Region sees 108% increase in voice scams as fraudsters continue shift to mobile

MELBOURNE, Australia and MUMBAI, India, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A new financial crime report out today details how criminal organizations in the APAC region now outsource the laundering of money stolen via scams to international syndicates specializing in this cleaning. BioCatch identified and helped APAC banks shut down more than 150,000 money mule accounts in 2023 and estimates exponentially more such accounts in use across the region.

“Where there are scams, there are mules,” BioCatch Director of Global Fraud Intelligence Tom Peacock said. “Criminal organizations use these mule accounts as intermediate stops between the victim’s bank account and the final account from which they plan to withdraw their stolen money. The mules we’ve identified almost certainly represent a tiny fraction of those actively laundering money in the region, with more cropping up every day. Financial institutions in APAC and around the world must do more to identify these mules, hamper their ability to open new accounts, and identify those legitimate accounts money launderers succeed in turning from good to bad.”

In this latest edition of its Digital Banking Fraud Trends in APAC report, BioCatch – which identifies and prevents fraud and financial crime in real time by analyzing as many as 3,000 different physical behavior patterns (mouse movements and typing speed, for example) and cognitive signals (hesitation, segmented typing, etc.) in search of anomalies – points to mobile malware as the greatest threat to banks in Southeast Asia in 2024.

“Whether through SMS-mining or illegal loan apps, we’ve seen an explosion in Android-based malware in the region,” Peacock said. “Malware developers continue to innovate, circumventing bank and Google Play Store defenses to harvest what they need from mobile devices to access digital banking accounts and then transfer away the victim’s funds to a money mule.”

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There is reason for hope in fighting fraud in APAC, however. In Australia, the number of reported scam cases grew by 13% in 2023, but scam losses declined by $90 million.

“Nine out of the 10 largest Australian banks employ BioCatch solutions to protect their customers from fraud and financial crime by analyzing the behavior of the user behind every online banking session,” BioCatch APAC Vice President Richard Booth said. “Already in 2024, we see massive progress: Money lost to fraud in the country declined by 48% in the first quarter of this year compared to Q1 of 2023. It’s difficult to reach any conclusion other than that BioCatch has left Australian digital-banking customers far safer from fraud than they were before.”

Other key findings:

• No desktop or laptop needed: BioCatch found as much as 70% of all reported frauds in APAC originated from mobile apps in 2023, an increase of 17% from the year before.
• Scams are everywhere: Across the region, the number of reported voice scams increased by 108% in 2023.
• Australia bucking all trends: In addition to seeing fraud losses actually decline, the nation also saw fewer fraud cases involving malware or Remote Administration Tools (RATs) in 2023 than it did in 2022.

Click here to access BioCatch’s complete 2024 Digital Banking Fraud Trends in APAC report.

About BioCatch:
BioCatch stands at the forefront of digital fraud detection, pioneering behavioral biometric intelligence grounded in advanced cognitive science and machine learning. BioCatch analyzes thousands of user interactions to support a digital banking environment where identity, trust, and ease coexist. Today, more than 30 of the world’s largest 100 banks and 196 total financial institutions rely on BioCatch Connect™ to combat fraud, facilitate digital transformation, and grow customer relationships. BioCatch’s Client Innovation Board – an industry-led initiative featuring American Express, Barclays, Citi Ventures, HSBC, and National Australia Bank – collaborates to pioneer creative and innovative ways to leverage customer relationships for fraud prevention. With more than a decade of data analysis, 92 registered patents, and unmatched expertise, BioCatch continues to lead innovation to address future challenges. For more information, please visit www.biocatch.com.

Media contact:
Jay Jones
[email protected]

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VANCOUVER, BC, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (“Westport” or the “Company”) (TSX: WPRT) (Nasdaq: WPRT), a leading supplier of advanced alternative fuel systems and components for the global transportation industry, is pleased to publish its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) report (the “2023 ESG Report”). The 2023 ESG Report outlines the Company’s accomplishments within its primary areas of focus that include reduced emissions and energy consumption, operational health and safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, responsible sourcing, human rights, and ESG governance.

“We are committed to shaping a future that is driven by the three pillars of ESG – environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and strong governance,” said Dan Sceli, Chief Executive Officer of Westport. “We have embraced the challenge of achieving sustainable operations, with an unwavering dedication to our core values of integrity, respect, and perseverance. We are focused on decarbonizing transportation to help clean our air and create a more sustainable future for all.”

Highlights of the 2023 ESG Report include:

• >90% of total waste recycled from production sites,
• 20% reduction in Scope 1 CO₂ emissions,
• 7% decrease in Scope 2 emissions,
• disclosure of Scope 3 GHG emissions
• 32% of our global workforce is female, and
• won two prestigious national awards – the Friendly Workplace recognition at the plant in Poland and the Award for Excellence at the facilities in Italy.

Westport, with a significant portion of its business located in Europe, is actively working on the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This initiative marks a significant step forward in the Company’s commitment to advancing ESG goals. By adopting the CSRD standards, Westport aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability in our operations, reinforcing dedication to responsible business practices and long-term value creation for all our stakeholders.

About Westport Fuel Systems

At Westport, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, we serve our customers in more than 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.

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Contacts: Westport Media Relations, T: + 1 604-718-1992, E: [email protected]; Westport Investor Relations, T: +1 604-718-2046, E: [email protected]

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Funding Supports LanzaJet Global Growth and Establishes MUFG’s Interest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel

CHICAGO, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, today announced an investment from MUFG, one of the world’s leading financial groups with total assets of approximately $2.9 trillion. The investment enables LanzaJet to continue building its capability and capacity to deploy its proprietary ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) process technology.

“We continue to build a leading team of investors along the SAF value chain who believe in LanzaJet’s ability to decarbonize aviation, which will both address climate change and enable the global economy,” said Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaJet. “The investment from MUFG further enables LanzaJet’s efforts to scale SAF production, with one of the world’s leading financial groups enabling the development of infrastructure globally.”

MUFG’s investment is part of LanzaJet’s current $100 million growth equity funding round, with support from leading companies across industries and around the world. In the last few months, LanzaJet has announced investments from Southwest Airlines, Microsoft, Groupe ADP, and now MUFG. While SAF production continues to scale, LanzaJet maintains its role in developing the industry by continuing its work building the ecosystem required to decarbonize aviation through SAF. LanzaJet continues to be at the forefront by commercializing its next generation ethanol-to-SAF technology and opening its fully-funded LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels biorefinery – the world’s first commercial-scale ethanol-to-SAF plant. Located in the United States, the historic plant will produce SAF and renewable diesel from low-carbon and sustainable ethanol and achieve International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

“MUFG is deeply committed to redefining the future of finance by prioritizing innovative and sustainable industry solutions. Our strategic support for LanzaJet is a prime example of this commitment, signifying our belief in the critical role of sustainable fuels for the economic and environmental well-being of the businesses we serve,” said Koichiro Oshima, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Financial Solutions Group, MUFG Bank, Ltd. “This partnership not only aligns with our mission to drive progress but also showcases our dedication to catalyzing positive change. By investing in sustainable pathways, we aim to ensure the resilience and success ofour stakeholders, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.”

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In addition to MUFG, LanzaJet’s portfolio of investors and funders includes All Nippon Airways (ANA), Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, Groupe ADP, LanzaTech, Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, Mitsui & Co., Shell, Southwest Airlines, and Suncor Energy.

ABOUT LANZAJET
LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition. As a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with patented ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology, LanzaJet is creating an opportunity for future generations by catalyzing the deployment of SAF and other clean energy critical to addressing the climate crisis and transforming the global economy. Further information is available at https://www.lanzajet.com/

ABOUT MUFG

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,100 locations in more than 40 countries. MUFG has nearly 120,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to be “the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges.

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