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Drug dealers who relied on Bitcoin’s ‘anonymity’ get 30 years behind bars

Apr26
by on April 26, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Members of a Bitcoin-fueled drug ring that used the dark web to import crystal meth into the UK have been sentenced to more than 30 years behind bars. Most drugs were imported from Canada in a popular comparison website’s freebie toys. The group is believed to have sold more than 1 kilo of controlled drugs – including cocaine and ecstasy – worth tens of thousands of pounds during a fourth-month period in 2017. Once sold, dealers distributed the substances to customers through a ‘ring-and-bring’ phone line. Patrick Palmer, the prosecutor, said approximately $78,000 (£61,000) worth of drugs and at least…

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Damned OneCoin scammers stole $2.3M from Kiwis using Samoan churches

Apr26
by on April 26, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Yet another organization thought to be tied the multi-billion dollar cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme OneCoin has been uncovered. Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) has named the Samoa Worship Centre as being used as a front in the $3 billion OneCoin scam which promised unrealistic returns for investing in a fake cryptocurrency. According to CBS’ announcement, the church and its ministers promoted OneCoin to members of their congregation. Investigators believe that over NZ$3.5 million (US$2.3 million) has been transferred into the scammer’s accounts. Indeed, one person told local outlet RNZ Pacific, that OneCoin representatives pitched their product to the church. Several people,…

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Facebook clamps down on personality quizzes to plug data leaks

Apr26
by on April 26, 2019 at 11:56 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web


Facebook is taking baby steps to plug data leaks on its platform. In a new blog post that was posted yesterday, the company’s director of product management Eddie O’Neil wrote that it will be subjecting apps with “minimal utility,” such as personality quizzes, to heightened scrutiny and “may not be permitted on the platform.” The social network also took to the post to say that it will be removing third-party developer access to a number of old APIs effective April 30. In addition, apps will also be restricted from asking for data that doesn’t directly improve the in-app user experience. “Apps with…

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The golden age of influencer marketing is yet to come

Apr26
by on April 26, 2019 at 11:35 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Events, Insider, TNW2019


In an age when traditional media channels have lost their power to capture our attention, marketing professionals are forced to adapt. Prime TV airtime is no longer the most desired advertising real estate — now brands are willing to pay millions of dollars for an influencer ad campaign on Instagram. How did we get here and what’s the future of the influencer marketing industry? I caught up with Pamela Kaupinen from HelloSociety to find out. As the former Executive Director of Marketing at GQ Magazine and the driving force behind the hugely successful sub-brand GQ Insider, Kaupinen has an impressive track…

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No, new CO₂ capture tech won’t stop climate change

Apr26
by on April 26, 2019 at 11:00 am
Posted In: Around the Web, syndication, world


According to a recent major UN report, if we are to limit temperature rise to 1.5 °C and prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we need to reduce global CO₂ emissions to net zero by 2050. This means eliminating fossil fuel use fast – but to cushion that transition and offset the areas in which there is currently no replacement for combustibles, we need to actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Planting trees and rewilding are a large part of this solution, but we are highly likely to need further technological assistance if we are to prevent climate…

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