stephanie Wong : I think i am a very cautious person as I did not link my card to any platform or make purchase through any unsafe website at ALL, but it still happens to me.

I found out the money deducted from my bank acc through multiple continuous transactions yesterday, then I called Maybank customer service immediately.

They helped me to cancel the card but then the thing happened again this morning.

@ruffleseedI heard tens of millions of Ringgit were reported misappropriated through @facebook
on multiple bank over the past few weeks.

Delete your phone number from Facebook now and do not let @messenger handle your SMS.

@MyMaybank has yet to answer us re: this intrusion.

Recommended : Beware Of Telegram Screenshot Hack + Scam!

Fahim Fahmi : Begitu saja duit kena curi 😢

Translation : That’s how [my] money got stolen 😢

Danish Ihsan : Aku dah kena jugak, satu hari 2 transaction.. nasib sedaq awai, habis rm800.. kalau tak lagi banyak.. maybank dah tak selamat, tadi kat bank pun ada akak kena jugak transfer to others acc beribu2 jugak lah,. Solusi, jangan guna maybank buat masa sekarang..

Translation : I got with with 2 transactions in one day.. luckily, I realised early, but lost rm800.. if not it would have been more.. maybank is not safe, just now at the bank a lady transferred thousands [of ringgit] to other people’s account. Solution, don’t use Maybank for now..

Recommended : Watch Out For TNG eWallet SMS Phishing Scam!

 

Analysis : Facebook Ads Scam May Not Be Related To Maybank

Many of those customers are angry with Maybank over these fraudulent charges to their debit cards, which meant the money was directly withdrawn from their bank accounts.

However, on closer analysis, the scammers may not necessarily be taking advantage of leaked Maybank debit card information, or hacked Maybank itself…

Fact #1 : Other Bank Customers Are Affected Too

While most recent Facebook Ads scam cases appear to be affecting Maybank customers, other bank customers are reporting that they took were charged for those fraudulent advertisements.

@eeshepeeka : nohh laki cek pun kena last week tp kat CIMB. ada few transaction for 2 days nasib dia tolak sikit2. sekali deduct RM12+ sehari 3x ja. deduction description pun sama sebiji cam dlm gambaq tu. haiyaa

Translation : Well, my husband also got [scammed] last week but at CIMB. there were a few transactions for 2 days, but luckily [the scammer] deducted only small amounts. each time deducting RM12+ a day for 3 times. The deduction description is the same as the one in the picture. haiyaa

@ItsNeoah : Banyak kali kena kat credit card ambank. Alhamdulilah call ambank dia mintak isi dispute form then tgok next cycle bil dah takde. Letih ngan scammer ni.

Translation : [My] Ambank credit card got hit many times. Alhamdulillah, after calling Ambank, they asked me to fill out a dispute form, then when I checked the next bill cycle [the charges] was removed. Tired of this scammer.

Recommended : Can SIM Swap empty bank accounts without warning?!

Fact #2 : Most Of Them Ran Facebook Ads In The Past

In addition to analysing their stories, I also spoke to someone who knows several Maybank customers who got hit by the scam. From what I can ascertain, most of them ran Facebook Ads in the past.

Stephanie Wong : 3.) Did not run any ads recently, but few years ago

@wnn_tasha : I last pakai FB ad guna akaun ni tahun 2018. Silap tak remove payment method tu.

Translation : I last used FB ad using this account in 2018. My mistake for not removing the payment method.

They said that they paid for Facebook page a few years ago to boost their audience.

That said, at least two Maybank customers said that they have never registered any debit or credit card with Facebook:

Fahim Fahmi : Tak pernah ada link kad dengan FB atau social media yang lain

Translation : [I] never linked [any] card with FB or other social media

@ruffleseed : I have never set up payment methods on Facebook nor have I ever used Facebook ads.

Recommended : Beware Of Telegram Screenshot Hack + Scam!

Fact #3 : Scammer Likely Got Access To Those Facebook Accounts

What is interesting is that most of those who were affected by this Facebook Ads scam reported that their Facebook accounts were used to create and run those ads.

If their debit or credit cards were merely stolen, the scammers could have created a new Facebook account to use those stolen cards to run Facebook ads.

Fortunately, one of the victims “caught” the scammer logging into her account from the United States. This clearly shows that the Facebook Ads scam requires the scammer to gain access to their Facebook accounts.

It is likely that the scammers gained access to their victims’ Facebook accounts using phishing attacks, and simply used the debit or credit cards that those victims earlier registered with Facebook to run advertisements in the past.

Fact #4 : Facebook Auto-Fill Is Not The Problem

After these cases went viral, people blamed the Auto-Fill feature in Facebook, and shared videos and photos on how to disable it.

The truth is – this Facebook Ads scam very likely has nothing to do with Auto-Fill, which is a feature used in many other services and platforms.

Auto-Fill only makes it easier to fill in your debit or credit card details. It does not bypass any verification that is required to make a payment.

Read more : Must You Disable Facebook Auto-Fill To Block Scams?!

Fact #5 : You Can Recover Your Money!

Now, this is important – you need to move fast to cut your losses, and recover the money. You can also improve your Facebook account security to prevent it from happening again.

For more details, please read our guide – Maybank FB Ads Scam : How To Recover Money?!

 

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Must You Disable Facebook Auto-Fill To Block Scams?!

Must you immediately disable Auto-Fill in Facebook to block scams?!

Here is what you need to know about Facebook Auto-Fill, and getting scammed on Facebook!

 

Claim : Facebook Auto-Fill Opens You To Scams!

People are sharing warnings about Facebook Auto-Fill, together with instructions on how to disable it to block Facebook Ads scams.

Guys check ur Facebook
And make sure these are OFF
this week a lot of MBB customers kena scam

1. Please check your bank account.
2. Please disable ‘auto-fill’ option in Facebook…

Recommended : Facebook Ads Scam Hits Many Maybank Customers!

 

Truth : Facebook Auto-Fill Does Not Open You To Scams

There appears to be a spate of scams involving Facebook Ads and Maybank users, but it does not appear to be related to the Facebook Auto-Fill feature, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Facebook Introduced Auto-Fill In 2013

Facebook started introducing Auto-Fill sometime in September 2013, and gradually rolled it out globally over the years, so this is not a new feature.

Fact #2 : Many App Use Auto-Fill

Facebook isn’t the only app or platform to use Auto-Fill. Many services and platforms use Auto-Fill to make it easier to fill up forms and make payments.

The Auto-Fill feature is used in most, if not all, e-commerce / online shopping / online payment platforms, to expedite payments. The idea is that if they make it easier it is for you to pay, you will tend to buy more!

Many apps and services also use Auto-Fill to help you fill onerous forms with common details like your full name, email address, address and telephone number.

Fact #3 : Facebook Does Not Automatically Have Your Details

Facebook enables Auto-Fill by default for forms and payment, but that does not mean it has access to your debit or credit cards, or even your personal details. You need to manually key in your Contact Info and/or Payment Info for Facebook Auto-Fill to work.

If you have never given Facebook your credit card details, there is no way for its Auto-Fill to automatically fill in the credit card details for any transaction. Even if a scammer gains access to your Facebook account, he/she cannot use Auto-Fill because you never keyed in your debit or credit card details in the first place!

I did a quick check on two cases involving Maybank that came up recently (first example) (second example), and noticed that both parties who reported that they got fraudulently charged for Facebook Ads never registered their credit card with Facebook at all!

So whatever may be going on, it does not appear to be a Facebook Auto-Fill issue. But just in case you are worried, here are the latest steps on how to disable Auto-Fill on the Facebook mobile app.

  1. Tap on your icon at the upper right corner of the Facebook app to access the Menu.
  2. Scroll down the Menu until you see the Settings & privacy group.
  3. Tap on Settings.
  4. Scroll down the Settings & privacy page, and tap on Browser.
  5. Scroll down the Browser settings page to the Auto-fill section.
  6. You can tap on the Contact info and Payment info to check what information you shared with Facebook.
  7. To disable Auto-fill for contact information, unselect Auto-fill contact forms.
  8. To disable Auto-fill for payment, unselect Auto-fill payment forms.

Recommended : Can SIM Swap empty bank accounts without warning?!

Fact #4 : Auto-Fill Cannot Bypass TAC Verification

Even if you registered your credit card details with Facebook, and then use Auto-Fill to make a purchase, you will still need to authenticate that purchase.

Of course, it is possible to conduct a SIM swap attack, but that’s a different story altogether…

Fact #5 : Existing Facebook Ads Account Is A Risk

Those who have earlier registered a Facebook Ads account and ran advertisements may be at risk, because their credit cards would already be linked to their Facebook Ads account.

A scammer who gains access to their account (usually through phishing attacks) can easily create and run advertisements using their existing Facebook Ads account using the credit cards that have already been registered and approved earlier.

To minimise your risk, never ever use a debit card! Always use a CREDIT CARD, and always keep an eye on the transactions. Report to the bank once you see a fraudulent transaction.

But this has nothing to do with the Facebook Auto-Fill feature, and is not a concern if you never pre-approved your debit or credit cards with a Facebook Ads account.

Fact #5 : Existing Facebook Pay Account Is A Risk

Similarly, if you are using Facebook Pay, a scammer who gains access to your Facebook account could potentially use the debit or credit cards you registered earlier to make fraudulent transactions.

Again, you should NEVER use a debit card with Facebook Pay. Use a credit card, and always keep an eye on the transactions, and report to the bank once you see something fishy.

On top of that, you should enable PIN confirmation for Facebook Pay:

  1. Go to Settings in the Facebook website (not app).
  2. Go to Account Settings, and select Orders and payments.
  3. In the Orders and payments page, select Settings.
  4. In the Security section, select Require PIN Confirmation.
  5. You will be asked to enter a 4-digit number as your PIN.
  6. Key in the 4-digit number again to confirm your PIN.

After that, you will be required to key in the 4-digit PIN whenever you make a payment, or change your bank account details, or connect your payment info with other Meta apps.

Recommended : Maybank FB Ads Scam : How To Recover Money?!

 

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Did US Steal $50 Trillion Of Gold + Oil From Iraq?!

Did the US government steal $50 trillion worth of gold and oil from Iraq?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : US Stole Gold + Oil From Iraq Worth $50 Trillion!

People are sharing photos of US soldiers posing with gold bars, as evidence that the United States sold gold and oil from Iraq worth tens of trillions of dollars!

These photos have been revived on the 20th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as part of the information warfare surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, being shared and promoted on pro-CCP and pro-Russia groups on social media, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.

Here the US thieves in Iraq. Bringing democracy aka stealing a country’s gold. Same thing they want to do in Russia. But Russia is no Iraq or Libya.

The #US ransacked and plundered the whole of #Iraq. Banks, museums, all of their gold reserves. The US is the biggest gang of thiefs in the whole history. They have raped most of the planet in the last 50 years. #Ukraine #UkraineRussianWar #UkraineRussiaWar #Russia #Putin #NATO

🇺🇸 “liberates” gold & oil while 🇷🇺 liberates humans.

#Denaƶification & #Demilitarization of #UkroNaƶiLand

 

Truth : US Did Not Steal Gold + Oil From Iraq At All!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and/or propagated to deflect criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : US Did Not Steal $30 Trillion Of Iraqi Oil

Claims that the US stole $30 trillion worth of oil from Iraq are false. The United States did lose track of 8.7 billion dollars worth of Iraqi funds though.

After the invasion of Iraq concluded, Iraqi oil was sold to help fund the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI). Other sources of funds include surplus funds (about USD 10 billion) from the UN Oil-For-Food Program, and the sale of seized Iraqi assets.

The United States did not truck away Iraqi oil, as claimed. In July 2010, the US Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) discovered that the US Department of Defense could not account properly for USD 8.7 billion of DFI funds.

This led the Iraqi Parliament to request the United Nation’s help in demanding that the US return $17 billion of “oil money” that it said was stolen from the Iraqi people :

All the indications are that the institutions of the United States of America committed financial corruption by stealing the money of the Iraqi people, which was allocated to develop Iraq, (and) that it was about $17 billion.

… Our committee decided to send this issue to you … to look into it and restore the stolen money.

There is no evidence that the unaccounted money was repatriated to the United States, or officially taken by the United States.

Even assuming that it was not poor accounting and all of the $8.7 billion was truly stolen, that is a far cry (0.029%) from the $30 trillion that was “allegedly” stolen.

It is also rendered ludicrous by the fact that the United States spent US$60 billion in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Also consider the fact that Iraqi oil production only reached 4.4 million barrels per day in 2016. Assuming an average sale price of USD 60 per barrel, it would take them 311 years to sell enough oil to make $30 trillion.

Stealing $30 trillion worth of oil would require 1.7 billion oil trucks, or 46,000 of these trucks every day for 100 years!

Fact #2 : US Did Not Steal $20 Trillion Of Iraqi Gold

The United States also did not steal gold from Iraq, certainly not $20 trillion worth of gold!

All those photos of US soldiers with Iraqi gold bars are genuine, but they only show them taking photos with the gold they seized in Iraq.

The Iraqi gold bars (as well as currency and other valuables) that US soldiers seized were transported to the US Army’s headquarters in Kuwait.

There, they were examined by the Secret Service and/or the US Department of Treasury to determine their authenticity and value, before being returned to the Central Iraqi Treasury or the Development Fund of Iraq (DFI).

This is a picture of Lt. Col. Scott Schmidt, who was in charge of the 230th Finance Battalion. The battalion’s job was to seize Iraqi assets like currency, gold bars and other valuables.

In 2003, Iraq had under 6 tonnes of gold reserves, worth less than $70 million. So how can the United States possibly steal 20 trillion dollars worth of gold from Iraq? $20 trillion worth of gold would weigh at least 1,714,285 tonnes in 2003.

Guess how much gold mankind has ever mined in history? Only 205,238 tonnes as of January 2023 – which is less than 12% of what people are claiming that the United States stole from Iraq.

As of January 2023, the value of all the gold in the world is only USD 9.6 trillionless than half of what the conspiracy theory claims the United States stole from Iraq… and that’s only because gold prices have gone up considerably.

Even with the much higher gold price, it would take an additional 90 years of mining gold before the entire world has $20 trillion worth of gold for the US government to steal.

Now that you know the truth, please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check out!

 

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Can SIM Swap empty bank accounts without warning?!

Can a SIM swap attack empty your bank accounts without warning?!

Take a look at the viral warning, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2023-03-03 : Added some additional details
Originally posted @ 2022-01-16

 

Claim : SIM Swap Attack Can Empty Bank Accounts Without Warning!

This message has gone viral on social media and WhatsApp, warning about a new high tech fraud called SIM Swap Fraud that can empty bank accounts without warning.

The message includes a link to a Straits Times report about a young couple who lost $120,000 in a fake text message scam targeting OCBC Bank customers.

Your BANK Account could be Emptied without an Alert!

Dear All, Please let’s be very careful.. There is a new HIGH TECH FRAUD in town called the SIM SWAP FRAUD, and hundreds of persons are already VICTIMS.

Recommended : Beware Of Telegram Screenshot Hack + Scam!

 

Truth : SIM Swap Attack Are Real, But Don’t Work Like That

The truth is – SIM swap attacks are real and very dangerous, but they do not work like the viral message claims.

Here is what you need to know about the viral message, and SIM swap attacks.

Fact #1 : SIM Swap Attacks Are Not New

SIM swap attacks are really not that new. Scammers have been using SIM swap attacks since 2015, if not earlier.

Fact #2 : Viral Message Is Mostly False

The viral message is correct about the risk of SIM swap attacks, but pretty much wrong about everything else.

In fact, the method by which the SIM swap attack works is completely made up. So the viral message is really FAKE NEWS.

Fact #3 : Straits Times Article Was Not About SIM Swap

The fake news creator added a link to a Straits Time article, to mislead you.

That’s because the article isn’t about a SIM swap attack, but a phishing attack, where the victim received an SMS  with a link that took him to a fake website that “looked exactly like the OCBC login page“.

The victim then keyed in his bank login details, thus handing over control of his bank account to the scammers. He also ignored automated messages warning him that his “account was being setup on another phone“.

It had nothing to do with a SIM swap attack. It was an SMS-based phishing attack.

Recommended : How To Turn On Two-Step Verification In Telegram!

Fact #4 : SIM Swap Attack Generally Does Not Require Any Action

In most SIM swap attacks, scammers use your personal information, either purchased from other criminals or obtained through earlier phishing attacks or social engineering, to request for a SIM card replacement.

All that does not require any action on your part. In most cases, you only realise you’ve been hit when you lose access to your mobile number.

Fact #5 : SIM Swap Attack May Require Action In Some Cases

The Press 1 claim in the viral message is partially correct, but it only happens in a particular circumstance.

In India, scammers have tricked people by offering a free network upgrade, or to help improve signal quality on their phones :

  1. The scammer will call the victim, claiming to be from their mobile service provider.
  2. The scammer will try to get the victim to reveal his/her 20-digit SIM card number.
  3. The scammer will use the 20-digit SIM number to initiate a SIM swap with the mobile service provider.
  4. The mobile service provider will automatically send an SMS to confirm the swap.
  5. Once the victim confirms the swap, his/her SIM card will stop working.
  6. The scammer now has access to the victim’s mobile number.

Fact #6 : SIM Swap Attack Does Not Hack Your Phone

The SIM swap attack does not involve any hacking of your phone.

You only lose access to your mobile number. Your phone is not hacked.

Recommended : Can Greeting Photos + Videos Hack Your Phone?!

Fact #7 : SIM Swap Attack Does Not Empty Bank Accounts

Once the scammers successfully gain control of your mobile number, they can use it to intercept one-time passwords (OTP) like TAC numbers.

This allows them to change passwords to your bank accounts, social media accounts, etc. which is why SIM swap attacks are so dangerous and damaging.

However, it does not mean your bank accounts are immediately emptied. For one thing – the scammers need to know your bank login.

That’s why SIM swap victims often have had their bank logins and passwords stolen earlier though phishing attacks. The scammers only need their mobile numbers to receive OTP / TAC numbers to authenticate the transfers.

Fact #8 : SIM Swap Attack Can Be Used To Cheat Friends Too!

Stealing money from your bank account requires extra work, so scammers who do not have your bank login details will resort to cheating your friends.

With access to your phone number, they can easily gain access to your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) as well as instant messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram).

Once they have control, they can send messages to your friends, pretending to be you. Naturally, they will concoct some story to ask your friends for money.

The idea is to use your (now) stolen accounts to convince your friends that you genuinely need their help. The money that they transfer goes directly to the scammers, or their mules (people who rent their bank accounts to scammers).

Now that you know the facts behind the SIM swap attack or scam, please SHARE this article with your family and friends!

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Watch Out For TNG eWallet SMS Phishing Scam!

In this article, we will show you many types of TNG eWallet SMS phasing scam, so you can avoid them!

 

Watch Out For TNG eWallet SMS Phishing Scam!

People are getting these SMS messages that appear to be from TNG eWallet, but are really just phishing scams!

RMO TNG eWallet: Bantuan e-dompet kepada golongan B40&M40 RM1000 akan dikreditkan ke dalam TNG eWallet anda. Kemaskini maklumat dan semakan status di www.tngewalletbantuangov.com

RMO T’n GO Your account function has been closed. You need to confirm the device immediately. Follow my.tngwallc.com

RMO TNG Wallet: Permohonan GOpinjam anda telah diluluskan, RM3000 telah kredit ke TNG Wallet anda. Sila semak baki dan tuntutan anda di http://logtouchngo.cc

RMO GOV: Terima kasih atas sokongan anda dari kerajaan BN. Bantuan e-dompet kepada rakyat Malaysia berjumlah RM500 telah kredit ke TNG Wallet anda. Sila sahkan identiti dan semak baki anda di https://touchngoemy.top/

 

How TNG eWallet SMS Phishing Scam Works!

The many examples of the TNG eWallet phishing scam employ SMS spoofing technology to send you SMS messages that appear to be from the TNG eWallet team.

What most people don’t know is that – the TNG eWallet team will never send you any SMS messages to :

  • offer you money from government or other agencies
  • inform you that money has been credited to your eWallet
  • ask you to log into your eWallet account using a link
  • ask you to update your account information using a link

The TNG eWallet team warned users against clicking on any links sent by SMS, even if they appear to be genuine. Genuine TNG eWallet SMS messages will never have a link attached.

These links do not lead to the real TNG eWallet website (https://www.touchngo.com.my/), but use similar-looking fake domains, like:

tngewalletbantuangov.com
my.tngwallc.com
logtouchngo.cc
touchngoemy.top
ewallettouchng.top
touchngosign.com
touchngolog.top
logintouchngo.cc
touchngo.life
touchngologin.cc
my.touchngo.com
my.touchwalf.com
my.touchwalp.com
my.tngowalle.com
my.tngowallet.com
tngwallet.top

If you see such domains, you should be alert that you are being targeted by a phishing scam. NEVER CLICK ON A LINK in any TNG eWallet SMS.

If you click on any of these links, you will be taken to a page that looks like a genuine TNG eWallet login page, but is really a phishing scam page.

If you key in your login details, as well as your phone number and One-Time Password (OTP), the scammers will have full access to your eWallet, and can freely transfer out your eWallet balance.

As many of us link our credit cards to the TNG eWallet, the scammers can also reload your eWallet using those credit cards, and transfer the money out.

So make sure you IGNORE any SMS message that asks you to click on a link, even if it appears to be from TNG eWallet.

Please help to fight financial scams, by SHARING this article with your family and friends!

 

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SBF Allegedly Hid $8 Billion In Korean Friend Account!

The CFTC just alleged that Sam Bankman-Fried (better known as SBF) hid $8 billion of Alameda liabilities in a “Korean friend” account on the FTX crypto exchange!

 

SBF Allegedly Hid $8B Liabilities In Korean Friend Account!

In the spring of 2022, Alameda Research experienced a large number of margin and loan recalls following a major downturn in the crypto markets. To meet its external debt obligations, the trading firm “greatly increased” its usage of customer funds.

By the middle of 2022, Alameda’s total fiat liability with FTX was around $8 billion. That was when, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) alleged, Sam Bankman-Fried (better known as SBF) directed his executives to move approximately $8 billion of Alameda liabilities into an unknown customer account, which he would later refer to as “our Korean friend’s account” and/or “the weird Korean account”.

The CFTC added that even though this was a sub-account under Alameda, it was labelled as “FTX fiat old” and did not have the usual @alameda-research.com email account identifier. Instead, it was stored in an internal account in the FTX database as “fiat@ftx.com”

This allowed the liabilities in that account to be hidden on FTX ledgers. Yet, the “Korean friend” account had the same privileges as Alameda’s other accounts, including exemption from liquidation characteristics.

Recommended : SBF Flew Business As Judge Recuses From FTX Case!

 

FTX Korean Friend Account Had Special Privileges!

The “Korean friend” account had privileges to execute a transaction on FTX, even if it did not have the funds to do so. It was accomplished through a piece of code labeled as “allow negative flag”.

Separately, Bloomberg reported on December 14, that a GitHub account under the name Nishad Singh (FTX’s former engineering director), created or annotated code linked to that “Korean friend” account.

Looking back at what SBF said about Alameda, the signs were there that Alameda Research was likely losing money hand over fist.

Back in September 2022, SBF said that they should have shut down Alameda Research a year ago – before it was hit by the crypto winter.

I only started thinking about this today, and so haven’t vetted it much yet. But I think it might be time for Alameda Research to shut down. Honestly, it was probably time to do that a year ago.

By the time he made that comment, SBF probably knew that it would be a matter of time before his house of cards came falling down…

 

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Public Bank Founder Teh Hong Piow Dies At 92

Public Bank founder and Chairman Emeritus Teh Hong Piow died today, at the age of 92.

 

Public Bank Founder Teh Hong Piow Dies At 92

Public Bank just announced that its founder and Chairman Emeritus, Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow died peacefully at 10:20 AM today, 12 December 2022, at the age of 92.

Teh Hong Piow was born in Singapore on 14 March, 1930, and studied at the Anglo Chinese School there. He began his banking career in 1950, as a clerk in the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd.

Ten years later, he joined Malayan Banking as a manager, and in 1964, was promoted to the position of general manager at just 34 years of age.

Teh left Malayan Banking two years later to set up Public Bank on 6 August 1966, with its first branch at Jalan Gereja, Kuala Lumpur. Several months later, Public Bank was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on April 6, 1967.

He stepped down as Public Bank CEO in July 2002, and was appointed as a non-executive chairman. He retired in December 2018, and was conferred the title of Chairman Emeritus in January 2019 and remained a non-executive director.

Teh Hong Piow was ranked 4th in the Forbes list of richest men in Malaysia, with a fortune worth US$5.7 billion (RM25 billion).

He leaves behind his wife, Puan Seri Tay Sock Noy, whom he married in 1956, and their four children.

 

Public Bank Statement On Death Of Founder Teh Hong Piow

On 12 December 2022, Public Bank CEO Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tay Ah Lek released this statement on the death of the bank’s founder and Chairman Emeritus:

Announcing the Demise of YBbg. Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow

It is with deep sorrow we announce that our Chairman Emeritus, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tch Hong Piow, the Founder of Public Bank, has passed away peacefully at 10:20 am today at the age of92. Tan Sri Teh’s passing is a great loss to the Public Bank Group. On behalf of the Board, Management and staff of the Public Bank Group, we extend our most heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Tan Sri Teh’s family.

Tan Sri Teh founded Public Bank in 1965 at the age of 35. He was appointed as the Chief Exccutive Officer and Managing Director of Public Bank since its commencement of business operations on 6 August 1966. He relinquished his CEO position and was re-designated as Non-Executive Chairman of Public Bank on 1 July 2002. He retired as the Non-Executive Chairman of Public Bank on 31 December 2018, and was conferred the title of Chairman Emeritus and Adviser of Public Bank on 1 January 2019, and remained as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Public Bank.

 

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Do You Need A Readable MyKad To Vote In Election?!

Is it true that you must have a machine-readable MyKad to vote in the GE15 general election?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : You Need A Readable MyKad To Vote In Election!

This warning has gone viral on WhatsApp, claiming that you will be barred from voting in GE15 if you do not have a readable MyKad.

Breaking News 2-11-22…😱😪🙇🏻🤦🏻‍♂️

Ensure your MyKad is machine readable. Friday, I went to the bank was surprised all their card reader could not read my NRIC. Good to discover it before election day otherwise, I could not vote! Is this another UMNO/ BN trick to disable IC? CIMB bank told me lately, many chinese/indian IC not readable.

确保您的 MyKad 是机器扫描可读的。 星期五,我去银行很惊讶他们所有的扫描读卡器都无法读取我的身份证。 很高兴在选举日之前发现它,否则我无法投票! 这是另一个巫统/国阵禁用IC的技巧吗? CIMB银行最近告诉我,很多华人/印度人IC扫描不可读。

Read more : Malaysia GE15 : Printing + Voting Hours Fact Check!

 

Truth : You Don’t Need A Readable MyKad To Vote In GE15!

These are just more examples of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : You Need To Bring Your MyKad

To vote in the GE15 general election, you must bring your MyKad – colloquially known as the IC (Identity Card).

The MyKad is really the only thing you need to verify your identity at the voting centre.

Fact #2 : No Requirement To Machine Verify Your MyKad

Election officials will verify your MyKad against the voter list for that particular polling station in your constituency.

They do not need to read your MyKad for any information, merely to confirm your identity.

Fact #3 : MyKad Chip Not Necessary For Identity Verification

Machine verification of the MyKad is only necessary at banks because they need to authenticate your fingerprint.

Fingerprint authentication is not required to vote in a general election in Malaysia. Therefore, there is no need for election officials to read the MyKad chip.

Recommended : Every Postal Vote Requires Malaysian Adult Witness!

Fact #4 : CIMB Bank Never Reported Problems With Chinese / Indian IC

The viral warning falsely claimed that CIMB Bank reported that many Chinese / Indian IC are not readable. That never happened, and is a complete lie.

Fact #5 : No One Can Remotely Disable MyKad Chip

The Malaysian identity card – MyKad – has an embedded chip with 32 KB / 64 GB / 80 KB EEPROM memory chip to support digital applications.

When the bank or a government agency needs to access the stored information, a chip reader extracts that information directly from your MyKad.

This chip cannot be remotely disabled by any nefarious government out to foil your right to vote in GE15. To do that, they will need to have physical access to your card.

Fact #6 : Disabling MyKad So Early Is Stupid

The plot of the viral warning is truly idiotic – the government is remotely disabling the identity cards of Chinese and Indian voters more than 2 weeks before the GE15 general election.

Never mind the fact that it’s not possible to remotely disable these cards (see Fact #5), disabling them more than 2 weeks before the general election would allow those voters to get replacement MyKads!

If there is really a plot to block Chinese or Indian voters by disabling their MyKad chips, it would make sense to only do it on election day!

Recommended : Bangladeshi Man With Malaysian IC + Chinese Name?!

Fact #7 : You Can Get Replacement MyKad Very Quickly!

Did you know that you can get a replacement MyKad in as little time as 33 minutes. In other words, even if your MyKad fails on election day, it is actually possible to get a replacement in less than an hour!

Applicants who choose to collect their MyKad at the Putrajaya NRD Headquarters and the Selected Branches with distributed printing machines may do so within 33 minutes. Those who choose to collect it at any NRD branch offices in Peninsular Malaysia will be able to do so within 5 working days. Any NRD branch offices in Sabah, Sarawak or Labuan will have the card ready for collection within 7 working days.

Fact #8 : There Are Easier Ways To Dilute Chinese / Indian Votes

The viral message insinuates that the government is trying to block Chinese / Indian citizens from voting in the GE15 general election.

The truth is – there are far easier and more reliable ways to dilute Chinese or Indian votes, than to hatch such a ridiculous plot.

Shifting demographics already mean that Chinese and Indian voters only account for some 22% and 6.5% of the electorate respectively. In other words – even if they all vote as a solid block, they are still a minority.

Gerrymandering also also ensured that cities, where most Chinese and Indian voters tend to congregate, have far fewer seats than rural areas.

Ultimately, the government of the day does not need to resort to such stupid and unworkable tactics to dilute the Chinese and Indian votes.

 

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Maybank To Fully Migrate SMS OTP To Secure2u!

Maybank just officially announced that it will fully migrate from SMS OTP to Secure2u, as part of efforts to crack down on scams!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Maybank To Fully Migrate SMS OTP To Secure2u!

On 28 September 2022, Maybank officially announced that it will fully migrate from SMS OTP to Secure2u, as part of efforts to crack down on scams!

By June 2023, all online activities or transactions involving account opening, fund transfers and payments, as well as changes to personal information or account settings, will require Secure2u authentication.

This announcement came after Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) ordered banks to migrate from the SMS OTP (One Time Password) to more secure authentication methods.

We remain highly committed in helping our customers to avoid being scammed by fraudsters.  This is done through existing security measures that are already in place and as we progressively rollout more measures that can help deter or minimise the likelihood of customers falling prey to financial scams.

We are also supportive of Bank Negara Malaysia’s announcement on 26 September 2022 in relation to the five measures to be adopted by banks in Malaysia to ensure higher standards of security, especially for Internet and mobile banking services.

The banking industry is committed to working together to combat financial scams which are increasingly prevalent in today’s digitalised environment.

– Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, Group President & CEO of Maybank

Read more : BNM Orders Banks To Stop Using SMS OTP To Fight Scams!

 

Details Of How Maybank Secure2u Will Replace SMS OTP

Secure2u isn’t new. It was introduced in April 2017 as a more secure way for Maybank customers to authorise Maybank2u and MAE transactions using Secure Verification (one-tap approval) and Secure Transaction activation codes (a 6-digit TAC number generated in the app), as an alternate to SMS OTP.

Maybank also revealed some details of how Secure2u will be enhanced as it replaces SMS OTP :

  • Only one Secure2u device will be allowed per account holder (customer) to minimise the possibility of compromise by a third party
  • Maybank will alert the customer by SMS, a push notification, and an email when Secure2u is registered on a new device.
  • In Q4 2022, Maybank will introduce a cooling-off period whenever customers enable Secure2u on a different device. This cooling-off period will give customers the opportunity to verify and report to the bank in case of any unauthorised Secure2u registration on a new device.

In addition to Secure2u, Maybank is heeding BNM’s call for tightened fraud detection rules and triggers, and has in place a call-back verification process to alert customers of suspicious transactions.

Read more : Maybank: New Secure2u Activations Only On MAE App

 

Maybank Advice On Fighting Scam

Maybank has a dedicated 24/7 hotline for customers to report financial scams at +603-5891-4744. Customers are advised to call the hotline immediately, as soon as they suspect that their banking details have been compromised, or whenever they notice suspicious transactions, so their bank accounts can be suspended swiftly.

Alternatively, customers can also contact the general Maybank Customer Care Hotline at 1-300-88-6688 to report scams / fraud, or to seek assistance in suspending their bank accounts.

Finally, here are some tips from Maybank on how to protect yourself while using online platforms:

  • Avoid installing/downloading apps/Android Package Kit (APK) files or clicking on suspicious links sent via chat messages such as SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger or other similar services.
  • Do not provide permission for any app to send or view your SMSes.
  • Do not ignore any warnings from your devices, especially when downloading or installing a new file.
  • Do not enter your banking details, especially username or password, in any suspicious apps or websites.
  • Always keep your antivirus software updated for constant protection.
  • Only download apps from the genuine app stores such as Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery and not from a link.
  • Be alert if you are being prompted to download a file that is not compatible with your device i.e.: iPhone/iPad device being asked to use an Android device to download a file.
  • Always look out for your online banking security image and phrase (i.e.: Maybank2u security image and phrase), to ensure the website and app are legitimate.
  • Do not root or jailbreak your device.
  • Update your mobile device’s operating system (OS) and apps regularly.

Finally, we must all remember to NEVER share with anyone (not even bank employees) details of our bank accounts.

Please SHARE this article and these tips with your family and friends!

 

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BNM : Banks To Stop Using SMS OTP To Fight Scams!

Bank Negara Malaysia has ordered banks to stop using SMS OTP, as a way to fight financial scams!

Here is what you need to know…

 

BNM : Banks To Stop Using SMS OTP To Fight Scams!

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has ordered banks in Malaysia to stop using SMS OTP (One Time Passwords), and migrate to a more secure form of authentication for online transactions.

This move comes after many Malaysians were hit by scams that bypassed the security offered by SMS OTP, leading to great loss of their hard-earned money.

BNM governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said major banks in Malaysia have already started migrating from SMS OTP to more secure forms of authentication.

 

BNM : More Measures Beyond SMS OTP To Fight Scams!

In addition to “banning” SMS OTP, BNM has ordered the further tightening of detection rules and triggers to block potential scams.

This includes adding a cooling-off period for first-time enrolments of online banking services, as well as devices being registered for authentication purposes.

Banks will also be required to set up dedicated scam hotlines, and provide convenient ways for customers to suspend their bank accounts if they suspect that those accounts have been compromised.

Banks also have to ensure that customers are able to reactivate their accounts after a reasonable period, after ensuring that their accounts have been secured.

Together with the financial industry, BNM will continue to ensure that banking and payment channels remain secure and equipped with the latest security controls. The effort to combat financial crimes also requires the support of all parties. As consumers, each of us are responsible for protecting ourselves from the threat of scams.

The reality, however, is that methods used by criminals will continue to evolve. BNM therefore continuously intensifies efforts and take steps to combat scams by introducing additional controls and safeguards from time to time.

– BNM governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus

Read more : Bank Negara Malaysia Email Scam Alert!

Despite these efforts, it is critical that we must all learn to safeguard our personal information and avoid downloading files or installing applications from unverified sources on our computer or smartphones.

We should also check our bank and credit card statements, and notify the banks once we notice anything suspicious.

Those who believe that they are victims of a scam should contact the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559/1599 or BNMTelelink at 1-300-88-5465; and lodge a police report to facilitate investigations.

 

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Maybank: New Secure2u Activations Only On MAE App

Maybank will only allow new Secure2u activations on their MAE app, instead of their Maybank2u app!

 

Maybank : New Secure2u Activations Only On MAE App

From 26 September 2022 onwards, Maybank will only allow new Secure2u activations on their MAE e-wallet app, instead of their Maybank2u banking app.

Secure2u is a mobile app-based authentication method for your banking transactions, which replaces the SMS TAC that is vulnerable to SIM swap attacks.

This change only affects new Secure2u activations. If you have already activated Secure2u on your Maybank2u banking app, then you can continue to use the Maybank2u app to approve your transactions as usual.

Maybank will also move two Amanah Saham National Berhad (ASNB) services from the Maybank2u app to the MAE app permanently, starting 7 October 2022.

  • View own and child’s account balance(s)
  • Make transfers to own account(s) via Favourites

This shifting of features is part of Maybank’s push to “encourage” its customers to switch to their MAE e-wallet app, and it plans to phase out the Maybank2u app eventually.

By moving customers to MAE, Maybank is hoping that they might start using its e-wallet feature, as well as reduce its need to develop and maintain two separate mobile apps.

 

12-Hour Activation Delay For Secure2u In MAE

To further strengthen the appeal of the MAE app, Maybank is going to boost the security of its Secure2u feature.

Starting 8 October 2022, the Secure2u feature in the MAE app will be enhanced with a 12-hour activation period to prevent unauthorised activations.

Those who activate Secure2u in MAE on a new device will need to wait at least 12 hours, before they can begin using the Secure2u feature to authenticate any transaction.

The idea is to give the account owner at least 12 hours to detect any potential fraudulent attempt to activate Secure2u on unauthorised devices.

 

How To Set Up Secure2u In MAE

Setting up Secure2u in the MAE app is straightforward :

  1. Install the MAE app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or HUAWEI AppGallery.
  2. Launch the MAE app, and tap More.
  3. Tap on Settings at the top of the screen.
  4. Tap on Maybank2u and log into your Maybank account.
  5. Tap the toggle button next to Secure2u to enable it.
  6. Tap on Activate Now.
  7. Key in and confirm your mobile number.
  8. Maybank will send a One-Time Password (OTP) to you via SMS.
  9. Key in the OTP number and confirm your device name to authorise the change.

That’s it! Then you just need to use your MAE app (instead of SMS TAC) to authenticate your future banking transactions on Maybank.

 

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Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!

Apple did not announce anything official, but Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!

Here is what you need to know, and how you can start using Apple Pay in Malaysia!

 

Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!

Apple Pay was first launched way back in September 2014, together with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, its global availability was slow and some would say, tortuous.

For years, Apple fans in Malaysia have requested for Apple Pay to be introduced in Malaysia, and could only look at Singapore in envy, when Apple Pay was introduced there more than six years ago in April 2016!

But the wait is over! The steady drip of leaks has finally culminated in actual confirmation that yes, Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!

Apple did not announce anything, but you can now add your debit / credit cards to Apple Pay and start using it in Malaysia!

This makes Malaysia only the second country in Southeast Asia to support Apple Pay. The first was Singapore in April 2016.

Malaysia is also only the 10th territory in Asia to support Apple Pay, after Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Singapore.

 

What Banks Currently Support Apple Pay In Malaysia?

Right off the bat, I have to warn you that support for Apple Pay is still pretty limited in Malaysia, to just three banks as far as I can tell.

Banks In Malaysia That Support Apple Pay

You will be able to register debit and credit cards issued by these banks :

  • AmBank
  • Maybank
  • Standard Chartered Bank

Banks In Malaysia That Do Not Support Apple Pay

You won’t be able to add debit or credit cards from these banks :

  • CIMB
  • Citibank
  • UOB
  • OCBC

I will update this article as and when I find out what other banks in Malaysia support, or don’t support, Apple Pay.

Read more : How To Add MySJ Vaccine Certificate To Apple Wallet + Health

 

How To Register Apple Pay In Malaysia?

To help you register your debit / credit card with Apple Pay, here is my step-by-step guide :

Step 1 : Open the Wallet app in your iPhone.

Step 2 : Tap on the Add button to “Add a credit or debit card to get started using Apple Pay”.

Step 3 : In the next screen, tap on the Continue button.

Step 4 : You will now be asked to “scan” your debit / credit card using your iPhone camera, positioning it within the frame.

Step 5 : The Wallet app will try to pick up important details of your credit card like :

  • Name
  • Credit card number
  • Expiry date

If nothing happens, that means it cannot read the details off the card. Then you will need to tap on the Enter Card Details Manually option at the bottom.

Step 6 : Whether your card details are detected or not, verify the key card details required by Apple Pay :

  • Name
  • Card Number
  • Expiry Date
  • Security Code

If the detected details are wrong, edit them to make sure they match your debit / credit card.

Step 7 : You will need to key in the Security Code, which is a 3-digit or 4-digit CSC (Card Security Code) / CVV (Card Verification Value) / CVC (Card Verification Code) usually printed on the back of your debit / credit card.

Step 8 : If your credit card is not supported, you will get a pop-up message saying :

Your Issuer Does Not Yet Offer Support for This Card

Ask your issuer if they offer cards that support Apple Pay.

If your card is supported, you will see a list of Terms and Conditions. You will need to tap on Agree to continue.

Step 9 : The screen show details of your credit card while the Wallet app sets it up for Apple Pay. Just wait for a few seconds.

Step 10 : You will now be asked to verify your card for Apple Pay, usually through Text Message. Tap Next to continue with the verification process.

Step 11 : You will receive an SMS with a 6-digit One Time Password (OTP). You need to key that in within 2 minutes :

Card enrolment OTP for your digital wallet is XXXXXX. It will expire after 2 mins. If you have not performed this, please contact the bank.

Step 12 : Tap Next after keying in the OTP, and you should see the Card Activated notice.

That’s it! Your credit card is now ready for Apple Pay. When you open your Wallet, you should see that debit / credit card listed.

 

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Confirmed : Apple Pay Is Launching Soon In Malaysia!

Multiple leaks confirm that Apple Pay is launching soon in Malaysia! Here is what you need to know…

 

Leaks Confirm Apple Pay Is Launching Soon In Malaysia!

Multiple leaks have more or less let the cat out of the bag – that Apple Pay is launching soon in Malaysia!

This would make Malaysia the second country in Southeast Asia to support Apple Pay, and the 10th territory in Asia, after Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Singapore.

AmBank Sent Apple Pay SMS

The first to leak was AmBank, when they sent out an SMS to their customers in July 2022, prematurely telling them that they can now use Apple Pay.

It appeared to have been a test run that ran awry, as their Apple Pay website was not yet ready. But it alerted everyone to the fact that Apple Pay is coming to Malaysia.

Shopee Added Apple Pay As Payment Option

The second to leak was Shopee, which released an Apple Pay option in version 2.91.28 of their app on 2 August 2022.

If you tap on it, you will simply be asked to “ensure there’s an active card in your Apple Pay wallet to proceed“.

Of course, you can’t actually add any credit / debit card to your Apple Pay wallet yet, but you can see that it is listed as a payment option.

Maxis Accidentally Promotes Apple Pay As Payment Option

On 5 August 2022, a Maxis Centre accidentally put out a cardboard sign announcing “Apple Pay accepted here“.

The tweet was deleted by its poster, but the cardboard sign was traced to the Sri Muda Maxis Centre in Shah Alam.

sorry guys had to delete the tweets atas permintaan pihak tertentu. but don’t worry cuz apple pay is coming soon to Malaysia!

AmBank Released Their Apple Pay Portal!

On 8 August 2022, AmBank (accidentally?) released their Apple Pay portal, confirming that the contactless payment system is ready to launch in Malaysia!

The AmBank Apple Pay portal has now been removed, but here are some of the details it revealed :

  • There is no transaction limit for Apple Pay, as opposed to a transaction limit of RM250 per purchase, with a RM750 daily limit, for other contactless payment platforms.
  • There is also no transaction limit for online purchases using Apple Pay through your iPhone, iPad or Mac computer.
  • AmBank also offered some promotions, including cash back for the first purchase using Apple Pay.
  • There were two unlisted YouTube videos (now removed) showing how to pay for your purchases using Apple Pay. Basically:
    a) Look for the Apple Pay and EMV contactless payment logos at the retailer
    b) Simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the credit card terminal to pay
    c) Use either Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to verify the payment

 

Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!

You would have thought that AmBank would have learned from their July 2022 SMS mistake, but no… they didn’t.

Then again, they may have “accidentally” leaked the Apple Pay website to drum up some hype ahead of the official launch.

These “accidents” have a habit of happening…

In any case, Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia, even though there was no official launch!

Read more : Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!

Most likely, Apple will roll it out in Malaysia with the next iOS update – probably iOS 15.6.1.

Currently iOS 15.6 does not support Apple Pay in Malaysia. When you try to add a debit / credit card to the Wallet app, you get this pop-up :

To add cards, keys, tickets and passes to Wallet, look for the Add to Wallet button in apps, emails and websites.

Until Apple adds this functionality through an iOS update for Malaysia, there is simply no way to add any card to the Wallet app.

 

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IBM Expands Power10 Server Line With New Models!

IBM just expanded the Power10 server line with new mid-range and scale-out systems with flexible consumption options!

Here is what you need to know…

 

IBM Expands Power10 Server Line With New Models!

IBM announced a significant expansion of its Power10 server line on July 12, 2022, with the introduction of new mid-range and scale-out systems.

The new IBM Power10 servers tout improved performance, scalability and flexibility with new pay-as-you-go options for clients looking to deploy new services quickly across multiple environments.

Joining the Power10 E1080 server that was introduced in September 2021, are these new models :

  • Power10 Midrange E1050 – a 4-socket rack server
  • Power S1014 – a 1-socket, 4U server
  • Power S1022 – a 2-socket, 2U server
  • Power S1024 – a 2-socket, 4U server

These new servers offer 2x more cores, and more than 2x more memory bandwidth than the previous Power generations.

 

IBM Partners Ready To Leverage Power10 Server Capabilities

The newly expanded IBM Power10 Server Line now offers a flexible and broad range of servers for data intensive workloads such as SAP S/4HANA, and SIBS from Silverlake Axis.

The Power10 Midrange E1050 server, for example, delivers scale (up to 16 TB) and 4-socket performance for clients who run BREAKTHROUGH with IBM for RISE with SAP.

Regional banking solution provider, Silverlake Axis, is also ready to leverage the increase compute capabilities and scalability of the new Power10 servers for their Integrated Banking Solution – SIBS.

“Today’s highly dynamic environment has created volatility, from materials to people and skills, all of which impact short-term operations and long-term sustainability of the business,” said Steve Sibley, Vice President, IBM Power Product Management.

“The right IT investments are critical to business and operational resilience. Our new Power10 models offer clients a variety of flexible hybrid cloud choices with the agility and automation to best fit their needs, without sacrificing performance, security or resilience.”

 

 

IBM Offers Power10 Server Line With Flexible Consumption Options

IBM also recently announced new flexible consumption choices with pay-as-you-go options, as well as by-the-minute metering for IBM Power Cloud.

These flexible consumption models offer clients more opportunities to lower their cost of running OpenShift solutions on IBM Power, compared to alternative platforms.

In addition, the IBM I subscription offers clients a comprehensive platform solution with hardware, software as well as support and services included in the subscription price.

 

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Maybank MAE + M2U Apps Running Again After Going Down!

Maybank just announced that their MAE and M2U mobile banking apps are now up and running, after going down for several hours!

Here is what you need to know…

 

Maybank MAE + M2U Mobile Apps Down!

On the morning of 25 July 2022, the MAE and M2U mobile apps went down, which Maybank confirmed.

As it so happened, both apps failed on the 25th of the month, which is when Malaysian civil servants and many other employees receive their pay.

That led to a lot of complaints, as people could not transfer the funds using the apps.

Fortunately, the Maybank website itself was operational, so users were advised to access the Maybank2U website using their web browser instead.

#MBBAlert Dear valued customers,

Kindly be informed that you may perform your banking services on Maybank2u web. We are currently experiencing intermittent slowness on our MAE and M2U MY apps.

Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused and we are working to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and continuous support.

Maybank did not reveal what was the reason both their M2U mobile banking app, and their MAE ewallet failed.

They finally resolved it several hours later, just before 2:30 PM.

#MBBAlert Dear valued customers,

Kindly be informed that all our services are back to normal and you may perform your banking transactions across our platforms.

Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused today. We thank you for your continued patience and support.

This isn’t the first time Maybank users had trouble with their banking services. On 17 January 2022, all of Maybank’s online and banking services went down!

 

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No More Cash Payment At KKM Hospitals + Clinics!

Public hospitals and clinics under KKM will no longer accept cash payments starting 1 October 2022!

Here is what you need to know…

 

No More Cash Payment At KKM Hospitals + Clinics!

From 1 October 2022 onwards, public hospitals and clinics under the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) will no longer accept cash payments.

They will only accept payments through e-payment methods like :

  • debit card
  • credit card
  • e-wallet

They will, however, accept cash payment if the customer has no other payment options, or a bank account.

KKM is aiming to achieve 95% cashless transactions by December 2022.

 

Why KKM Hospitals + Clinics Will No Longer Accept Cash Payments

This initiative to eliminate cash payments at KKM health facilities is part of the 2021 Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, which called for all federal and state agencies to prioritise cashless payments by the year 2022.

The 2021-2022 KKM Anti-Corruption Plan also called for cash payments to be eliminated at public hospitals and clinics.

The Malaysia Ministry of Health believes that eliminating cash payments at their health facilities will :

  • reduce the risk of leakage of public funds
  • increase efficiency by making payments at the counter faster, easier and safer
  • reduce the cost and work process of collecting payments
  • reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections through contactless payment

To that end, KKM had ordered the implementation of cashless payment systems at all health facilities back in June 2022, with full implementation starting 1 October 2022, targeting 95% cashless payments by December 2022.

 

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Does Malaysia Have 2nd Most Debt In Asia, After Sri Lanka?!

Did the IMF warn Malaysia about having the second most national debt in Asia, after Sri Lanka?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Malaysia Has 2nd Most Debt In Asia, After Sri Lanka!

This post about IMF warning Malaysia about having the second most national debt in Asia, after Sri Lanka, has gone viral.

People are sharing it as a warning of how Malaysia could very soon descent into the economic chaos and misery affecting Sri Lanka.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that Malaysia is in a huge economic dilemma.

The second largest debt country in Asia after Sri Lanka is Malaysia.

Good Luck to Malaysian… [sic]

马民有福了😱😭

 

Truth : Malaysia Does Not Have 2nd Most Debt In Asia, After Sri Lanka!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : IMF Did Not Say Malaysia Is In Economic Trouble

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not warn that Malaysia is in huge economic trouble.

In April 2022, it warned that Asian nations, like the rest of the world, are at risk of stagflation from being battered by the war in Ukraine and the slowdown in China from COVID-19.

The region faces a stagflationary outlook, with growth being lower than previously expected, and inflation being higher.

Inflation is now expected to rise 3.2% this year, a full point higher than expected in January.

Despite the downgrade, Asia remains the world’s most dynamic region, and an important source of global growth.
– Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, acting director of IMF Asia and Pacific

Fact #2 : Malaysia Does Not Have Second Most Debt In Asia

The claim that Malaysia has the second highest national debt in Asia is also false.

On both the GDP percentage and per capita basis, Singapore has the second highest national debt in Asia, behind Japan. Even Sri Lanka has less debt, per capita or as a percentage of its GDP, than Singapore or Japan.

Malaysia has far less national debt than Sri Lanka as a percentage of its GDP, but twice the debt on a per capita basis.

Here is a comparison I created of countries with the highest national debt in Asia :

Country Year National Debt Debt
(% of GDP)
Debt Per Capita
Japan 2020 $13,054 billion 259% $103,386
Singapore 2021 $536 billion 132.8% $98,410
Sri Lanka 2020 $81.7 billion 101.2% $3,726
Mongolia 2021 $14.3 billion 94.7% $4,294
India 2020 $2,402 billion 90.1% $1,741
China 2020 $10,115 billion 68.1% $7,164
Malaysia 2021 $239 billion 63.4% $8,644
Philippines 2021 $226 billion 57.5% $2,055

Fact #3 : IMF Optimistic Malaysia Will Expand By 5.75% In 2022

In May 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) actually announced that it is optimistic that Malaysia’s economy will expand by 5.75% in 2022, driven by pent-up domestic demand and continued strong external demand.

It also said that Malaysia’s high vaccination rates, and limited movement restrictions are supporting economic expansion.

Fact #4 : High Debt Is Not Necessarily Bad

While a high national debt is not ideal, it is not necessarily a bad thing either. It really depends on how much interest needs to be paid on the debt, and what the government is using it for.

Unlike individuals who will die eventually, the government of a country can last for hundreds of years. So governments do not have to pay back all of their debts within a certain amount of time.

As long as the government can keep paying interest on its debt, it can continue to borrow money to service deficits in its budget, or to invest in projects that grow the economy.

Fact #5 : How Governments Use Money Matters More

Just like how you can use borrowed money to invest in assets or splurge on liabilities, how the government uses the borrowed money matters more than how much it borrows.

If the government uses borrowed money to invest, that will spur growth that allows it to easily repay its debts while driving down the interest it pays.

But if the borrowed money is lost through corruption or wasteful projects, the government will find it harder to pay interest on the debt and may even default on payments.

Fact #6 : High Government Spending During Pandemic Is Expected

Practically every government in the world was forced to spend significantly more during the pandemic. Most run into large deficits during the pandemic because :

  • lockdowns reduce economic activity, reducing taxes
  • governments need to spend more on healthcare to combat COVID-19
  • governments cut taxes to support citizens and businesses
  • governments provide monetary support for citizens and businesses

This isn’t unique to Malaysia, but applies across the world. That’s why Malaysia’s national debt jumped significantly after January 2020.

Fact #7 : Malaysia Has Sufficient Foreign Reserves

Malaysia’s national debt increased from $228.7 billion in 2020, to $239 billion (RM 979.8 billion) in 2021 – an increase of about 4.5% year-on-year.

While this increase pushes Malaysia close to a national debt of 65% of its GDP, it is still much lower than many other countries.

More importantly, Bank Negara Malaysia reported international reserves of $116.9 billion as of 31 December 2021, which is enough to finance 7.7 months of retained imports, and is 20% higher than the total short-term external debt.

In other words, Malaysia is not anywhere close to collapsing economically, like what happened in Sri Lanka.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

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Canada Internet Outage Due To Software Update, Not China!

The country-wide mobile and Internet outage in Canada was due to a software update, not hacking by China!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : China Responsible For Mobile + Internet Outage In Canada!

Within hours of news breaking that Canada suffered a massive Internet outage, Vancouver Times posted a story claiming that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified China as the responsible party.

Vancouver Times also claimed that the RCMP will issue arrest warrants for the hackers responsible, who are connected to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Chinese state hackers are responsible for a massive internet outage that paralyzed large parts of Canada, according to the RCMP. The federal police agency is in the process of issuing arrest warrants for several people they believe are connected to the People’s Liberation Army.

The RCMP will be holding a press conference in the next few days to announce the arrest warrants, according to sources. Canadian intelligence agencies are reportedly receiving guidance from the CIA and the FBI.

On Friday a widespread network outage from Rogers left many Canadians without mobile and internet service. The outages caused significant problems for police, courthouses, passport offices and other facilities.

The outage also disrupted services across retailers, courthouses, airlines, train networks, credit card processors and police forces, pushing many to delay business transactions. Many people were seen at Starbucks, trying to use their internet service.

The mainstream media and big tech want to hide the truth. Beat them at their own game by sharing this article!

Read more : FBI + MI5 Issue Joint Warning On Chinese Spying!

 

Truth : Canada Internet Outage Due To Software Update, Not China!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by Vancouver Times to generate page views and money from gullible people.

Fact #1 : Vancouver Times Is A Fake News Website

Vancouver Times is a “content aggregator” (copy and paste) website that is known for creating fake news to generate more page views and money.

To look legitimate, they copy and paste news from legitimate news organisations. To drive traffic, they create fake news, sometimes masked as “satire”.

To give themselves a veneer of deniability, they label themselves as a “satire website” in their About Us section.

Vancouver Times is the most trusted source for satire on the West Coast. We write satirical stories about issues that affect conservatives.

Here are some of their fake news that we debunked :

Fact #2 : Outage Only Affected Rogers Communications

On Friday, July 8, 2022, Canada was hit by a massive mobile and Internet outage that hit businesses, banks, and even police emergency lines.

However, it only affected Rogers Communications, and did not affect rivals like BCE, Telus and Shaw Communications.

The outage was extensive because Rogers is Canada’s leading telecommunications provider, with about 11.3 million wireless subscribers, and 2.25 million retail Internet subscribers.

Read more : Shanghai Police Data On 1 Billion Chinese Citizens Leaked!

Fact #3 : RCMP Did Not Blame China For Mobile + Internet Outage

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police did not blame China for Rogers Communications’ mobile and Internet outage.

This was made up by Vancouver Times to trigger right-wing conspiracy theorists, to go viral and draw more page views.

Fact #4 : Rogers Did Not Blame China For Mobile + Internet Outage

Rogers Communications themselves did not blame China for their mobile and Internet outage.

Fact #5 : Canada Confirmed Outage Was Not A Cyberattack

While the reason behind the outage was still unknown, a spokesperson for Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed to CTV News that “the outage was not due to a cyberattack“.

Fact #6 : Rogers Confirmed Outage Due To Maintenance Update

On 11 July 2022, Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri apologised for the country-wide outage of its services.

He also said that the failure was due to “a maintenance update in our core network“. The maintenance work “caused some of our routers to malfunction early Friday morning“.

Fact #7 : Prior Rogers Outage Also Due To Software Update

This wasn’t the first time Rogers Communications’ network failed so drastically.

Just 15 months earlier – Rogers and its subsidiary, Fido, experienced a nationwide cellular service outage in April 2021.

That outage was ultimately traced to “a recent Ericsson software update” that “affected a piece of equipment in the central part” of their network, leading to “intermittent congestion impacting many customers across Canada“.

Fact #8 : It Would Have Been Considered An Act Of War

China attacking Canada’s mobile and Internet network would have been considered an act of war, if it was proven.

The Canadian government would at least have issued a strong statement, if not cut diplomatic ties with China and/or enact sanctions against the Chinese government.

Fact #9 : No One Else Reported This Story

China attacking Canada’s mobile and Internet infrastructure would have been major international news, reported across the globe.

Yet not only did no mainstream media cover this incredible story, it hasn’t even been reported in the usual conspiracy theory websites!

That’s because it was a fake story created by one publication – Vancouver Times, in their attempt to go viral again for more page views and ad money.

Fact #10 : There Is No Such Thing As A Publication Ban

Vancouver Times likes to use the “media blackout” claim, to explain why you can’t find any reputable media outlet reporting on China attacking Canada’s mobile and Internet infrastructure.

That’s utter and complete bullshit. No one – not a judge, not even the Canadian government – can control the worldwide media, or prevent anyone from writing about such an incredible story.

You can also be sure that even if the mainstream media in the Canada refused to run the story, it would have been reported by foreign media outlets, websites and blogs.

Yet, not a single foreign media outlet or online website published their account of this incredible story? That’s because IT NEVER HAPPENED…

Read more : Did Ghislaine Maxwell Just Commit Suicide In Prison?!

Fact #11 : Mainstream Media + Big Tech Would Have Loved The Hype

Vancouver Times is gaslighting you about how mainstream media and Big Tech want to hide the “truth” about China attacking Canada’s infrastructure.

They would all loved such shocking news, because it would have driven tons of traffic and engagement to their websites / platforms.

In fact, that was precisely why Vancouver Times created the fake story – to drive traffic, for the ad money.

Everything that Vancouver Times publishes should be regarded as FAKE NEWS, until proven otherwise.

Please help us fight fake news websites like Vancouver Times – SHARE this fact check out, and SUPPORT our work!

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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£20 + £50 Paper Pound Sterling Notes Set To Expire!

The Bank of England is reminding everyone that the £20 and £50 pound sterling paper notes will expire in less than 3 months!

Here is what you need to know…

 

£20 + £50 Paper Pound Sterling Notes Set To Expire!

The Bank of England is reminding everyone that they have less than 3 months to use or swap their £20 and £50 pound sterling paper notes, which will soon expire!

The £20 and £50 pound sterling paper notes can still be used until 30 September 2022. After that, they are no longer legal tender.

But that does not mean they are worthless! Check in the next section on what you can do once these paper pound sterling notes expire!

£20 Pound Sterling

The £20 paper note featured the economist Adam Smith, and was introduced in 2007.

It is being phased out with a new £20 polymer note featuring the artist JMW Turner. This new polymer note was introduced on 20 February 2020.

 

£50 Pound Sterling

The £50 paper note featured the entrepreneur Matthew Boulton, and the engineer James Watt. This paper note was introduced in 2011.

It is being phased out with a new £50 polymer note featuring the scientist Alan Turing. This new polymer note was introduced on 21 June 2021.

 

What To Do After £20 + £50 Paper Pound Sterling Notes Expire?

After 30 September 2022, the £20 and £50 paper pound sterling notes will expire, and no longer be legal tender. They are more properly considered withdrawn notes.

That means you cannot use them to purchase goods and services, or pay businesses with them.

However, many UK banks will still accept these “expired” £20 and £50 paper notes as deposits. You can then withdraw new polymer notes from your bank account.

Some Post Office branches will also accept £20 and £50 paper notes as payment for goods and services, or as a deposit into a bank account.

As a final resort, the Bank of England (BoE) will readily exchange these withdrawn notes, through these methods :

By Post

The Bank of England accepts withdrawn notes sent to them by post. But be aware that you would be sending the notes at your own risk, and should take “appropriate measures to insure against loss or theft”.

You will need to fill in this postal exchange form, and send it to Department NEX, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, together with

  • the banknotes you wish to exchange
  • a copy of your photo ID (for exchange of £700 or more)
  • a copy of proof of address (for exchange of £700 or more)
  • a cover letter with a company letterhead (for businesses)

The BoE will pay the money into your bank account, by cheque, or in new banknotes (if the exchange is less than £50).

The BoE will also accept overseas exchanges, but you will need to provide a BIC/SWIFT code as well as your IBAN or bank account number. The BoE will not charge for this service, but your account must be able to accept GBP, and your bank or intermediaries may charge you for this service.

Bank of England Counter

The Bank of England offers a counter service at Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH, which is open from 9:30 AM to 3 PM, Monday to Friday. It is closed on the weekend, and on bank holidays.

However, the BoE warns that this counter can have long queues, and waiting times may be up to an hour. So they recommend sending your banknotes through post.

Those who are exchanging their withdrawn paper notes at the counter should bring two original identity documents – one photo ID, and one proof of address (mandatory for exchange of £700 or more).

You may be asked to fill in a form, or provide additional evidence to support the origin of the banknotes. For example, if the money was from an estate, you will need to provide copies of death certificate, wills or grant of probate.

The BoE will give you new banknotes, or pay the money into your bank account (which currently takes at least 20 working days due to the backlog).

They can pay the money into any account that accepts GBP payments via SWIFT transfer. They do not charge for this service, but your bank / intermediaries may charge you.

 

New £20 + £50 Paper Pound Sterling Security Features

When you get the new £20 and £50 pound sterling polymer notes, be sure to look out for their new security features.

Hologram Image Change

If you tilt the new polymer notes from side to side, you will see the hologram image change between “Twenty / Fifty” and “Pounds”.

See Through Windows

Look at the metallic image over the main window. Check the foil is gold and green on the front of the note and silver on the back.

Within the two gold foil squares on the front of the note, the image changes between ’50’ and a ‘£’ symbol when the note is tilted.

Look for a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note.

 

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CIMB Online Services Up Again, After Going Down For Hours!

CIMB online and mobile banking services are finally up after failing for most of the day! Here is what you need to know!

 

CIMB Online + Mobile Services Down Most Of The Day!

At around 10 AM on Friday, July 1, 2022, CIMB started experiencing issues with their online and mobile banking services.

Some users could not load the CIMB Clicks website completely, while many users complained that they could log in, but were unable to complete any online transactions, like :

  • Interbank GIRO (IBG)
  • Instant transfers
  • DuitNow transfers

Instead, they received error messages like :

Sorry, service is temporarily unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. [CLK00495]

We’ve encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later. [CLK00507]

[/su_note]

Please enter valid Email or Mobile Number. [CLK00494]

 

CIMB Online Services Up Again, After Going Down For Hours!

This system-wide issue is not only affecting their online banking portals – CIMB Clicks and CIMB BizChannel, but also their Clicks mobile app.

At 4:37 PM, CIMB announced that Interbank GIRO (IBG) transfers were back online, but not DuitNow transfers.

Please be informed that DuitNow To Account (Instant Transfer) is unavailable at the moment. As an alternative, you may perform transaction by using Normal Transfer (IBG). Thank you.

At 5:22 PM, CIMB announced that they resolved their DuitNow services, although many of their BizChannel customers complained that they are still not able to view their statements, or make online transfers.

Their social media team is asking BizChannel users still experiencing problems to contact the BizChannel team at 1300 888 828 or +603 2297 3000 for further assistance.

CIMB ATM and counter services were not affected by this issue, so you can still head over to a nearby CIMB ATM if you need to withdraw money.

 

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Russia Defaults On Foreign Debt For First Time Since 1918!

Russia has officially defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since 1918!

 

Russia Officially Defaults On Foreign Debt!

Russia was due to pay a $100 million interest payment on May 27, 2022; but creditors did not receive it 30 days later.

Russia says they sent the money to the Euroclear bank, which would distribute payments to its creditors. However, those payments were not made – Euroclear wouldn’t say if they were blocked, but would only say that it is adhering to all sanctions.

The US Treasury had earlier decided not to renew the special sanction exemption allowing investors to receive interest payments from Russia, letting it expire on May 25, 2022.

Russia could have paid that interest before the interest payment exemption expired, but opted not to. It has so far managed to make its payments on time, despite sanctions kicking in after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

But after missing that June 26 deadline on Sunday, Russia officially defaulted on that payment – their first foreign debt default since 1918, and their first default of any kind since 1998.

  • In 1918, Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the outstanding debts of the Russian Empire during the Bolshevik Revolution.
  • In 1998, the Russian. government was rocked by the rouble crisis, and defaulted on domestic bonds, but managed to pay its foreign debt.

 

Russia To Pay In Roubles, To Avoid Future Defaults On Foreign Debt

Russia called the default artificial, because it has the money to pay its debts, but sanctions have frozen its foreign currency reserves held abroad.

The Kremlin announced on 23 June 2022, that it would make all future debt payments in roubles through a Russian bank – the National Settlements Depository, even for bonds that are denominated in dollars or other foreign currencies.

The Russian Finance Ministry said that it would offer “the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency” as a way to avoid future debt defaults.

While embarrassing to the country, and would make it expensive or difficult to borrow money in the future, this technical default does not have a significant effect on Russia right now.

For one thing, Russia is already barred by sanctions from borrowing in Western markets. Russia is also not interested in borrowing foreign money, thanks to a healthy influx of money from its sale of oil and gas.

In fact, Russia had been preparing for such an eventuality by paying down its foreign debt since it annexed Crimea in 2014.

All it does at the moment is ensure that Vladimir Putin goes down in history as only the second Russian leader to be responsible for a foreign debt default.

 

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MyDebit Cash Out : Banks To Charge 50 Sen Per Withdrawal!

Banks across Malaysia will start charging 50 sen for each MyDebit Cash Out withdrawal, starting 1 July 2022!

Here is what you need to know…

 

MyDebit Cash Out : Banks To Charge 50 Sen Per Withdrawal!

Effective 1 July 2022, banks across Malaysia will start charging 50 sen for each MyDebit Cash Out withdrawal.

Here are two notices that banks recently issued about this withdrawal fee :

Dear Valued Customers,

Effective 1 July 2022, MyDebit Cash Out fee of RM0.50 per transaction will be imposed at any MyDebit selected merchants/ retailers. MyDebit Cash Out Fee will be payable by the Cardholders.

The maximum limit for MyDebit Cash Out withdrawal is RM500.00 per transaction.

Thank You.

CIMB Bank and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad

Dear Valued Cardholders,

Please be informed that MyDebit Cash Out Fee will be revised from RM0.00 to RM0.50 per cash out* transaction which will be payable by Cardholders. The revision will be effective 1 July 2022.

Please call our Customer Service at 03-5516 9988 for enquiries.

*Cash Out = Withdrawal of cash at MyDebit selected merchants/retailers.

Thank you.

 

MyDebit Cash Out : What Is It?

For those who are unfamiliar, MyDebit Cash Out is a feature of all ATM and debit cards in Malaysia, which allows you to withdraw cash at select merchants and retailers.

MyDebit Cash Out offers customers an easier way to withdraw cash from their bank accounts, without going to an ATM machine.

The RM 0.50 withdrawal fee only applies if you wish to withdraw cash using your debit card. It does not apply if you pay for your purchases using your debit card.

 

MyDebit Cash Out : Is It Worth Paying The Fee?

The MyDebit Cash Out fee will overwhelmingly affect lower income people, because they are the least able to travel to a bank branch to withdraw their money. They are also less likely to withdraw large amounts of cash at any one time.

So MyDebit Cash Out offers them a convenient way to withdraw money from their bank accounts, as and when they need cash. They will now need to pay for that convenience…

To be sure, the 50 sen fee is cheaper than the RM1 MEPS fee charged for interbank cash withdrawal at the ATM. However, you can only withdraw a maximum of RM500 per transaction through MyDebit Cash Out.

If you wish to withdraw more than RM1,000, it is cheaper to use an ATM from another bank, even if it incurs the MEPS fee.

Of course, if your bank has an ATM nearby, that is your best option – you get to withdraw your money for free!

Read more : MEPS Fee For ATM Cash Withdrawal Now In Effect!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

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Did Putin Force EU Countries To Pay For Gas In Rubles?!

Did Russian President Vladimir Putin force EU countries to pay for their gas in rubles?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Putin Forced EU Countries To Pay For Gas In Rubles!

People are sharing a comic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a story of how he cleverly forced EU countries like Poland, Austria and Bulgaria to pay for gas in rubles.

12 hours ago: Russia shuts down the gas pipeline to Poland and Bulgaria for refusing to pay with the ruble.

10 hours ago: Poland agrees to pay the price of gas with ruble.

6 hours ago: Austria and Bulgaria agree to pay the price of gas in rubles.

5 hours ago: The European Commission licensing European countries to buy gas with ruble.

 

Truth : Putin Did NOT Force EU Countries To Pay For Gas In Rubles!

The truth is this is just more pro-Russian propaganda and FAKE NEWS, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : EU Countries Have Gas Contracts With Gazprom In USD / Euros

First, we need to establish the fact that EU countries like Poland, Austria and Bulgaria have existing gas contracts with Russian energy company Gazprom.

On 23 March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian central bank, government and Gasprom to demand that “unfriendly countries” must pay for their gas in rubles.

However, as those existing gas contracts are specifically stipulated to be paid in US dollars or Euros, it would be a material breach of contract.

Fact #2 : Poland Refuses To Pay For Gas In Rubles

Gazprom stopped exporting gas to Poland on 27 April 2022, after Poland refused to pay for the gas in rubles.

The Polish state gas company PGNiG, has an existing contract with Gazprom to provide 53% of its gas imports to be paid in Euros. They described the suspension of gas supply as a breach of contract, and said that they will take steps to reinstate the gas supply.

However, Poland continues to refuse to pay Gazprom in rubles.

Fact #3 : Poland Does Not Need Russian Gas

The Polish deputy foreign minister said that Poland has “taken some decisions many years ago to prepare for such a situation“, and can cope without gas from Gazprom.

Poland also formally commissioned a new gas interconnection with Lithuania on 5 May 2022, eventually providing billion cubic metres of LNG per year.

Fact #4 : Bulgaria Refuses To Pay For Gas In Rubles

Gazprom also stopped exporting gas to Bulgaria on 27 April 2022, because Bulgaria refused to pay for the gas in rubles.

Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov said that Gazprom will be in breach of its contract if it stops supplying gas.

However, Bulgaria continues to refuse to pay Gazprom in rubles.

Fact #5 : Bulgaria Does Not Need Russian Gas

Despite relying on Gazprom for 90% of its gas supply, Bulgaria said that it had taken steps to find alternative sources, and that no restrictions on gas consumption was currently required.

Interestingly, Bulgarian gas network operator Bulgartransgaz said that Gazprom was still supplying gas to Bulgaria…

Fact #6 : Austria Refuses To Pay For Gas In Rubles

Austria publicly denounced the fake news that they agreed to pay for Russian gas in rubles. In a Twitter post, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said :

Before the fake news of Russian propaganda is spread further here. Of course, OMV will continue to pay for gas delivery from Russian in euros.

Fact #7 : EC Did Not Licence Payment For Gas In Rubles

The fake news also falsely claimed that the European Commission licensed European countries to buy gas from Russia with the ruble.

There is no such “licence”.

In fact, the European Commission has specifically stated that EU companies must pay for Russian gas in euros or US dollars to avoid breaching sanctions.

Fact #8 : GazpromBank Is Converting Payments To Rubles

In an effort to comply with existing contracts, as well as Putin’s decree, Gazprom has been working with EU companies to come up with a workaround :

  • EU companies will deposit their payment in euros or US dollars at GazpromBank.
  • Gazprom agrees that payment has been legally completed.
  • GazpromBank converts the euros or dollars into rubles.
  • GazpromBank transfers the payment in rubles to Gazprom.

This workaround was considered legal by the EC, as both Gazprom and GazpromBank are currently not subject to EU sanctions.

Many pro-Russian and pro-CCP netizens are sharing this fake story on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter and Facebook.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out!

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Crypto Boom Scam Alert : Fake Celebrity Endorsements!

Please watch out for the Crypto Boom scam involving fake celebrity endorsements, and warn your family and friends!

 

Crypto Boom Scam Alert : Fake Celebrity Endorsements!

You may have seen advertisements and posts on Facebook and Twitter, claiming that certain celebrities are sharing the secrets of their success.

Here is a recent example involving Jono Armstrong and Tony Fernandes. It’s an extremely long post, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

NEWS THAT SENT SHOCKWAVES: Jono Armstrong And Tony Fernandes Partnership Is Shaking The Financial World And Big Banks Are Terrified

Big banks are loosing their chokehold of the financial markets. Malaysian citizens are from what private investment banks want off the market. Is it a real deal?

 

Crypto Boom : Yet Another Cryptocurrency Scam

Crypto Boom appears to be yet another “automated trading app”, claiming to use a trading robot to generate “daily ROI of up to 60%”.

Cryptocurrency is unregulated, and these cryptocurrency trading apps are of unknown provenance and ownership.

So unless proven otherwise, you should consider such cryptocurrency apps as SCAMS, including Crypto Boom for these reasons…

Fact #1 : That Malaysiakini Article Is Fake

There is no such Malaysiakini article. It’s completely FABRICATED. You can search Malaysiakini’s website if you don’t believe me.

The website it made to look like Malaysiakini, but does not have a Malaysiakini link, but an AWS cloud server link.

https://malaysia2022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/MalaysiaJono.html

The Malaysia2022 website does not even exist. The only page on that server slice appears to be that MalaysiaJono.html page.

Fact #2 : Tony Fernandes Never Partnered With Jono Armstrong

As far as we can tell – Tony Fernandes has never met Jono Armstrong, much less partnered with him to bring Crypto Boom to Malaysia.

There was no such interview of Tony Fernandes and Jono Armstrong on Selamat Page Malaysia. Neither was there ever a threatening call by Farid Alias – the Group President and CEO of Maybank.

Fact #2 : Crypto Boom Is A Technology, Marketing + Advertising Service

While Crypto Boom claims to be an automated trading software that can give you “an average daily ROI of up to 60%“, their fine print states otherwise.

If you scroll down to the bottom of their official website, they clarified that they are merely a “technology, marketing and advertising service“.

They also clarified that they are “only used as a marketing tool by third party advertisers and brokers to receive more customers“.

Crypto Boom also warned, in their fine print, that when you sign up – “a broker is automatically assigned to you“, but that “it is your obligation to check if the Broker applies to all local rules and regulations“.

Crypto Boom is a software created by a development company and does not provide investment or brokerage services.

Crypto Boom does not gain or lose profits based on your trading results and operates as a technology, marketing and advertising service.

Crypto Boom does not operate as a financial services firm and is only used as a marketing tool by third party advertisers and brokers to receive more customers. When you signup to Crypto Boom a broker is automatically assigned to you.

It is your obligation to check if the Broker applies to all local rules and regulations and is regulated in your jurisdiction and is allowed to receive customers from your location. If you find out the Broker that was assigned to you is not duly regulated in your jurisdiction please contact us using the support menu in the software.

Fact #3 : No Celebrity Has Endorsed Crypto Boom

You may see other variants of this fake news, localised to the media in your country, with different celebrities endorsing Crypto Boom.

The truth is – no celebrity or business person of any note has ever publicly endorsed Crypto Boom.

If you do a quick online search, you will note that those celebrities have never mentioned Crypto Boom, much less endorsed it.

The fake story claims that Crypto Boom is backed by Richard Branson, Elon Musk and Bill Gates among others, but Crypto Boom themselves admitted that all those “rumours” are false.

The picture of Richard Branson and Bill Gates that was used in the fake Crypto Boom article was not taken at CES 2022. It was taken at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, in London on 26 October 2016.

This is the same kind of fake celebrity endorsements that drive the marketing campaigns of other cryptocurrency scams like Bitcoin Revolution.

Read more : Bitcoin Revolution Fake Celebrity Endorsements Exposed!

Fact #4 : SEC Warned About Such Scams

Many financial regulatory agencies like the SEC are warning investors and the public about fraudulent digital asset and “crypto” trading websites.

There have been many cases of people getting defrauded by such “get rich quick” schemes, including pump-and-dump and rug pull scams.

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach (CFTC) warn investors to scrutinize investment opportunities through websites purporting to operate advisory and trading businesses related to digital assets. These websites often contain “red flags” of fraud including claims of high guaranteed returns and promises that the investments carry little or even no risk.

SEC and CFTC staff have recently observed investment scams where fraudsters tout digital asset or “cryptocurrency” advisory and trading businesses. In some cases, the fraudsters claim to invest customers’ funds in proprietary crypto trading systems or in “mining” farms. The fraudsters promise high guaranteed returns (for example, 20-50%) with little or no risk.

After the investors make an investment, typically using a digital asset such as Bitcoin, the fraudsters in some cases stop communicating with the investors altogether. These fraudsters can quickly send your money overseas, with little chance of you being able to get it back. Sometimes the fraudsters direct investors to pay additional costs (such as purported taxes) to withdraw fake “profits” earned from the investment. This is an example of an advance fee fraud scam, where investors are asked to pay a bogus fee in advance of receiving proceeds, money, stock, or warrants.

If anyone tells you that their software or trading service will automatically generate you high ROI, without effort or risk, that’s a scam.

Anyone who develops such a magical system does not need you to invest – they would be keeping it to themselves, and making BILLIONS with no effort or risk.

Please help us fight against such scams – SHARE THIS FACT CHECK with your family and friends!

 

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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IBM z16 : Industry’s First Quantum-Safe System Explained!

IBM just introduced the z16 system, powered by their new Telum processor with an integrated AI accelerator!

Take a look at the z16, and find out why it is the industry’s first quantum-safe system!

 

IBM z16 : Industry’s First Quantum-Safe System!

On 25 April 2022, IBM officially unveiled their new z16 system in Malaysia – the industry’s first quantum-safe system.

IBM Vice President for Worldwide Sales of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Jose Castano, flew to Kuala Lumpur, to give us an exclusive briefing on the new z16 system, and tell us why it is the industry’s first quantum-safe system.

IBM Z and LinuxONE Security CTO Michael Jordan also briefed us on why quantum-safe computing will be critical for enterprises, as quantum computing improves.

Thanks to its Telum processor, the IBM z16 system delivers low and consistent latency for embedding AI into response time-sensitive transactions. This can enable customers to leverage AI inference to better control the outcome of transactions before they complete.

For example, they can leverage AI inference to mitigate risk in Clearing & Settlement applications, to predict which transactions have high risk exposure, and highlight questionable transactions, to prevent costly consequences.

In a use-case example, one international bank uses AI on IBM Z as part of their credit card authorization process instead of using an off-platform inference solution. As a result, the bank can detect fraud during its credit card transaction authorisation processing.

The IBM z16 will offer better AI inference capacity, thanks to its integrated AI accelerator offering up to 1 ms of latency, expanding use cases that include :

  • tax fraud and organised retail theft detection
  • real-time payments and alternative payment methods, including cryptocurrencies
  • speed up business or consumer loan approvals

As the industry’s first quantum-safe system, the IBM z16 is protected by lattice-based crypto graphs – an approach for constructing security primitives that help protect data and systems against current and future threats.

 

IBM z16 : Powered By The New Telum Processor!

The IBM z16 is built around the new IBM Telum processor, which is specifically designed for secure processing, and real-time AI inference.

Here are the key features of the IBM Telum processor that powers the new IBM z16 system :

  • Fabricated on the 7 nm process technology
  • Has 8 processor cores, clocked at over 5 GHz
  • Each processor core has a dedicated 32 MB private L2 cache
  • The eight 32 MB L2 cache can form a virtual 256 MB L3 cache, and a 2 GB L4 cache.
  • Transparent encryption of main memory, with 8-channel fault tolerant memory interface
  • Integrated AI accelerator with 6 TFLOPS compute capacity
  • Centralised AI accelerator architecture, with direct connection to the cache infrastructure

The Telum processor is designed to enable extremely low latency inference for response-time sensitive workloads. With planned system support for up to 200 TFLOPs, the AI acceleration is also designed to scale up to the requirements of the most demanding workloads.

Thanks to the Telum processor, the IBM z16 can process 300 billion inference requests per day, with just one millisecond of latency.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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