Some PayNow users' display names now contain 'obscene' word after new masked names took effect

Starting Jun. 6, names on PayNow were partially masked with "Xs" by default as nicknames were phased out in a bid to stop scammers.

For most, the change would be uneventful. Just a few letters of their names being swapped for an "X".

For some users, however, the change resulted in something much more creative.

One user, Sek Qin Rui, told Mothership, "Due to the recent masking of the usernames, my name has been changed to an obscene word."

His name on PayNow? "SEX QIX RUX".

Sek expressed the concern that the format of his PayNow display name will affect his business as a swimming coach whose students are mainly kids.

"If you were a parent who sees this when paying for your trial class with a coach, you would definitely be quite concerned, especially if they don’t know about how names are now masked," Sek shared.

On Facebook, another user claimed, "Nowadays bank [masks] name till like that. My name [became] so erotic."

This user's PayNow username is apparently now displayed as "FOX SEX POX".

One user, whose surname is See, remarked in a post, "My entire family's surname just became NSFW (not safe for work)."

It also has a visual resemblance to a cross-out mark.

The name display format was tested through industry and consumer studies.