JT donates servers to Highlands College to Support Local Education

An initiative, through JT’s Community Giving scheme, has seen the company donate some of their older servers and storage equipment, to Highlands College.

The more modern, specialist IT hardware has been gifted to the Computing and Creative Arts Department and although these servers are a decade old, they are more advanced than the college’s current equipment. To comply with required standards, JT needed to replace its current servers and as part of their circular economy commitments, offered them to the local college to repurpose.  This donation ensures the servers are put to good use and goes in some way to helping bridge the skills gap and encouraging more people to enter the industry. Students now have access to resources that mirror professional IT environments and creative industry standards, enabling the college to deliver specialised IT training and AV projects, equipping students with industry-relevant skills. Several of JT’s IT team were once students at the collage, so giving something back to support learning for tomorrows talent was a key driver for JT.

Ben Pirozzolo, Technical and Production Services Coordinator at Highlands College, said, ‘Due to the high cost of industrial quality server equipment, Highlands College often relies on donations of modern specialised IT hardware. These valuable donations help support students in not only computing based qualifications, but also Digital AV qualifications such as audio and video technology, digital games, film, journalism and performing and visual arts.

‘This fantastic contribution from JT means we can be more up to date, giving our students an advantage when they enter the local workforce.’

The servers and storage hardware from JT will replace some of the College’s outdated equipment, positively impacting the quality of training and skills Highlands are able to provide students locally.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, commented, ‘Where we can we are committed to providing young people with the equipment needed to teach essential IT skills, which are increasingly important in today’s digital economy. A well-trained workforce supports Jersey’s digital infrastructure, facilitating better communication and business operations across the island. This also contributes to our promise to support a circular economy – we’ve donated equipment that we can no longer use but will be of use to the college for many years to come.

Ben added, ‘’By supplying more modern resources Highlands College can equip students with highly sought-after skills in courses such as Microsoft Azure, Hyper-V virtualisation, Microsoft SQL, and networking fundamentals. JT’s donation helps students to be ‘job ready’ in skills such as data management, analytics and foundational networking abilities, as well as practical and problem-solving skills to meet the needs of businesses in Jersey well into the future.’

JT enhances security efforts at Pat Merriman Garden with data SIM card donation

JT’s Community Giving Scheme has donated the connectivity needed for the new security cameras designed to protect the restored Pat Merriman Peace Garden in the Les Cotils following vandalism earlier this year.

Designed to be a restorative outdoor space to help people undergoing a healing process from physical or mental ill health. The garden planners consulted with Alzheimer’s, Autism and Dementia experts when it was being designed, so that it could be an inclusive area for everyone.

In April, the garden suffered over £7,000 worth of damage due to vandalism. Several trees were destroyed by arson, the walkway was ruined, and wildlife disrupted when granite was deliberately pushed into the pond.

Local businessman, Matt Thornton, co-founder of Cortex Technologies heard about the vandalism through the local media and donated £1,500 for repairs. Another friend of Les Cotils donated new sleepers for the bank under the tulip tree, after the previous ones had been soaked in petrol and set on fire. JT’s donation is the final piece of an amazing community effort to help restore and protect the garden.

Erin Adkins, Head of Operations at Les Cotils Centre, said: ‘The Peace Garden is a place of tranquillity and while we’ve been reluctant to install cameras, sadly we have been left with little choice.’

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, said: In a stressful world, we all need a place to pause and recharge. The Pat Merriman Peace Garden offers just that—a peaceful spot with beautiful views of St Peter Port to find calm and inspiration. When it was damaged, it was a real blow to the community, but the way everyone came together to restore it shows just how much it means to us all. It’s a reminder that even in the face of senseless acts, we can come together and care for what really matters.

Erin continued: ‘We are so grateful to JT and the rest of the community who have pulled together to rebuild the gardens. When Matt reached out to us, it restored my faith in humankind. Most people don’t realise what Les Cotils does and if he and JT hadn’t come forward, we would have had to spend money that would have otherwise gone towards helping others. We’re delighted that together we could bring the garden back to its natural state, and we hope that islanders will continue to enjoy the scenery and tranquillity for many years to come.’

JT’s Community Giving Scheme Boosts The Little Chapel Foundation’s Donation System

The Little Chapel Foundation, the latest recipient of JT’s Community Giving scheme, has received a mobile data device, which means the charity can now take donations by card as well as cash.

One of Guernsey’s most loved heritage sites, The Little Chapel, is renowned for its intricate design and historical significance. Managed by a charitable foundation, it remains open to the public without an entry fee, relying entirely on donations to sustain its operations and continue the mission of its preservation.

Previously, without a data connection, many well-meaning visitors were unable to donate to the foundation unless they had cash. With the donated data device and 12 months of free data, visitors can now easily ‘tap’ into an online donation system, making seamless donations via their credit and debit cards.

Joachim “JJ” Paes, a Councillor and the Treasurer of the Little Chapel Foundation, said: “The Foundation depends 100% upon the generosity of the local community and visitors. We are so grateful to JT for their help with connecting this iconic attraction to the technology needed to enable people to donate in seconds. Something as simple as this gives us a new lifeline. This generous donation means more people can contribute to our goal to raise much-needed funds to fully restore The Little Chapel, which includes plans for wheelchair-friendly walkways and woodland gardens. For us, it’s helping to ensure its survival for future generations.”

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships, added: “Relying solely on donations can be a real challenge for charities, which is why we set up JT Community Giving, so that each year we could help as many small organisations as possible that don’t have the means to fund basic digital equipment or large fundraising campaigns. The Little Chapel remains one of the island’s most popular tourism attractions, celebrated for its remarkable detail and fascinating history, and we’re delighted to have played a small part in helping them to maintain this wonderful part of our heritage.”

JT’s Community Giving scheme has assisted over 300 charities since November 2022 when the scheme began, spanning a diverse range of demographics and providing essential community services.

For more information or to apply, visit JT Community Giving.

JT Community Giving brings Interactive Learning to Family Nursing & Home Care

Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC) has received a significant boost to their in-house training capabilities thanks to a donation of a state-of-the-art Promethean ActivBoard screen from JT Community Giving.

This collaborative technology has helped to transform the way the organisation delivers training to carers and nursing staff, which includes remote access capabilities.

FNHC’s Education and Development team commented: “We are hugely grateful to JT Community Giving for their generous donation. This technology has enriched our ability to run engaging training sessions by making use of modern, interactive features. The response from learners has been overwhelmingly positive, with many appreciating how much more responsive and fun the sessions have become.”

The Promethean ActivBoard screen is an advanced interactive whiteboard, offering a suite of features such as a multi-window capability that allows simultaneous notetaking and video viewing. This functionality, coupled with tools such as voting systems for interactive quizzes, has really improved the team’s learning experiences, making sessions more dynamic and enjoyable for all.

Since its inception two years ago, JT Community Giving has provided support to over 250 community projects across the Channel Islands.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, said, “We are committed to supporting local organisations with technology and expertise to improve lives. Seeing the positive impact of the new interactive screen at FNHC just reaffirms the importance of our community initiatives. Our goal is to promote digital inclusivity and overall well-being within the community, and we are delighted to contribute to FNHC’s growth and success’’.

‘’At JT Community Giving, our core values of community enhancement, digital skills progression, and support for local charities and organisations play a part in everything we do. Whether it’s through donations, teaching, providing services, or volunteering, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact’’.

To learn more about JT Community Giving, visit www.jtglobal.com/community-giving.

The courses run by FNHC include clinical skills training, such as first aid, diabetes care, and pressure ulcer management, ensuring that nursing staff and home carers across Jersey are equipped with essential knowledge to provide exceptional care. Their courses can be booked through EventBrite: Family Nursing & Home Care Events – 40 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite.

Scam Signal Solution from FICO and Jersey Telecom Wins Anti-Fraud Award

FICO® Customer Communications Service Scam Signal wins award at Credit & Collections Technology Awards; solution uses telephony signals to spot scams

LONDON – 18 November, 2024 (International Fraud Awareness Week) – FICO (NYSE: FICO)

A new solution from global analytics leader FICO and Jersey Telecom (JT) received the Best Anti-Fraud Solution award at the Credit & Collections Technology Awards on November 7 in Manchester. The FICO® Customer Communications Service solution, called ‘Scam Signal’, uniquely uses telephony signals to detect potential scams. The solution, which is available in the UK and soon to launch in Spain, also won silver in the Datos Insights awards earlier this year.

Scam Signal is the first real-time application of telephony data being used with customer and payment data to tackle the issue of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where consumers are tricked into authorising payments from their accounts to scammers. It is the only solution that provides an integrated approach, seamlessly connecting telephony data with fraud decision making and prevention. This enables direct, near real-time customer intervention to determine if a payment should proceed.

“With APP fraud causing £460 million in reported losses in the UK in 2023 and new regulations mandating reimbursements, the need for banks to adopt preventative solutions is more urgent than ever,” ’said Clare Messenger, Head of Mobile Intelligence Solutions at JT. “This technology is a breakthrough in fraud prevention, using telephony signals to detect subtle signs of fraud at its source. This means banks and other organisations can take proactive measures to prevent financial loss.  ’We are delighted that the solution has been recognised and hope it contributes to reducing fraud statistics as banks across the UK use it to protect their customers.”

Scam Signal uses advanced analysis of real-time network data together with customer and payment data, during live transactions, to effectively detect and mitigate social engineering attempts aimed at deceiving and defrauding account holders. The solution can incorporate this data across 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G Volte and Wi-Fi calling for multiple mobile network operators and is currently being extended to support UK landlines.

Results from banks using the solution include:

  • Reduced the number of people scammed by 41%.
  • Decreased fraud losses from scams by 44%.
  • Lowered false positives (payments flagged as fraud that are in fact genuine) by 55%.

“Stopping any kind of scam or fraud requires a real-time response,” said Matt Cox, vice president and general manager of FICO in EMEA. “Working with JT, we have integrated Scam Signal with our omni-channel communications solution so that banks can easily interact directly with their customers to provide warnings and guidance that can prevent them from sending a payment to a fraudster, reducing the number of people who fall victim to scams.”

About the Credit & Collections Technology Awards

The Credit & Collections Technology Awards recognize excellence and innovation in the UK credit and collections industry. These prestigious Awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

The full list of winners is at https://awards.credit-connect.co.uk/awards-winners.

JT’s Community Giving Scheme Keeps Jersey Opera House Team Connected During Renovations

JT continues to support the Jersey Opera House by donating six refurbished laptops and a Wi-Fi generator through its Community Giving scheme. This donation enables the Opera House team to work from temporary offices and remotely from home while the building undergoes renovations.

The Jersey Opera House, a registered charity, has been an integral part of Jersey’s cultural landscape for many years. Whilst the project team works to bring it back to life, JT’s reconditioned laptops will help keep the team connected, allowing them to plan for the future while restoration progresses.

The sale of JT’s IoT division in 2021 generated significant funds, which have enabled the Government of Jersey to invest in key local projects, including £12.7 million to the long-awaited refurbishment of the Opera House. The building is currently undergoing extensive structural upgrades, with completion expected in December, marking a significant improvement after years of deferred maintenance.

While the government is funding the structural renovations, which include some elements of the interior fit-out, the Opera House charity will be responsible for financing the majority of the interior fit-out which will include the latest acoustics and lighting systems. JT’s donation through its Community Giving initiative provides the Opera House team with the necessary technology and connectivity to manage the project remotely and collaborate effectively with the government.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, said: “The entire JT team takes great pride in the local projects made possible by our work developing digital solutions that serve global industries. Knowing that we have contributed to many significant community projects like the Jersey Opera House, which will be enjoyed by everyone in Jersey, makes our work even more rewarding.”

Andy Eagle, Interim Theatre Director, Jersey Opera House, said: ‘’The donation from JT’s Community Giving Fund has been a huge help to the Jersey Opera House team while we work through the refurbishment. The six laptops and Wi-Fi generator enable the team to stay connected and continue working effectively, both remotely and from temporary offices. This support helps us keep operations moving as we plan for the Opera House’s reopening. We’re grateful to JT for their support during this transitional time.”

JT Community Giving Scheme is open to all registered not-for-profit organisations, schools, and community groups across the Channel Islands, for more information please visit JT Community Giving

JT’s Scam Signal to Combat Fraud as New UK Banking Regulation Comes into Effect

In a significant move towards protecting consumers from financial scams, Jersey Telecom (JT) recently launched a pioneering product designed to shield customers from impersonation scams, particularly Authorised Pushed Payment (APP) fraud. The Scam Signal launch comes as the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is introducing a new UK regulation that mandates banks to compensate customers defrauded up to £85,000. 

Scam Signal, developed in collaboration with Vodafone Carrier Services and global analytics leader FICO, is the first real-time application of telephony data used alongside customer and payment data to address APP fraud. This multifunctional tool allows businesses to protect their customers by swiftly identifying and blocking fraudulent bank transfers as they occur.   

With the new regulation due to come into force 7th October 2024, JT’s solution offers banks a proactive approach to safeguarding their customers and minimising financial losses.   

JT, known for its leading position in Mobile Intelligence, has integrated Scam Signal into its suite of mobile intelligence solutions. Having successfully piloted the solution with a leading UK high street bank, Scam Signal is now live with four major banks and has already improved fraud detection by 30%, asserting its efficacy in safeguarding financial institutions and their customers. 

Scam Signal has been named as Silver Award winner for ‘Best Scam and Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud Prevention Solution 2024 by Datos Insights. This accolade highlights the exceptional innovation and effectiveness Scam Signal brings to the financial services industry, setting a new standard for fraud prevention globally.  

Clare Messenger, Global Head of Mobile Intelligence at JT Group, stated, “Our technology represents a breakthrough in fraud prevention, directly addressing the needs of financial institutions by tackling fraud at its source. It’s an essential component of JT's Mobile Intelligence solutions, using telephony signals to spot the subtle signs of fraud that enable banks and other organisations to take proactive measures to prevent financial loss.” 

Given the surge in APP fraud globally, and with the UK witnessing losses exceeding £340.65m in 2023 alone, Scam Signal’s partnership with UK banks couldn’t come at a better time. This growing threat and increased pressure from new regulation mandating reimbursements highlights the need for banks to adopt more preventative solutions to minimise their exposure to risk. 

Clare Messenger

Clare Messenger
Head of Mobile Intelligence
Book a meeting with Clare >

Ensuring Cyber Safety for Jersey’s Network

Ensuring the security of Jersey’s extensive network, which connects every household, business, and organization — from major global banks to small enterprises, schools, and charities — is a colossal challenge. “The digital realm is a constant battleground where closing one door might open another vulnerability,” explains Peter Lescop, Chief Information Security Officer at JT.

Read article >>

Article from JT about Cyber Security

Fish and Chips with Guernsey Volunteer Service

JT’s Community Giving Scheme provides a traditional British seaside treat for GVS social clubs

Thanks to JT’s Community Giving scheme 153 islanders enjoyed a fish ‘n chip lunch this summer.

The Guernsey Volunteer Service (GVS) coordinated this tasty treat for members of The Russells and Jubilee social clubs.

The Russells held their Fish n Chip week on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th of July, while Jubilee followed suit in August. Typically, clients attending the social clubs pay £9.50, which covers transport and lunch. Thanks to JT’s contribution, all 153 clients enjoyed their delicious meal free of charge this year.

Mandy Les Bachelet, Manager at the Guernsey Volunteer Service, expressed her gratitude, saying, ‘We used to take our clients out for a meal during summer, but due to mobility issues, we’re no longer able to do that. A delivered Fish ‘n Chip supper is a much anticipated treat for our clients and our volunteers.

Our clients are generally elderly islanders; we’re so grateful to JT for their kind and generous donation; it’s a real highlight of the summer for everyone, the donation has made this much-loved tradition accessible to all.’

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, added, ‘Our contribution means more than just providing a meal – it’s about keeping the laughter, the stories, and the companionship that these gatherings bring, alive.  We are proud to have supported the GVS’s Fish n’ Chip Week, helping them to enable these precious moments to continue despite financial or mobility challenges. It’s the small things that remind us of the strength found in community connections.”

The Guernsey Volunteer Service runs two social clubs, The Russells and Jubilee, and delivers meals on wheels, bathing services, and trolley shops, making a significant difference in the lives of many islanders. For more information about GVS and how you can support their mission, visit GVS.

JT Community Giving Scheme is open to all registered not-for-profit organisations, schools, and community groups across the Channel Islands, for more information please visit JT Community Giving.

New Scam Detection Product from FICO and Jersey Telecom Wins Datos Insights Award

FICO® and JT’s Customer Communications Service Scam Signal takes Silver Medal in the Fraud Impact Award for Best Scam and APP Fraud Prevention

BOZEMAN, MT – 20 August, 2024 – FICO (NYSE: FICO)

In the fight against the growing problem of scams, FICO and Jersey Telecom (JT) have produced a powerful solution, which has won an award from Datos Insights, a global advisory firm providing mission-critical insights on technology, regulations, strategy, and operations to the financial services industry. Datos Insights recognized FICO and JT as the winners of the Silver Medal in the Fraud Impact Award for Best Scam and APP (Authorized Push Payment) Fraud Prevention solution. The FICO® Customer Communications Service Scam Signal is now also available in the UK and Spain, with plans to expand to additional markets.

More information: https://datos-insights.com/resources/awards/fraud-aml/

FICO and JT worked with leading UK banks to identify the most relevant telephony signals that indicate an active scam. The FICO Customer Communications Service Scam Signal is the first real-time application of telephony data being used with customer and payment data to tackle the issue of Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud, where consumers are tricked into making authorized payments to scammers. It enables direct, near real-time intervention with the customer to determine if a payment should proceed.

“This Scam Signal product addresses a significant and growing problem,’’ said Clare Messenger, Head of Mobile Intelligence Solutions at JT. “Authorized Push Payment fraud continues to grow globally and in the UK market losses reported in 2023 reached £460 million.”

To build this solution, JT worked with the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications) and the UK Mobile Network Operators to access various mobile network insights within a privacy compliant framework that protects personal data. FICO’s analysis found strong correlations between a customer’s mobile phone behavior and the likelihood that a scam is taking place. For example, a customer may be actively coached through security or manipulated by a fraudster into making a payment during a mobile phone conversation.

The Scam Signal uses advanced analysis of real-time network data together with customer and payment data, during live transactions, to effectively detect and mitigate social engineering attempts aimed at deceiving and defrauding account holders. The Scam Signal can incorporate this data from across 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G Volte and Wi-Fi calling for multiple mobile network operators and is currently being extended to support UK landlines.

“The integration of Scam Signal within FICO Customer Communications Service allows banks to present customers with personalised, omni-channel and highly contextualized messages that break the scammer’s spell for high-risk activities,” said Adam Davies, vice president of product management at FICO. These messages can be built into conversation ‘flows’ that respond in real-time to the actions the customer takes. For example, if a customer hesitates or looks to progress a payment, additional messages can be sent, and different options offered, such as suggesting delaying the payment or offering to speak to a fraud prevention specialist.”

Major high street banks in the UK are implementing the product, with the first one to pilot it reporting that they reduced the number of people scammed by 41%, decreased fraud losses from scams by 44% and lowered false positives (payments flagged as fraud that are in fact genuine) by 55%.

FICO Chief Analytics Officer Dr. Scott Zoldi will discuss “Responsible AI: Unleashing the Power of AI for Risk Mitigation in an Ethical Manner” in a fireside chat with Julie Conroy of Datos Insights at the company’s Financial Crime and Cybersecurity Forum in Charlotte, NC, on August 27.

About the Datos Insights Awards

Datos Insights’ annual awards program, Fraud & AML Impact Awards, recognizes innovations leading the industry and pioneering new and disruptive financial crime products and capabilities.

The Datos Insights award winners and finalists were selected based on the following criteria, which were considered when scoring each entry:

  • Level of innovation
  • Competitive advantage
  • Market need
  • Financial crime risk mitigation
  • Impact on customer experience and operational efficiency
  • Integration and scalability
  • Future roadmap

“Organized crime is relentlessly bombarding society with scams, automated bots, synthetic identities, mule activity, and application fraud,” said Chuck Subrt, Fraud & AML Practice Director at Datos Insights. “The financial services industry is doubling down on innovation, automation, and data to tackle this confluence of challenges and risks.”