NEWS
Oman Air
conducts
training on
digital ticket
system
ITA reveals number of cyber
blackmail cases in Oman
O
man Air has conducted workshops for
its travel agents in Muscat and Salalah
following the launch of an updated system
for digital ticket distribution.
The New Distribution Capability (NDC) has
resulted in the modernisation of a 40-year-
old data exchange standard for ticket
distribution developed before the Internet
was invented.
With the new NDC platform, the travel
agents will now have more opportunities to
engage directly with the airline.
Oman Air’s Global Distribution Team
organised workshops, along with technology
partner TPConnects, to ensure that the travel
agents are well versed with Oman Air’s NDC
enabled direct distribution.
Umesh Chhiber, Senior Vice President
– Revenue Optimisation, Pricing and
Distribution, said: “Oman Air generates
significant revenue from travel agents and this
is projected to grow further. The travel agency
community is evolving to adapt to new
consumer’s needs, thanks to opportunities
brought by modern technologies.
“Oman Air has heavily invested in NDC
enabled Offer and Order Management and
Distribution through TPConnects and is
geared up to meet the needs of our travel
agency community to satisfy the changing
expectations of how our consumers shop,
book and pay.”
T he Information Technology Authority
(ITA) in Oman has reported that 607
cases of cyber blackmail have occurred
since January 2019. The motivation for cyber blackmail was
found to be divided into three types: the
desire to obtain material gain, sexual
gratification or revenge.
The figures reveal that the age group
between 15 to 45 years was the most
exposed to cyber blackmail representing
53% of registered cases. Men were more
likely to be targeted, representing 70%
of cases. The blackmail itself was found to
originate from both inside and outside
the Sultanate, with the domestic
blackmail often committed by people
who are known to the victims.
In the whole of 2018, the ITA recorded
1,414 cases of cyber blackmail and
1,479 cases during 2017. As a result of
the problem the ITA has urged different
segments of Omani society to address
the issue.
The ITA advises those who have been
blackmailed to inform the relevant
authorities, including the Royal Oman
Police, public prosecution authorities or
Oman Computer Emergency Readiness
Team (OCERT) at ITA.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
According to authorities, blackmail
victims should avoid:
• Contact with the blackmailer even
when subjected to severe pressures
• Transfer of funds or disclosure of bank
card numbers
• Arguments with the blackmailer and
not to threaten them with the police
The ITA recommends keeping
correspondence, conversations or any
kind of letters to be used as evidence
against the blackmailer later.
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