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Fight Against eFraud Demands ‘Hardened’ Technology Platforms- Isiavwe

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Technology platforms must be hardened with layered security; encryption and tokenization to ensure that the payments systems are safe, said David Isiavwe, President, Information Security Society of Africa Nigeria (ISSAN), adding that organizations must have adequate firewalls and end-point security to ensure enterprise wide protection.

 The global economy loses USD455Bn annually. Juniper research recently predicted that the rapid digitization of consumers’ lives and enterprise records will increase the cost of data breaches astronomically to $2.1 trillion globally by 2019, increasing to almost four times the estimated cost of breaches in 2015.

Isiavwe made the remark during his presentation titled: Addressing ePayment Fraud: Exploiting the Technology, at the 7th Annual Payment Systems & Fraud Conference 2016 organised by E-PPAN in Lagos on Tuesday, stressing that frauds are expected to increase – “as cyber criminals will follow the money in an integrated manner onto the ePayments space”.

He warned delegates at the conference that fraudsters constantly rehash old fraud schemes with a little variation in their modus operandi to carry out their attacks on unsuspecting users, with the results leading to surge in Card Skimming; Phishing Sites; DDoS attacks; Ransomeware; Third Party Payment Application Compromise; Rogue Mobile Applications and System Abuse by Rogue Merchants.

He listed current disturbing issues with regards efrauds in the ecosystem to include: “On Friday 21st October, a DDoS attack on Dyn Inc, an internet domain directory, took major sites like Amazon, Twitter, Netflix and Paypal offline. New World Hackers have claimed responsibility for the attack which they said was in the magnitude of 1.2 terabits per second,  which is  double the strength of the attack which took down kerbsonsecurity.com last month;

“In an essay titled ‘Someone Is Learning How to Take Down the Internet,’ security expert Bruce Schneier said last month that major internet infrastructure companies were seeing a series of worrying denial-of-service attacks. He said, ‘Someone is extensively testing the core defensive capabilities of the companies that provide critical internet services,’ and “in Q2 2016, attacks continued to become more frequent, persistent, and complex”’.

He said that hence mobile has become the primary means of internet access for the majority of Nigerians online as confirmed in a GSMA ‘The Mobile Economy Africa 2016 report, ‘the number of mobile internet subscribers tripled in the last five years to 300 million by the end of 2015, with an additional 250 million expected by 2020; the use of mobile applications, SMS, USSD and most recently, QR codes for transactions have become common place in the Nigerian epayment space, therefore, “securing the technology is imperative to ensure the continued growth of the use of mobile. The service providers have to ensure end to end encryption of data and more reliable and user friendly authentication”

The ISSAN President said, “With the increase in the use of mobile devices in the ePayment space, there has been an increase in the proliferation of malware targeting smart phones

According to Ars Technica Google Play was recently found to be hosting more than 400 apps that turned infected phones into listening posts that could siphon sensitive data out of the protected networks they connected to’. According to Fortune.com ‘For a ten week period, Bit9 + Carbon Black researchers analyzed over 1,400 malware samples that targeted the Apple operating system.

“They found that 948 of the samples appeared in 2015 compared to 180 samples that were traced back to 2010 through 2014.’ A recent report on iOS malware attacks by the security firm Bit9 + Carbon Black found that more malware affected iOS devices in 2015 than the previous five years combined. Bringing this all home, we need to develop capabilities to identity and if possible block the spread of identified malware. Encryption, Tokenization and Smart authentication need to be employed in the development and deployment of our offerings in the ePayment space”.

According to him, resilient systems have to be deployed for ePayment transaction processing to achieve 99.99% uptime, as these include call center technology as well as intelligent fraud detection and prevention systems to accurately analyze customer behavior and spending patterns with minimal false positives.

Referring to ‘Digital Payment Strategies: Online, Mobile & Contactless 2014-2019 Report’ by Juniper Research, he said that financial industry expects activities in the ePayments space to grow significantly in the next few years as new products are expected to be developed. Indeed, the annual transaction value of online and mobile payments is predicted to hit $4.7 trillion by 2019.

“Experts have also predicted that traditional banks (as we know them today) may not be alive in the next 20 years as the ePayments space would revolutionize banking and take over the financial services space”.

To this end, Isiavwe called for increased smart systems in place for continuous monitoring and incident prevention, detection as well as swift response mechanisms to provide round the clock protection.

“The key is to leverage on technology to ensure that the e-business platforms are safe, reliable and always available to the average consumer”.

Earlier, Onajite Regha, CEO of E-PPAN, said that the risk of e-payments fraud are real and multiplying daily in the country as consumers’ preference continue to shift toward e-payment options for daily transactions activities.

She added that the annual payment systems and fraud conference is designed to be a veritable rallying ground, for all stakeholders in the e-payment value chain to deliberate on payment systems and fraud knowledge.

The annual event is attended by senior level executives across industries such as banking & finance, telecommunication, judiciary, government agencies, healthcare, retail, SMEs and others, who network and brainstorm on the latest trends in technology innovations in electronic payment and learn winning strategies to manage risks and prevent fraud.


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E-Financial

DLM Trust Unveils DLM Single Asset Trust

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DLM Trust, a subsidiary of DLM Capital Group is thrilled the announce the launch of DLM Single Asset Trust, a variant of the Living Trust construct that allows for a groundbreaking solution for individuals or Corporations seeking to establish single asset trusts for the benefit of themselves and their chosen beneficiaries.

The DLM Single Asset Trust guarantees that people’s assets are protected and managed in accordance with their intentions by operating under the tenets of trust, security, and careful management.

The DLM SAT offers a novel approach to trust services by fusing state-of-the-art technology with knowledgeable advice to enable people and families to effortlessly manage their assets.

DLM SAT enables individuals, often referred to as Settlors or Corporations, to create a single asset trust that will serve both their own and their designated beneficiaries’ purposes.

The Trust Fund may be started using the Settlor’s assets/funds and then expanded with future contributions in accordance with the Settlor’s goals. Only authorised individuals, including the settlor, can access the trust because of its strong independent and confidentiality level.

DLM Trust Company, acting as the designated Trustee, holds the Fund in trust and manages it for the benefit of the Settlor and designated Beneficiaries.

In a statement, MD of DLM Trust, Lola Razaaq commented on the introduction of the DLM Single Asset Trust, stating that it is a means of establishing a timeline for legacy preservation.

“As a game-changer in the trust services industry, the DLM SAT is our newest offering, and we are thrilled to announce this important milestone for DLM Trust.”

The aim of our organisation is to equip people and families with the necessary resources and assistance to safeguard and maintain their heritage for future generations. “Furthermore, we are transforming the concept of future planning with DLM Single Asset Trust.” she said.

DLM Trust Company Limited is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to provide trust services to individuals, corporations, sub-sovereign entities.

As always, strategic thinking and innovation will be combined by DLM Trust Company to offer its clients best-in-class services. Since its founding, DLM Trust has worked on a variety of creative and unique transactions, including securitizations, private and public bonds.


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UBA Champions Youth Empowerment through Graduate Programme, Employs 398 Across Africa

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United Bank for Africa (UBA), Africa’s Global Bank held the second edition of its expanded Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP) class of 2024, where 398 young Africans were inducted into the UBA Tribe after a rigorous six-month hands-on-work and learning experience.

The event, which was held in a grand ceremony in Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday, was graced by esteemed guests, the UBA management, faculty members, mentors, and the graduating class.

The granduads are from six African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

Addressing the gathering, UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who congratulated all the graduates, expressed profound pride and admiration for their success having completed the intense capacity-building programme, combining learning with on-the-job training experience, garnered while rotating across several departments and units in the bank.

Elumelu took time to highlight the bank’s passion for youth empowerment in Africa, while bridging the unemployment gap, which according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges of the continent.

“For me these young UBA Graduates are a testament to who we are: a truly pan-African Group, that invests in African talent.This milestone is more than just numbers. It signifies UBA’s commitment to youth empowerment. Unemployment is the greatest challenge we face – a tragic and cruel betrayal of a generation. We know governments alone cannot create all the jobs we need – so it is up to us, the African private sector, to partner our government in improving lives and livelihoods. This is Africapitalism, and it is gratifying to see UBA play its part. UBA is dedicated to creating a positive impact, through the GMAP programme UBA is creating employment, boosting economic growth, and transforming lives across Africa,” Group Chairman said.

Continuing, he said, “At UBA, identifying these young ones, bringing them to the centre, training them, equipping them for the future and the task ahead, not just for a career in UBA, but wherever they end up remains our passion, because this is how we play our role as a Pan-African bank, in helping to empower the next generation, which is the African youth. We are helping to create employment and this for us is our driving force.”

Earlier in his speech, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, commended the graduating class for their unwavering commitment and emphasized the program’s role in cultivating the next generation of UBA leaders.

“Your dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment have been nothing short of inspiring. Each of you has demonstrated the qualities of a true UBA ambassador, and today, we celebrate not just your achievements but also the collective strength of our UBA family.

While recognizing the invaluable support extended by families and friends, the GMD said, “Let us take a moment to express our deepest appreciation for their steadfast support as the invaluable support of your families and friends throughout this journey. Their love, encouragement, and understanding have undoubtedly played a pivotal role in your success.”

UBA’s Group Head, Human Resources, Modupe Akindele, said the bank remains committed to nurturing talent and leadership within the organisation. She noted that the GMAP programme, which marked its second graduation will be a continuous initiative, as it culminates an intensive journey towards leadership excellence.

“Already, the programme has graduated over 1,100 graduates, that is about 700 in 2023 and now we have 398 graduates. The fact remains that at UBA, we believe in equal opportunity for all, regardless of age, tribe, gender, or background; and so, we will continue to pursue our dream to nurture these young ones to their full potential,” she added.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries and across 4 continents.

With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France and more recently the United Arab Emirates, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.


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Banks to Charge 0.375 Percent Stamp Duty on Loans

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Nigerian banks on Thursday announced that they will kick-start the implementation of the stamp duty charge of 0.375 per cent on loans backed by legal mortgages, shares, debentures or bonds.

Banks to Charge 0.375 Percent Stamp Duty on Loans

This is coming after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had directed banks to implement stamp duty on certain transactions that requires duty payments such as contracts and legal mortgages.

According to the FIRS, as the manner of business transactions continue to evolve and change pattern, the law on stamp duties will also change. It noted that the stamp duties has therefore undergone several amendments over the years up to the Finance Act 2019.

Stamp duty is essentially a duty chargeable on both physical and electronic instruments. The stamp duties Act defines duty to mean “any stamp duty for the time being chargeable under any act and also includes any fee chargeable hereunder”.

In several email notifications sent to its customers, banks revealed that they will start implementing the FIRS directive while adding that the charge will be applied to the value of the assets and remitted back to the revenue office.

Access Bank in an email notification titled to its customers, “Stamp Duty Automation Update”, said, “We will like to inform you that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has directed all Nigerian banks to implement stamp duty on certain transactions that require duty payments such as contracts and legal mortgages”.

The bank noted that in compliance to this directive, it have taken measures to streamline the process to make transactions more convenient for its customers.

“To this end, a stamp duty charge of 0.375 per cent will be applied to loans backed by legal mortgages, shares, debentures or bonds. The charge will be applied on the value of legal mortgages, shares, debentures or bonds and remitted to the FIRS”, the bank said.

Access Bank added that all previously approved loans will remain unchanged and should be repaid in full as per the agreed terms and conditions.

“We are committed to providing you with exceptional service”, it said.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government stated it is looking to expand net on transactions covered by the stamp duty charges from regular bank transfers.

 

 


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