Retail News CRM

Tag: crime

  • Malware costs Vietnam $900 mln

    Malware costs Vietnam $900 mln

    Malware caused Vietnamese users damage worth VND20.89 trillion ($900.8 million) last year, up 40 percent year-on-year.

    The surge came with the rising number of computers contaminated with malware from advanced persistent threats (APT), according to a report released Thursday by Vietnam’s cybersecurity firm BKAV.

    The number of computers infected with malware rose 3.5 percent year-on-year to 85.2 million in 2019. This means 57.7 percent of computers nationwide were infected.

    Increasing virus infections occurred via email, from 4 percent of the 2018 total to 20 percent last year.

    Another reason for the high contamination is Vietnamese users’ habit of downloading files without checking the authenticity. Eight out of 10 computers were infected with malware because of this behavior, the report stated.

    Rising threats resulted in 1.8 million computers losing data last year, up 12 percent from 2018.

    A large-scale foreign attack last year saw the hack of devices via manipulation of weak passwords.

    The attack caused 420,000 computers to be infected with dangerous W32. Fileless malware, which BKAV experts say have “invisibility” as it does not leave behind traces on hardware like other malware.

    BKAV forecast malware would become increasingly dangerous this year as hackers use them for financial benefits, like accessing bank accounts.

  • Prosecutors drop charges against Samsung chairman

    Prosecutors drop charges against Samsung chairman

    Prosecutors dropped tax evasion and embezzlement charges against Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee on Thursday. The decision was based on the judgment that further investigation into the case was impossible due to Lee’s health issues. The investigation may resume if Lee recovers, but the possibility is slim. Lee has been hospitalized for more than four years now since a fall in May 2014.

    Lee was accused of avoiding taxes worth 8.5 billion won ($7.6 million) that involved multiple bank accounts under the names of Samsung executives. More than 1,700 accounts were found to have been used for this purpose since 2008, when the investigation started.

    Another charge against the chairman was the embezzlement of 3.3 billion won from Samsung C&T, which was used to pay for the interior renovation of Lee’s private home.

    The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, however, did decide to indict four Samsung executives who played a role in the two cases – one for the tax evasion scheme and three for the embezzlement case.

  • China Canada Goose flagship opening delayed after Meng arrest

    China Canada Goose flagship opening delayed after Meng arrest

    The arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng Wanzhou in Canada has prompted down jacket retailer Canada Goose to delay launching its Chinese flagship store. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have already contributed to a 20.6 per cent drop in the brand’s share price this month amidst calls for a boycott in China and the Meng arrest only worsened the situation.

    The brand had been poised to open the 600sqm flagship in fashionable Taikoo Li Sanlitun this Saturday, following a pop-up event last month and a promotional campaign on Alibaba’s Taobao online mall. It opened a branch in Hong Kong last month, and is planning a regional office in Shanghai.

    “Our Beijing store has been delayed slightly due to ongoing construction. We look forward to opening our newest store in the near future.”

    A statement published : “Our Beijing store has been delayed slightly due to ongoing construction. We look forward to opening our newest store in the near future.”

    The Meng arrest took place at the request of the US on fraud charges related to alleged breaches of Iran sanctions.

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  • Ted Baker CEO and founder Ray Kelvin to take leave of absence

    Ted Baker CEO and founder Ray Kelvin to take leave of absence

    Ted Baker chief executive and founder Ray Kelvin has taken a voluntary leave of absence after “further serious allegations” around his conduct were brought to light. These allegations were brought to the attention of an independent committee of non-executive directors created to investigate harassment claims made by multiple anonymous staff members that Kelvin had expected them to hug him and sit on his lap when he would visit stores.

    The committee appointed Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to conduct an independent external investigation into the claims.

    Kelvin agreed it would be best for the business, and the people who work in it, if he were to take a voluntary leave of absence for the duration of the investigation.

    Chief operating officer Lindsay Page has been appointed acting chief executive with immediate effect.

    Ted Baker non-executive chairman David Bernstein noted the business remains in a strong position to deliver on its strategy, despite the negative media reports.

    The investigation stems from a petition created on website Organise, through which multiple Ted Baker employees made workplace harassment claims about the founder.

    “Together our pressure exposed what was happening at the highest level. Now, over 100 anonymised reports of harassment are sat with Ted Baker’s board,” Organise said in a blog post about the matter.

    Kelvin said that he grew up with such practices, and that it was “good old-fashioned stuff”.

  • Dtac, True slam new computer crime bill

    Dtac, True slam new computer crime bill

    Legal representatives from both TrueMove and Dtac have slammed the new computer misuse act for moving the burden of proof to ISPs to prove their innocence while True said that the Single Gateway government mass surveillance program was still alive and well.

    Speaking at a recent seminar entitled Online life: which way shall we go, Akarawit Jongsawasdiworakul from Dtac’s legal division said that unlike the US’ common carrier law, Thailand’s computer misuse act article 15 puts telcos at risk of criminal prosecution for the actions of their subscribers as service providers face the same criminal liability as their users for, say, an illegal posting.

    Dtac has to invest significant resources into monitoring its users to stay safe legally, resources that could have better been invested in 5G, he said.

    Unlike most aiding and abetting clauses in Thai law in which the aider gets two-thirds of the punishment, the computer misuse act doles out the same punishment to the service provider as it does to the criminal using it.

    However, the latest draft amendment is much worse. In trying to fix that glaring problem, the new version lays out a system where authorities can issue orders to service providers to block the offending post. The law then goes on to say that if the service provider can prove they complied with the order, then they are exempted from any punishment.

    Akarawit said that the computer misuse act shifts the burden of proof. Instead of the prosecution proving guilt, the service providers will now have to prove their innocence to a court.

    He also noted that under the current law, censorship orders must be only via a court order. The new version only needs an order from a “the official in charge” without any judicial oversight.

    Suporn Hornchaiya from True’s legal division, added that the definition of service provider is so vague that anyone with an unsecured WiFi hotspot would be subjected to the full force of the law.

    Suporn said that today authorities use article 20 to block websites, not just those which are a threat to national security or good morals which are allowed under the law, but also use it to block gambling websites and copyright infringement sites which is not allowed under the law. He noted that courts regularly grant blocking orders for the latter.

    Suporn said True has in the past appealed a court order, but the appeal was not accepted as the courts said that True was not an affected party to the blocking order.

  • Police, retailers in central Singapore partner to deter crime

    Police, retailers in central Singapore partner to deter crime

    The Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre on Saturday (Jan 30) launched the Central Division Retail Watch Group, which aims to establish a partnership between the police and retailers to deter, detect and prevent crime.

    Rahayu Mahzam, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC and a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law was the Guest of Honour for the event. In her speech, she referred to recent terrorist attacks in the region, and called on owners of retail and commercial establishments to be more vigilant and partner with the police to help ensure the safety and security of shoppers.

    In a media release, police said the Central Division Retail Watch Group consists of retailers from major shopping malls such as Bugis+, Bugis Junction, Raffles City, Marina Square and Suntec City. Membership is also open to all other retailers whose outlets fall within the jurisdiction of the Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre.

    Police added that this Retail Watch Group serves as a platform for the police and retailers to exchange information and tips on how they can strengthen vigilance and measures against potential terrorist attacks.

    According to the release, the Central Division Retail Watch Group will implement two initiatives. Police will disseminate an e-newsletter to retailers with information on crime trends and statistics, as well as crime prevention and security practices. The second initiative is a “red teaming” exercise conducted by police and retail management.

    “These exercises aim to test the effectiveness of the stores’ security features and the vigilance of the duty staff,” said the police in their statement. “Following these exercises, the police will hold a review with the retail management to reinforce the learning points.”

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  • Singapore Customs seizes 700 bags

    Singapore Customs seizes 700 bags

    Singapore Customs has seized some 700 counterfeit women’s bags and wallets imported from China.

    Details of the brands were not officially released but the above image provided by Customs shows clearly distinguishable Cath Kidston branding on some of the seized goods. Other goods bore two other brand names.

    The bags and wallets were discovered during a routine inspection of a consignment of goods at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

    Singapore Customs has informed the brand owners of the detained goods and they can now institute infringement actions against the importer under the Trade Marks Act.

    “Singapore does not condone such illegal trading activities and will take firm action against importers of counterfeit goods, and continue to ensure a robust intellectual property rights enforcement regime in Singapore,” said Singapore Customs in a statement.

    Today’s seizure follows another on April 8 involving more than 2300 items including mobile phone accessories, watches, sunglasses, bags and wallets suspected to be counterfeit goods of popular brands. Those items had been air freighted in from China, and included fake Apple accessories, pictured below.

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  • Siam Paragon names and shames bad taxis

    Siam Paragon names and shames bad taxis

    The unprofessionality of Bangkok’s taxi drivers is notorious internationally.

    Now a Bangkok shopping centre has teamed with the Department of Land Transport to name and shame bad drivers, in the hope they’ll reform or find fares elsewhere.

    Most residents of, or visitors to, Bangkok relying on taxis to transport them home or to their hotel after a day’s retail therapy have endured frustrating delays due to taxi drivers illegally refusing fares.

    Despite fines and threats of being reported to the hotline – itself overloaded, such is the extent of the problem – drivers try to pick and choose passengers which give them the best profits, leaving others stranded on the pavement.

    DLT has fined 31 of 54 drivers caught refusing fares at the Siam Paragon taxi rank and is hunting down a further 23, according to website Thai Rath Online.

    Meanwhile, the drivers’ taxi registration numbers, taxi co-ops and rental agents have been listed on a sign at the rank so potential passengers are warned, according to DLT director-general Teerapong Rodprasert. The drivers’ names were not listed because drivers often share cars.

    In a crackdown at the rank, DLT officials suspended the licences of two drivers for seven days because it was their second offence.

    Last week, Thai police conducted a blitz on Sukhumvit Rd, catching 34 drivers who refused fares late one night.

    Both locals and tourists report an epidemic of Thai taxi drivers refusing fares or refusing to use the meter and setting flat fees for hires, both illegal.

    A 24 hour hotline – 1584 – allows passengers to lodge complaints, by providing the taxi’s or driver’s registration numbers. There is also a free DLT Check smartphone app available.

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