Two Shields Investments PLC Brandshield Update

TIDMTSI

Two Shields Investments PLC

25 March 2020

Two Shields Investments plc

("TSI", or the "Company")

Brandshield Update

Two Shields Investments plc, the AIM quoted investment company with a strategy to build a high-quality portfolio of investments in fast growing and scalable digital and technology enabled businesses, is pleased to reproduce the following announcement issued by Brandshield, in which it currently has an 11.34% shareholding and a Convertible Loan Note subscription of $1.8m.

"CORONAVIRUS HAS LED TO A 'HUGE' INCREASE IN ONLINE FRAUD AND SCAMS

WARNS BRANDSHIELD

BRANDSHIELD CEO YOAV KEREN CALLS ON COMPANIES

TO WORK TOGETHER TO NEUTRALISE THE THREAT

25 March 2020: BrandShield, a leading provider of cyber solutions from brand protection to online threat hunting, has today warned that it has detected a huge increase in scams and social phishing to capitalise on the Coronavirus. While Governments and tech platforms are focused on the spread of fake news about the disease, cybercriminals are increasingly attacking companies and customers with scams.

Since the crisis began, BrandShield's online threat detection system revealed a surge in fraudulent online activity, with key sectors being targeted including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, banking, foreign exchange, loan providers, entertainment, online gaming and delivery companies.

Some of the biggest threats are cybercriminals who are trying to capitalise on fears around the disease, and in many cases using the identities of known companies or brands to trick worried consumers. Attacks have included:

-- Phishing sites and Social phishing : As companies move to working remotely, hackers are taking advantage of new and less established working practices, by pretending to be customers or suppliers to trick employees. This includes creating phishing sites impersonating a company's home page or company internal portal. These are often combined with scams which include impersonation on social media platforms or phishing emails to trick employees into giving money away e.g fake invoices. This is a significant threat that most companies are not prepared for. Company's customers are also more exposed to scams and financial fraud as many more transactions are now performed online.

-- Fraudulent ecommerce sites: There has been an increase in sites allegedly selling face masks, hand sanitizer, and even COVID-19 tests. Many of these are straight forward financial fraud websites who steal customers' money while others are sending dangerous counterfeit products.

-- Fake medicine: There has been an increase in sites offering medicines with claims that they can fight the Coronavirus. For example, this site says it sells Aralen Chloroquine - a Malaria medicine - claiming it can be used to treat people infected with the Coronavirus.

To combat the threat, BrandShield is calling on companies to:

   --     Monitor - always monitor the digital sphere to find any fraud related to their brands fast. 

-- Enforce fast - make sure you respond fast and effectively to take down fake sites and fake social media users or posts.

-- Educate and warn your employees and customers - proactively communicate to highlight the dangers.

-- Manage and control - manage a complete online threat intelligence map, prioritize the potential threats, control reactions and monitor their results.

-- Proactiveness - Finding vulnerabilities and securing your weak spots. For example, remove old websites that might be used for fraud.

At the same time, users need to be aware of the warning signs of a scam including:

   --     Update all protection software including firewall, antivirus and antispam 
   --     Be alert to unrealistic prices (if you are not sure make online window shopping) 

-- Look for details that do not seem legitimate: expiration dates, storage location, origin of seller

   --     Before buying or entering information click on the certification icon (SSL) to validate 

-- Do not trust links from social media, text messages and apps, check the origin, look for misspelling or special characters in the domain name

   --     Check feedback score and reviews. Read some with low ratings. 
   --     Only trust companies and brands with verified icon (blue V sign) in social media 

Yoav Keren, CEO, BrandShield, said: "As the world goes into lockdown, and people are spending more and more time online, Cybercriminals are upping their game. We are seeing increasing numbers of fake websites and social phishing, all with the aim of stealing people's money, and taking advantage of people's legitimate concerns about the Coronavirus. There needs to be a concerted effort to combat this by Companies and the Authorities. "

Notes to editor

Yoav Keren, Brandshield CEO, is available for interview via video link to discuss these issues, and provide a demonstration of how these scams work. Please contact Robin Tozer ([e-mail]) or Jamie Williams [e-mail]).

Examples of fraudulent activity:

   --     https://www.buyn95maskonline.com/ 
   --     https://www.n95coronavirusmaskitaly.com/ 
   --     https://www.n95masksale.com/ 
   --     http://n95maskealisveris.club/ 
   --     http://n95maskeal.club/ 
   --     http://n95masksinstock.com/ 
   --     https://es-rx.com/aralen-en.html?key=Aralen 
   --     http://www.paulsheppardbooks.co.uk/ 
   --     https://www.bzfuture.com/burst-sells " 

For further information please visit https://twoshields.co.uk/ or contact:

 
 Andrew Lawley     Two Shields Investments    Tel: +44 (0)20 
                    plc                        3143 8300 
                   Spark Advisory 
 Neil Baldwin /     Partners Limited          [phone] 
  Andrew Emmott     (Nominated Adviser)        3554 
                   Turner Pope Investments 
                    (TPI) Ltd                 [phone] 
 Andy Thacker       (Brokers)                  4120 
 

Notes to Editors:

Two Shields Investments plc, the AIM quoted investment company with a strategy to build a portfolio of high-quality investments in fast growing, scalable digital and technology enabled businesses, including those in the cyber security, e-commerce services and consumer sectors. The Company has appointed an experienced Board of Directors with a proven pedigree in the origination, acquisition, development & sale of projects and creating value for shareholders. The investment mandate covers unquoted and quoted businesses, as well as direct project investment. Where appropriate the Board will apply its extensive combined experience to directly support investee businesses achieve their growth potential.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

END

NRAPPUQPWUPUGQA

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2020 12:29 ET (16:29 GMT)