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T-Mobile Report: Customers Protected from More Than 40 Billion Scam Calls in 2022

T-Mobile Report: Customers Protected from More Than 40 Billion Scam Calls in 2022

The Un-carrier uncovers the industry’s top fraud trends and how to stay protected in its Scam and Robocall Report

BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–What’s the news: The Un-carrier released its Scam and Robocall Report, sharing that T-Mobile’s Scam Shield identified or blocked 41.5 billion scam calls1 in 2022, a 75% increase from 2021. That’s a whopping 1,317 calls identified or blocked every second.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230222005650/en/

Vehicle Warranty Scam Calls brought to a Halt (Graphic: Business Wire)

Vehicle Warranty Scam Calls brought to a Halt (Graphic: Business Wire)

Why it matters: Scammers and spammers are constantly evolving their attack methods as wireless providers and regulators continue to fight back. Industry wide, Americans lost an estimated $39.5B to phone scams in 2022.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking to better protect themselves and their families against scammers.

T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today released its second annual Scam and Robocall Report, sharing new data looking back at 2022 to uncover insights related to scam, spam and robocall activity, as well as underscore how the Un-carrier helps to keep customers protected against these bad actors.

“At a time when scammers continue to get more creative and aggressive in their attempts, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield and advanced network protect our customers, identifying an average of 3.5 billion calls each month,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology, T-Mobile. “With scammers quickly evolving their tactics, we have to be just as fast at adapting our scam identification technology to fight back and keep customers protected.”

Scammer Behavior

Scammers are continuously upping their game to find new tactics and targets, with total robocall attempts up 75% from 2021 to 2022. Scam call volume reached an all-time high in January 2022 due to a surge of caller retries resulting from the introduction of a new return code (608) mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. Then, scam call volume declined steadily each month throughout the year, with occasional spikes during seasonal scam surges. Several factors contributed to this decline, including ongoing improvements to scam protection technology like T-Mobile’s Scam Shield, agility by mobile operators to implement new prevention tactics and regulator intervention.

Scam Shield is leading the way in keeping wireless customers safe from scams. In June, Verizon said they blocked 5B robocalls in the first half of the year. In that same period, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield blocked an impressive 25B.

Common Scam Tactics

Scammers followed similar patterns from years past, targeting consumers more heavily on weekdays vs. weekends and heavily ramping up activity during the two weeks before Christmas (hello package delivery scams!). But even scammers need a break, accounting for why major holidays like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, and 4th of July saw the lowest scam traffic dropping anywhere from 80-90%.

Vehicle warranty scams dominated the first half of the year, with T-Mobile’s Scam Shield blocking nearly double the amount of scam and robocalls in the front half of the year – averaging 4.2B blocked calls/month – compared to the back half – which averaged 2.7B blocked calls/month. In July, an unprecedented FCC cease and desist identified eight wireless providers – not T-Mobile – in violation of carrying these calls, which effectively brought vehicle warranty scams to a halt.

Scammers never stay away for long, so as vehicle warranty scams went into hibernation, health and insurance-related scams quickly rose up to take their place. To maximize their profits, these bad actors adapted their tactics to target key moments throughout the year. Back to school? That’s prime time for student loan fraudsters and Amazon scams. Tax season? IRS-related scams reigned supreme.

Target Regions/Demographics

Scammers hit some states harder than others, with Texas, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, and Oklahoma seeing the brunt of it, with victims often targeted by demographic and region. Texas received the highest volume of scam calls with insurance-related tactics targeting the uninsured and other unsuspecting victims. States with high senior populations like South Carolina are also key targets – imposters often mask as seniors’ aid staffers going after Medicare and other health-related scams.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

Built into the core of the network and free for all customers, T-Mobile’s leading patented Scam Shield technology provides the most powerful defense against scams. It updates protections every six minutes and identifies scam calls before they even reach a customer’s phone. When a threat is detected, customers either receive a “Scam Likely” warning or no disturbance at all by turning on Scam Block in the Scam Shield app or by dialing #662#.

The industry continues to see a rise in robotexts as a way to deceive unsuspecting victims. As scammers adapt and use new methods, T-Mobile continues to adapt as well, increasing investment in network level robotext protection.

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers can download the Scam Shield app on the App Store or Google Play and have a dashboard at their fingertips for all Scam Shield anti-scam tools.

This report comes from T-Mobile’s analysis of internal Scam Shield data. Scam Shield is available to T-Mobile customers with qualifying service and a capable device. Turning on Scam Block might block calls you want, and Scam Block can be disabled at any time. For more information on Scam Shield, check out https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/customers/scam-shield. Follow T-Mobile’s Official Twitter Newsroom @TMobileNews to stay up to date with the latest company news.

About T-Mobile

T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

1 Source: T-Mobile Network Data

Media Contacts

T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

T-Mobile US, Inc.

[email protected]

https://investor.t-mobile.com

KEYWORDS: Washington United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Consumer Technology Mobile/Wireless 5G Hispanic Carriers and Services

MEDIA:

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Scammers Know Their Targets (Graphic: Business Wire)
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Vehicle Warranty Scam Calls brought to a Halt (Graphic: Business Wire)
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Warner Music Group Corp. to Participate in Deutsche Bank’s Media, Internet & Telecom Conference

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Warner Music Group Corp. (“Warner Music Group” or “WMG”) announced today that Eric Levin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a question and answer session during the Deutsche Bank 31st Annual Media, Internet & Telecom Conference on Tuesday, February 28th, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of the session will be available to the general public through a link on the Investor Relations homepage of Warner Music Group’s website (https://investors.wmg.com/events-and-presentations/upcoming-events). A replay of the audio webcast will be available in the Past Events section of Warner Music Group’s Investor Relations homepage.

About Warner Music Group

With a legacy extending back over 200 years, Warner Music Group (WMG) today brings together artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs that are moving entertainment culture across the globe. Operating in more than 70 countries through a network of affiliates and licensees, WMG’s Recorded Music division includes renowned labels such as 300 Entertainment, Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, Canvasback, Elektra, Erato, First Night, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG’s music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, has a catalog of over one million copyrights spanning every musical genre, from the standards of the Great American Songbook to the biggest hits of the 21st century. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA, the independent artist and label services company – as well as next gen artist services division WMX, which includes consumer brands such as Songkick, the live music app; EMP, the merchandise e-tailer; UPROXX, the youth culture destination; and HipHopDX, the hip-hop music news site. In addition, WMG counts storytelling powerhouse Warner Music Entertainment and social media content creator IMGN among its many brands.

Media Contact:

James Steven
(212) 275-2213
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Kareem Chin
(212) 275-2334
[email protected]



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Nir Ben Moshe, Former Director of Security of the Israeli Defense Establishment Joining Maris-Tech


Ben Moshe will join the advisory board of Maris-Tech as a specialist advisor for business development and global marketing

REHOVOT, Israel, Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a B2B provider of intelligent video transmission technology with AI acceleration for edge platforms, announced today the appointment of Nir Ben Moshe, former senior director in the Israeli Ministry of Defense to the advisory board as a specialist advisor for business development and global marketing.

Mr. Nir Ben Moshe is a senior executive with experience managing large-scale, highly sensitive national security operations (hundreds of staff; significant budgets) around the world. In his last position, Ben Moshe served as a director in the Directorate of Security for the Defense Establishment (DSDE) in Israel. In that position Ben Moshe was responsible for the security of the Ministry of Defense, Israeli defense industries, defense R&D organizations and defense manufacturers, and managing a yearly budget of hundreds of millions of Dollars.

As a specialist advisor, Mr. Ben Moshe will help Maris-Tech expand its market reach globally and assist in growth.

Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech, stated “I am excited to welcome Nir Ben Moshe on our team. Nir is a leader who has a broad perspective on our business line and can contribute creative solutions and points of view. After 28 years in senior positions, we believe Nir joining Maris- Tech will bring his strong ability and connections to communicate with high-ranking government officials worldwide and that his great experience will lead Maris-Tech to growth in the future”.

About Maris-Tech Ltd.

Maris-Tech is a B2B provider of intelligent video transmission technology, founded by veterans of the Israel technology sector with extensive electrical engineering and imaging experience. Our products are designed to meet the growing demands of commercial and tactical applications, delivering high-performance, compact, low power and low latency solutions to companies worldwide, including leading electro-optical payload, RF datalink and unmanned platform manufacturers as well as defense, HLS, and communication companies. For more information, visit https://www.maris-tech.com/.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we are discussing the benefits that we expect Nir Ben Moshe joining the advisory board will bring to Maris-Tech, including our belief that Nir will bring his strong ability and connections to communicate with high-ranking government officials worldwide and contribute to our future growth. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: our ability to successfully market our products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC and our other filings with the SEC.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations:

Michal Efraty,
Adi and Michal PR- IR
Investor Relations, Israel

+972-72-2424022
[email protected]



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MICT, Through its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Tingo Foods Plc, Signs Partnership Agreement with Evtec Energy Plc to Build Zero Emission Solar Energy Plant to Power Food Processing Facility

Technologically Advanced Solar Power Plant to Provide Low-Cost, Sustainable Energy to Multi-Billion Dollar Food Processing Facility


$150 million Evtec Energy Funded 110 Megawatt Solar Power Plant to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions and Considerable Energy Cost Savings

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MICT, Inc. (NASDAQ: MICT) (“MICT” or the “Company”) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Tingo Foods Plc (“Tingo Foods”), has entered into a partnership with Evtec Energy Plc (“Evtec Energy”), who have committed to build a $150 million net zero carbon emission solar plant to provide a sustainable and low-cost energy source to power Tingo Foods’ multi-billion dollar food processing facility announced on February 9, 2023.

The state-of-the-art $1.6 billion Tingo Foods processing facility in the Delta State of Nigeria is scheduled to be completed by the end of the first half of 2024. The new facility, believed to be the largest in Africa, is expected to multiply the food processing capacity and revenues of Tingo Foods, allowing it to expand its current product range of rice, pasta, noodles, and other staple foods into new product areas such as tea, coffee, cereals, chocolate, biscuits, cooking oils, non-dairy milks, carbonated drinks, and mineral water. Through this first-of-its-kind facility in Nigeria, Tingo Foods aims to reduce Africa’s reliance on the import of finished food and beverage products and to increase exports of made-in-Africa produce, which in turn is expected to reduce the prices of finished products and significantly reduce shipping miles and carbon emissions.

By constructing its own on-site 110 megawatt solar power plant using the advanced energy-tech of Evtec Energy and utilizing the technology of TAE Power Solutions Limited (“TAE Power”), Tingo Foods expects its food processing facility to achieve net zero carbon emissions while also benefiting from considerable energy cost savings.

The $150 million cost of the solar power plant is to be funded by Evtec Energy and their financial partners: Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, and Roth (subject to the agreement of financial terms and conditions). Under the terms of the partnership, Tingo Foods will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Additionally, through their partnership and collaboration, Tingo Foods, Evtec Energy and their technology partner TAE Power will explore similar projects throughout Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dozy Mmobuosi, founder of Tingo Mobile Limited and Tingo Foods PLC, commented: “Our partnership with Evtec Energy is a significant step toward establishing a sustainable and innovative future for Nigeria’s and Africa’s agro-industrial sectors. Our commitment to create jobs and boost economic growth is unwavering and through our collaboration with leading technology experts we can realize our vision of a green and prosperous future for Africa. This is just the beginning of our journey into the sustainable energy sector, and we look forward to exploring new possibilities for collaboration and innovation in the future.”

Darren Mercer, Chief Executive Officer of MICT, commented: “The addition of a sustainable energy zero carbon emissions power plant to our state-of-the-art food processing plant is yet another major milestone toward our commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and toward fulfilling our ESG objectives.

“In addition to the considerable environmental benefits gained from using on-site renewable energy to power what is expected to be the largest food processing facility in Africa, we will achieve a considerable saving against energy costs, thereby enhancing margins and the overall profitability of this hugely exciting and potentially vast business within our group.”   

David Roberts, Chairman of the Evtec Group, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Tingo Foods to deliver this important and transformational project. The scheme is perfectly aligned with our ethos and commitment toward sustainability and, ultimately, delivering net zero carbon emissions. I am equally delighted that we have been able to call upon the leading clean energy expertise of TAE Power Solutions to help us deliver the optimal technology for the new plant.

“At Evtec we are committed to building successful communities. At our core, we want to make a difference to society by helping people lead fulfilling lives and, therefore, to have a positive impact on the communities in which we are based globally. We are hugely enthused that Tingo Foods and MICT share our values and we look forward to working with them and building a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship.”

About the Evtec Group/Evtec Energy Plc

With a forward order book of in excess of $650m. and an increase in revenue year on year of 30% p.a. Evtec is rapidly expanding into the sustainable energy sector including but not limited to; mobility, energy generation and storage and EV charging.

ESG/CSR has been at the heart of the Evtec Group since they first acquired Remploy in 2013 from the UK Government; they are now proud to be amongst the highest employers of disabled people in the UK.

Evtec Energy operates as a project manager on large scale energy and carbon reduction projects, working with such partners as: TAE, Tevva Motors, Firefly, EVe and Omni Telemetry, amongst others.

About TAE Power Solutions

TAE Power Solutions is a proprietary technology platform that is accelerating the transition to an electrified world with a first-of-its-kind energy storage and power delivery system. This technology unlocks a complete clean energy ecosystem, including more affordable and efficient storage; ultrafast charging capabilities; electric vehicle powertrains; peak shaving; buffering; and second life of batteries.

TAE Power Solutions is now adapting the same technology invented to power TAE’s fusion energy program for business-to-business solutions for your car, home, or business.

About TAE Technologies

TAE Technologies was founded in 1998 to develop commercial fusion power with the cleanest environmental profile. The company’s pioneering work represents the fastest, most practical, and economically competitive solution to bring abundant clean energy to the grid. With over 1,800 patents filed globally and over 1,100 granted, $1.2 billion in private capital raised, five generations of National Laboratory-scale devices built and two more in development, and an experienced team of over 500 employees, TAE is now on the cusp of delivering this transformational energy source capable of sustaining the planet for thousands of years.

The company’s revolutionary technologies have produced a robust portfolio of commercial innovations in large adjacent markets such as power management, energy storage, electric mobility, fast charging, life sciences, and more. TAE is based in California and maintains international offices in the UK and Switzerland. Multidisciplinary and mission-driven by nature, TAE is leveraging proprietary science and engineering to create a bright future.

About MICT

MICT Inc., (NASDAQ: MICT) is a global Fintech and Agri-Fintech group of companies with operations in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. MICT’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tingo Mobile, is the leading Agri-Fintech company operating in Africa, with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, including a ‘device as a service’ smartphone and pre-loaded platform product. As part of its globalization strategy, Tingo Mobile has recently begun to expand internationally and entered into trade partnerships that are contracted to increase the number of subscribed farmers from 9.3 million in 2022 to more than 32 million, providing them with access to services including, among others, the Nwassa ‘seed-to-sale’ marketplace platform, insurance, micro-finance, and mobile phone and data top-up. MICT’s other Tingo business verticals include: TingoPay, a SuperApp in partnership with Visa that offers a wide range of B2C and B2B services including payment services, an e-wallet, foreign exchange and merchant services; Tingo Foods, a food processing business that processes raw foods into finished products such as rice, pasta and noodles; and Tingo DMCC, a commodity trading platform and agricultural commodities export business based out of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center. In addition to its Tingo business verticals, MICT also holds and operates an insurance brokerage platform business in China, with 130+ offices located in China’s cities and major towns; and Magpie Securities, a regulated finance services Fintech business operating out of Hong Kong and Singapore. For more information visit www.mict-inc.com.

Disclaimer

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management and the Board’s view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to implement certain corporate actions, such as security repurchases and the implementation of a special dividend. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact

Chris Tyson/Larry Holub
949-491-8235
[email protected]
www.mzgroup.us

MICT Inc. Contact Information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (201) 225-0190

 



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G1 Therapeutics to Release Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results and Provide Business Update on March 1, 2023

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTHX), a commercial-stage oncology company, will host a webcast and conference call to provide a corporate and financial update for the fourth quarter and full year 2022 on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Please note that there is a new process to access the call via telephone. To register and receive a dial in number and unique PIN to access the live conference call, please follow this link to register online. While not required, it is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. A live and archived webcast will be available on the Events & Presentations page of the company’s website: www.g1therapeutics.com. The webcast will be archived on the same page for 90 days following the event.

About G1 Therapeutics

G1 Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of next generation therapies that improve the lives of those affected by cancer, including the Company’s first commercial product, COSELA® (trilaciclib). G1 has a deep clinical pipeline and is executing a tumor-agnostic development plan evaluating COSELA in a variety of solid tumors, including breast, lung, and bladder cancers. G1 Therapeutics is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. For additional information, please visit www.g1therapeutics.com and follow us on Twitter @G1Therapeutics.

G1 Therapeutics® and the G1 Therapeutics logo and COSELA® and the COSELA logo are trademarks of G1 Therapeutics, Inc.

G1 Therapeutics Contacts:

Will Roberts
Vice President
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(919) 907-1944
[email protected]

Rebecca Levine
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
(919) 667-8711
[email protected]



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IZEA Releases The 2023 State of Influencer Equality

Male and Female Influencer Pay Gap Continues to Narrow

Orlando, Florida, Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), the premier provider of influencer marketing technology, data, and services for the world’s leading brands, ​​released its third annual The State of Influencer Equality report today. The report found that the average payment per post for non-white influencers continues to trend upward. Hispanic influencers’ pay climbed by 29%, Asian influencers’ pay rose by 23% year over year, and Black influencers’ pay increased by 19%. The rate of deals being awarded to minorities has surpassed their representation in the population, reaching a new peak of 46% share of sponsorship transactions. 

First introduced in 2020, the report analyzes influencer earnings observed in IZEA’s online marketplace from 2015 to 2022. The data comprises negotiated rates between marketers and creators spanning the spectrum of micro-influencers to celebrities across all social platforms, including self-reported sex and racial identifiers.

“IZEA is dedicated to championing creators of all backgrounds and demographics, driving the influencer marketing sector toward fairness and inclusivity,” said Ted Murphy, IZEA Founder and CEO. “We’re delighted to see a steady growth in pay for non-white influencers within the IZEA ecosystem, indicating that our efforts are paying off for creators. The pay gap between male and female influencers has continued to reduce to its lowest point of 17% since we began tracking this data.”

Key Findings Include: 

  • Over the past eight years, average earnings have dramatically risen for influencers of all races and sexes.
  • Over the past five years, persons of color have commanded a premium over their white counterparts, with Asian Americans making an average of 50% more per post than white creators in 2022. 
  • Female influencers continue to dominate influencer marketing with 77% of all transaction volume in 2022, but their share of deal flow is the lowest since our reporting began in 2015. 
  • Despite influencers 65 and older commanding the highest premium of all age groups in 2021, adults 55-64 have seen their earnings surge 144%, making them the highest-earning influencer age group in 2022. 
  • Influencers ages 55-64 make $1 more on average than influencers ages 18-24. 
  • Influencers with an annual household income of $150,000 or more charge an average of 3.1 times more for a sponsored post than creators earning $50,000 or less per year.
  • The percentage of influencer marketing deal flow going to minority influencers (46%) has surpassed their representation in the U.S. population (41%).
  • For the second year in a row, the percentage of influencer marketing deal flow going to white (non-Hispanic) influencers (54%) has slipped below their share of the U.S. population (59%). 

2015-2022 Sponsored Post Price Increase by Race: 

  • Sponsored post prices charged by Asian American influencers have surged 3,532% from $101 to $3,668 on average.
  • Sponsored post prices charged by Black influencers have climbed 2,258% from $129 to $3,042 on average.
  • Sponsored post prices charged by Hispanic influencers have hiked 1,788% from $146 to $2,757 on average.
  • Sponsored post prices charged by white influencers have increased 1,717% from $135 to $2,453 on average.

Male and Female Influencer Pay Gap 

Since 2019, the pay gap between male and female influencers has narrowed, hitting an all-time low in 2022. In 2019, the pay gap was 62% before narrowing to 27% in 2020, 26% in 2021 and 17% in 2022. 

Although female influencers continue to own the majority of influencer marketing deal flow, male influencers’ share of transaction volume rebounded from an all-time low in 2020 of 9% to all-time highs of 15% in 2021 and 21% in 2022. 

2015-2022 Sponsored Post Price Increases by Sex: 

  • Sponsored post prices charged by male influencers have risen 980% from $290 to $3,131 on average.
  • Sponsored post prices charged by female influencers have climbed 1,755% from $143 to $2,652 on average.

Get the full report here:
https://izea.com/resources/insights/2023-state-of-influencer-equality/ 

“The shifts in influencer marketing toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion are great examples of marketers recognizing – and responding to – the significant impact of minority influence in society,” Murphy continued. “In 2015, only 27% of sponsorship deals went to minority influencers, but today, this number has grown to 46%, a 70% increase. Even with these successes, there remains much more to be done in order to make sure all sexes and racial identities are represented in influencer marketing campaigns.”

About IZEA Worldwide, Inc.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (“IZEA”), is a marketing technology company providing software and professional services that enable brands to collaborate and transact with the full spectrum of today’s top social influencers and content creators. The company serves as a champion for the growing Creator Economy, enabling individuals to monetize their content, creativity, and influence. IZEA launched the industry’s first-ever influencer marketing platform in 2006 and has since facilitated nearly 4 million transactions between online buyers and sellers. Leading brands and agencies partner with IZEA to increase digital engagement, diversify brand voice, scale content production, and drive a measurable return on investment.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “hope,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “likely,” “projects,” “plans,” “pursue,” “strategy” or “future,” or the negative of these words or other words or expressions of similar meaning.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expectations concerning IZEA’s ability to increase revenue and bookings, growth or maintenance of customer relationships, and expectations concerning IZEA’s business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including, among others, the following: competitive conditions in the content and social sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates; failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA; changing economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; and other risks and uncertainties described in IZEA’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and IZEA assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

Attachment 



Toni-Ann Burke
IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
Phone: 407-674-6911
Email: [email protected]

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TrustCo dividend offers stability in a volatile environment

GLENVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) on February 21, 2023 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share, or $1.44 per share on an annualized basis. The dividend will be payable on April 3, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2023.

Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. McCormick said: “The distribution of profits announced today is the product of our record success in 2022. TrustCo has a long and proud tradition of paying quarterly dividends to our owners. Our dependable distribution is a particularly welcome contrast to the volatile environment many investors are attempting to navigate. As an investment, and as a depository, your Home Town Bank provides security in the face of uncertainty.”

About TrustCo Bank Corp NY

TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $6.0 billion savings and loan holding company. Through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, Trustco operates 143 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts and Florida. Trustco has a more than 100-year tradition of providing high-quality services, including a wide variety of deposit and loan products. In addition, Trustco Bank’s Financial Services Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services. Trustco Bank is rated as one of the best performing savings banks in the country. The common shares of TrustCo are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST. For more information, visit www.trustcobank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future developments, results or periods. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and such forward-looking statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in such statements. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: the effects of inflation and inflationary pressures and changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including increases in the Federal funds target rate by, and interest rate policies of, the Federal Reserve Board; changes in and uncertainty related to benchmark interest rates used to price loans and deposits; the geopolitical and macroeconomic impact of the war in Ukraine; the impact of the actions taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 pandemic or address the impact of the pandemic on the economy; the risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; the other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in TrustCo’s cautionary statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the effect of all of such items on our operations, liquidity and capital position, and on the financial condition of our borrowers and other customers. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent TrustCo management’s judgment as of the date of this news release. TrustCo disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements, either as a result of future developments, new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Subsidiary: Trustco Bank

Contact: Robert M. Leonard
  Executive Vice President
  (518) 381-3693
   

 



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American Girl Takes Fans Back to the Nostalgic ’90s With First-Ever Twin Characters Isabel™and Nicki™

American Girl Takes Fans Back to the Nostalgic ’90s With First-Ever Twin Characters Isabel™and Nicki™

New historical duo find their inner girl power growing up during the dial-up decade

American Girl’s popular historical collection inspires fans—era by era—with courage, confidence, and strength of character

MIDDLETON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Today, American Girl, a cornerstone in the Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) portfolio of purposeful brands, is expanding its flagship historical collection with the introduction of its first-ever set of twin characters from the 1990s—Isabel and Nicki Hoffman™! These fraternal twins join the brand’s long line of historical characters that feature inspiring role models from pivotal eras in American history. With their stories set in Seattle in 1999, Isabel and Nicki bring the dial-up decade to life for fans, highlighting the tech boom and society’s embrace of the Internet, as well as the ground-breaking music, fashion trends, and television entertainment of the era. Though they share the same birthday, these twin sisters are as different as glitter and grunge. Isabel is bubbly, extroverted, and loves dancing to pop music—while Nicki is thoughtful, introverted, and happiest while skateboarding, writing lyrics, and listening to the alt-rock sound that got its start in Seattle. As Isabel and Nicki discover who they are as individuals, they realize they share the same girl-power goal: to be true to themselves and learn to face their fears with confidence.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230222005364/en/

American Girl announces its first-ever set of twin characters from the 1990s—Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. (Photo: Business Wire)

American Girl announces its first-ever set of twin characters from the 1990s—Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Given the prevalent wave of ’90s trends and pop culture nostalgia, we’re excited to celebrate like it’s 1999 with our newest historical duo Isabel and Nicki,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “From the start, The American Girls Collection® has been central to our mission in helping build girls of strong character through inspiring stories and products that show them how the past is full of lessons that can be applied to the present. We know our fans will love getting to know more about the ’90s with Isabel and Nicki and discovering the girl power in all of our beloved heroines.”

To write the stories, American Girl worked with real-life twin sisters, Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy. Together, they co-authored each character’s illustrated journal (included with the dolls), along with a full-length novel, Meet Isabel and Nicki, coming out this summer. “Jennifer and I are both longtime fans of American Girl, which makes our work on this project even more thrilling,” says DeVillers. “One of our favorite parts was having access to American Girl’s archives, where we reviewed the brand’s ’90s-era materials—from the catalogues and books to past issues of American Girl magazine and all the fan mail that came with it. We love thinking about how those readers are grown up now yet helped to inspire Nicki and Isabel.” Along with the authors, American Girl collaborated with an advisory board of experts to ensure authenticity of the historical, geographical, and cultural details in the books.

The twins’ story comes to life in a ’90s-inspired product collection that reflects the era and the girls’ unique styles and interests. The 18-inch Isabel™ doll features green eyes and medium-length blonde hair with platinum highlights and comes dressed in a purple sweater with attached pinstripe shirt, a multicolored plaid skirt, and pink platform shoes. Further reflecting her love of pink and preppy fashions, Isabel’s accessories include a beret with replicas of American Girl’s ’90-era Grin Pins attached, pink sunglasses, beaded flower necklace, and transparent mini backpack.

The 18-inch Nicki™ doll has blue eyes and long straight brown hair with two blonde face-framing highlights and arrives in a gray T-shirt under a navy T-shirt dress, a purple plaid flannel shirt, and platform sneakers. Her skater-style accessories include a baseball hat with faux American Girl Grin Pins attached, black sunglasses, ribbon necklace, and messenger bag.

Each twin also has her own bedroom set with nods to vintage American Girl accessories sure to spark nostalgia with original fans of the brand, including a doll-sized plush of the popular Miss AG Bear from the ’90s; a mini version of American Girl magazine from 1999; and a replica Grin Pin Banner with images of real ’90s AG Grin Pins. The twins’ world also includes the following ’90s-inspired items:

  • a premium wooden desk and desktop computer that illuminates and plays dial-up effects and comes with pretend CD and floppy disk drives;
  • an era-authentic Pizza Hut® Set, complete with a doll-sized personal pan pizza;
  • and for double the fun, a 2-in-1 Tennis Court & Skate Spot, where fans can arrange a tennis match for Isabel on one side—with net, racket, and tennis-ball launcher that really works—or flip it over and practice their skater moves, just like Nicki, using ramps, rails, and a skateboard that fits the 18-inch doll perfectly.

To celebrate the twins’ debut, fans can also participate in the following activities:

  • Visit American Girl retail stores on launch weekend to explore Isabel and Nicki’s product world and receive a free sticker giveaway (while supplies last), plus enjoy other twin-inspired activities and treats, like Isabel & Nicki’s Toaster Pastry Milkshake.
  • Enjoy content on both American Girl’s popular YouTube and YouTube Kids Channel, including Isabel & Nicki’s Twin Adventures Animated Series, new music and product videos, and other digital and social content throughout the year.
  • Check out the twins’ bedroom, play the AG Photobooth Game, get fun ’90s-inspired stickers, frames and filters, plus learn more about each American Girl character via the brand’s free Virtual Museum experience.
  • Learn more about Isabel & Nicki’s story with authors DeVillers and Roy on americangirl.com.

Celebrating Girls Who Code and 10 Years of Empowering Girls in Technology

To recognize women in technology, like the twins’ mom who’s helping to fix the Y2K bug in the story, American Girl is also supporting Girls Who Code (GWC), a leading nonprofit that’s on a mission to close the gender gap in technology. The brand is donating $25,000 to underwrite student and alumni tickets to attend CodeFair, the organization’s 10th anniversary celebration that invites the public to play, discover, and code using the latest technology. To learn more, visit girlswhocode.com.

Bringing the ’90s and More to Life in New, Immersive Experience on Roblox

Additionally, beginning March 6, 2023, American Girl is expanding its storytelling through the popular immersive online platform Roblox. Families can sign up to visit American Girl World™ and interact with their favorite characters in a fully immersive and evolving environment, such as Isabel and Nicki’s ’90s-inspired bedroom. The expansive experience also allows users to engage as their own unique avatar; shop for fashions and accessories at the American Girl store; visit the AG Airport to travel and discover new worlds; and have fun exploring and playing in the AG Salon, Spa, and Cafe. To learn more, visit americangirl.com/roblox.

Isabel and Nicki’s product collection is available beginning February 22, 2023, at americangirl.com and at all American Girl retail locations nationwide, as well as at American Girl specialty boutiques at select Indigo™ and Chapters™ locations in Canada and online at Indigo.ca.

ABOUT AMERICAN GIRL

American Girl is a premium brand for girls and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. Headquartered in Middleton, WI, American Girl offers an inspiring world of dolls, content, and experiences that nourish a girl’s spirit and help develop her strength of character. Best-selling lines include Truly Me™, Girl of the Year™, Bitty Baby®, WellieWishers™, Create Your Own™™, and American Girl’s classic historical characters. The company sells products through its award-winning catalogue, on americangirl.com, in its proprietary U.S. experiential retail stores, as well as at specialty retailers nationwide. By inspiring girls to be their best, American Girl has earned the loyalty of millions and the praise and trust of parents and educators. Connect with American Girl on:

Facebook: @americangirl

Twitter: @American_Girl

Instagram: @americangirlbrand

TikTok: @americangirl

Pinterest: agofficial

MAT-AG

Susan Jevens, American Girl: [email protected]

Julie Parks, American Girl: [email protected]

Hannah Jones, Weber Shandwick: [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Wisconsin

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Children Entertainment Toys Other Entertainment General Entertainment Books Consumer Retail Online Retail

MEDIA:

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American Girl announces its first-ever set of twin characters from the 1990s—Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. (Photo: Business Wire)
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American Girl’s new historical characters, Isabel and Nicki, show off their unique styles and interests in their shared bedroom decorated with ’90s-era accessories. (Photo: Business Wire)
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Lowey Dannenberg Notifies Alico, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALCO) Investors of Securities Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Lead Plaintiff Deadline

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lowey Dannenberg P.C., a preeminent law firm in obtaining redress for consumers and investors, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Alico, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALCO) (“Alico” or the “Company”) for violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Alico securities between February 4, 2021 to December 13, 2022, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

On February 17, 2023, a complaint was filed against Alico and certain of its current and former officers alleging that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Alico had deficient disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (ii) as a result, the Company had improperly calculated Alico’s deferred tax liabilities over a multi-year period; (iii) accordingly, the Company would likely be required to restate one or more of its previously issued financial statements; (iv) the foregoing would impede the timely completion of the audit of the Company’s financial results in advance of its year-end earnings call; and (v) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

When investors learned the truth, Alico’s common stock declined precipitously, injuring investors.

If you suffered a loss in Alico’s securities, and wish to participate, or learn more, click here, or please contact our attorneys at (914) 733-7234 or via email at [email protected].

Any investor who wishes to serve as Lead Plaintiff must act before April 18, 2023.

About Lowey Dannenberg

Lowey Dannenberg is a national firm representing institutional and individual investors, who suffered financial losses resulting from corporate fraud and malfeasance in violation of federal securities and antitrust laws. The firm has significant experience in prosecuting multi-million-dollar lawsuits and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of its clients.

Contact:
Lowey Dannenberg P.C.
44 South Broadway, Suite 1100
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 733-7234
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Lowey Dannenberg P.C.



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Adamas One to Initiate Up to $7.5 Million Share Repurchase Plan

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adamas One Corp. (Nasdaq: JEWL) (“Adamas One,” “Adamas” or the “Company”), The Original Lab-Grown Diamond Company™, a high-tech company that leverages proprietary technology to produce high-quality, single-crystal, Lab-Grown Diamonds for jewelry and diamond materials for industrial uses, announces today that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program to repurchase up to $7.5 million of Adamas One’s outstanding common stock. This share repurchase authorization is effective immediately.

Adamas One’s shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated block transactions, or other means in accordance with applicable securities laws. The timing of the purchase, the number of shares repurchased, and the prices paid for the shares under the program will depend on general business and market conditions, the trading price of Adamas One’s common stock and corporate and regulatory limitations

“As we ramp up our consumer-focused operations, to meet the growing demand in our industry, we believe it is essential that we continue to support shareholder value. We believe that the current stock price is not reflective of the value and opportunity that Adamas brings to the market. Given this gap in perception, our board of directors has approved a up to a $7.5 million dollar share buyback.”We believe this stock buyback program demonstrates our commitment to shareholders. In the meantime, we are completing final preparations for the consumer launch of our lab-based diamond jewelry. We will continue to update our shareholders with company developments as appropriate,” stated Adamas One CEO, Jay Grdina.

About Adamas One Corp.

Adamas is a lab-grown diamond manufacturer that produces near flawless single-crystal diamonds for gemstone and industrial applications, in its facilities in Greenville, South Carolina. The Company holds 36 patents and uses its proprietary chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to grow gem-sized and smaller diamond crystals. Adamas One™ lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds. The Company’s controlled manufacturing processes enables it to produce very high-quality, high-purity, single-crystal colorless, near colorless and fancy colored Type IIA diamonds to suit a variety of industrial and gemstone applications. The Company intends to market and sell its diamonds into the wholesale jewelry and industrial markets. For more information, visit www.adamasone.com.

Not Mined. Not Fake. Just sped up perfection. ™

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include “forward-looking statements.” To the extent that the information presented in this press release discusses financial projections, information, or expectations about our business plans, results of operations, products or markets, or otherwise makes statements about future events, such statements are forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “should”, “may,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “plans,” and “proposes.” Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Adamas One Corp. does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

For more information contact:

Investor Relations
CORE IR
Scott Arnold, Managing Partner
516 222 2560
[email protected]

Media Relations
CORE IR
Jules Abraham
917 885 7378

Source: Adamas One Corp.