Easy Prey

In this episode, we look at two sides of the Nigerian scam: The emotional, psychological, and financial damage done by scammers and the scammers we often look at as bad people doing bad things. But in some cultures, this is seen as an acceptable career option. Today's guest is Ronnie Tokazowski. Ronnie has been fighting Nigerian fraud for the last seven years and has collaborated with both law enforcement and the private sector. He runs a mailing list which collaborates with victims in identifying critical pieces of information around how the fraud works as well as working with romance victims themselves. Show Notes: [0:53] - Ronnie shares his role as a Principal Threat Advisor and the work he does with Nigerian fraud. [2:10] - Seven years ago, Ronnie saw the increasing trend in Nigerian fraud and is trying to get ahead of it. [3:58] - Scammers operate in a way that is similar to pulling tools out of a toolbox. They know which strategies to use in different situations. [5:44] - Relationships have been built with victims over months or sometimes even years, especially in romance scams. [8:19] - Ronnie explains how emotions are targeted to build relationships with scammers. [10:36] - Business email cybercrime was the number one cybercrime for seven years ago. [11:41] - The more we talk about it, the more victims come forward to talk about their own experience and overcome the social stigma. [12:36] - While not a scam victim, Ronnie explains a scenario in which he questioned his decisions. [15:27] - There are people out there doing the work in Nigeria in getting scammers to leave the career. But it is a huge undertaking. [17:50] - A common scam is to reach out on social media and try to get the target off the platform to talk. [19:18] - Some scammers are victims of human trafficking doing the work against their will. [20:36] - Right now with pig butchering, the belief is that the groups are organized crime groups in China. [22:01] - Ronnie shares the experience in speaking with law enforcement in Nigeria. [23:57] - The connections to different scams are very intricate and sophisticated. [26:21] - In one experiment, gift cards were purchased to give to scammers to track what they did with them. [29:26] - Scammers collaborate together to find "clients" and share their list of victims to facilitate other crimes. [30:50] - Ronnie shares the story of a scammer who collaborated with multiple people and wound up being involved in tons of different types of scams. [33:12] - In Nigeria, there are a lot of tribal religions in play. [34:31] - Many scammers in Nigeria will go through rituals in their attempt to manifest wealth. [37:07] - One of the main motivations for scammers is their experience in poverty. [41:02] - What about government intervention? How is the Nigerian government handling the situation? [42:21] - In some countries, the government is also tied up in the scamming. [45:20] - Two factor authentication is critical to security. [46:26] - For businesses, there should be a process to ensure money is wired correctly when necessary. [48:10] - Ronnie doesn't recommend investing in crypto right now especially if it sounds too good to be true. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Ronnie Tokazowski on LinkedIn Ronnie Tokazowski on Twitter Cofense.com

Recovering from identity crimes can be daunting and take a toll on your entire life, not just financially and emotionally. Once someone gains access to one of your accounts, they can work to manipulate your friends and relatives as well. Today's guest is Eva Velasquez. Eva is the President and CEO of The Identity Theft Resource Center. She previously served as the Vice President of Operation for the San Diego Better Business Bureau and for 21 years at the San Diego District Attorney's Office. She is an author, public speaker, and a recognized expert who has been featured on CBS Mornings, NBC Nightly News, New York Times, NPR, and numerous other media outlets. Show Notes: [1:02] - Eva describes her role as CEO and President of The Identity Theft Resource Center and what the organization does. [2:11] - Eva began her career in law enforcement and learned firsthand how dismissive we are of victims of identity crimes. [4:26] - The great majority of these crimes go completely uninvestigated. [5:48] - Your energy is best spent on recovering what you've lost rather than trying to convict the perpetrator. [8:03] - Identity theft isn't the only identity crime. [9:47] - Most scams and data breaches at this time can be considered an identity crime. [11:06] - The majority of identity crimes that are reported at The Identity Theft Resource Center are caused by social engineering. [13:42] - If you see some unusual activity or communication on social media from someone you know, let the real person know. [16:17] - Chris shares a strategy for family passwords to verify their identity. [18:11] - There are several different types of identity fraud. A lot of it is credit cards, but it could be other types of loans or accounts. [19:54] - Identity fraud is complicated to solve. [21:00] - Eva shares the story of a victim who was car jacked and has had non-stop identity theft issues. [22:24] - People who are victims of identity theft may even have major problems in getting jobs. [23:42] - The number of victims who have felt suicidal after identity theft has increased year over year. [25:37] - The Identity Theft Resource Center is like AAA roadside assistance. Reach out to them. [28:00] - Eva shares that this is her life's mission. She would love a world where The Identity Theft Resource Center wasn't needed. [29:22] - Password management needs to be improved. [31:03] - Multi-factor authorization is absolutely necessary. [33:28] - If you ever get a call from someone claiming to be from your bank, hang up and actually contact your bank using the number on your card. [34:42] - We need to flip our view of "annoying" security measures. [41:57] - Safeguard access to all the accounts you have, even email accounts. [43:16] - It can take anywhere between a day and ten years to resolve identity fraud. It is very situational. [46:03] - It may also be possible for something to appear solved but then it is in remission. [47:20] - There is no shame in asking for help. It is very complicated. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest The Identity Theft Resource Center Eva Velasquez on LinkedIn

You may be shocked to know that master manipulators utilize special tactics to impact human behavior and emotions by more than just instilling a sense of urgency. The art of persuasion can be used for both good and evil. Today's guest is Chris Hadnagy. Chris is the author of five books on the topic of social engineering. He is a professor of social engineering at the University of Arizona as well as the CEO of Social Engineer LLC, the Innocent Lives Foundation, and the Institute for Social Engineering. Show Notes: [0:57] - Chris shares his background and how he found himself in the field of social engineering and understanding human decision making. [2:38] - It is not the case that only stupid people fall for scams and phishing emails. [4:04] - There is good social engineering and Chris gives some examples. [5:47] - The release of oxytocin is researched to show that it is linked to trust. [7:58] - You can have oxytocin and dopamine separately but together they build a bond. [9:17] - Marketing and advertising land in the gray middle area of social engineering. Is it being used for good or bad? [11:14] - It is important to look at things through the lens of purpose. What is the intent behind it? [12:35] - All social engineering, good and bad, use the same principles. But malicious social engineering triggers different emotions, namely fear. [14:37] - Preying on fear is one way people are socially engineered, but Chris gives an example of how a company as large as Toyota was impacted by the sense of urgency. [17:12] - There are so many stories of social engineering that are extremely plausible and believable. [21:04] - The trend now is to use social media data and information to target people for spear phishing. [22:30] - If you feel any strong emotion after a request, it is a great time to pause and consider if you are being manipulated. [24:21] - If you ever fall for something, don't let embarrassment make you sweep it under the rug. [27:31] - The idea of an authority figure is a principle to remember, but it doesn't always work. [30:10] - In some countries, fear of authority isn't present. But social engineers will look for the weaknesses to exploit in different environments. [31:16] - Voice phishing is currently on the rise. [33:21] - Chris shares about the uptick on LinkedIn requests that even targeted the US military. [35:28] - Although we will see some good from AI, Chris has many concerns. [37:33] - Chris describes some of the classes he teaches at the University of Arizona specifically about Social Engineering. [39:17] - You can take classes online from Chris on Social-Engineer.com. [40:21] - We need to understand social engineering to keep our children safe. Start having conversations early. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Chris Hadnagy on LinkedIn Social-Engineer LLC Innocent Lives Foundation

Phishing emails are constantly evolving to take advantage of current trends, news, and holidays. Typically poor grammar or the time an email was sent could help you identify if it is authentic. But with AI, these obvious signs may soon disappear. Today's guest is Kiri Addison. Kiri is the Detection and Efficacy Product Manager at Mimecast, working on security products to defend against new and evolving threats. Previously she was head of data science for threat intelligence and has worked in the public sector creating systems to detect and prevent cyber attacks and fraud. Show Notes: [0:59] - Kiri shares her background and what her role is at Mimecast. [3:03] - Email scams are still the number one attack method and they tend to follow trends, news, and holidays. [5:17] - Technology is improving and there is better protection of basic attacks, but with how fast threats evolve, there are still areas of improvement. [7:34] - Kiri shares some statistics on the improvement made after implementing phishing email training. [8:26] - With the use of ChatGPT, our usual red flags to look for will change. [10:12] - In the advice and training by Mimecast, they explain the impact on the end user. [12:08] - Kiri explains some of the different types of security measures available. [13:47] - A lot of companies only implement the training with their employees to check off the compliance. [16:50] - Be suspicious and take some time. Don't feel pressured. [20:05] - Look for anything abnormal, even if it is something unusual from a sender you know. [21:44] - If you receive word from someone you know but it seems odd, contact the person directly to find out what's going on. [23:10] - Mimecast works primarily with corporations and businesses, but there are some personal phishing email attempts. [24:44] - Some attacks combine safe sights with malicious links. [26:00] - Kiri describes some of the recent trends they are seeing. [28:58] - As AI evolves, it is going to become harder to protect. However, it all comes down to end user awareness. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Dr. Kiri Addison on LinkedIn Mimecast Website

Age appropriate conversations need to be taking place with children on how technology is being used to groom them. Unfortunately, many are already addicted to the dopamine fix and their relationships with a device can numb them to being preyed upon. Today's guest is John Pizzuro. John serves as CEO of Raven, a lobbying and advocacy group that focuses on protecting children from exploitation. John was a former commander of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children task force and has created a framework for other countries to use to investigate child exploitation. Show Notes: [0:57] - John shares his background in ICAC and current role as CEO of Raven. [3:08] - With the changes of technology and the availability of it in every household, behavior has changed along with it. [5:01] - Using the internet at home makes the internet feel like a safe place. [6:16] - People manipulate others through language. [7:21] - It is simple to get hooked because of the dopamine fix met with social media. [8:49] - Do social media companies do enough? John says they don't do anything and they don't have the ability to moderate. [11:01] - AI is not yet fully understood. How can it be used for good or bad? [13:13] - There has to be a balance between privacy and protection. This is true for everything. [14:15] - Today, we are so polarized and the result is that a solution will not be found. [15:45] - Parents need to have real conversations with their children and the earlier the better. Open communication is important. [17:54] - It's not talked about openly enough because it is scary to talk about child exploitation. [21:30] - Device addiction is a real problem and generally speaking, there's a need for instant gratification that distracts us from real relationships. [23:10] - There are communities where people share techniques for grooming and they are extremely popular on the dark web. [24:53] - John shares some terrifying statistics. [26:25] - There are task forces working together to protect children from child exploitation. [28:30] - The task to go through digital evidence is time and resource consuming. [29:28] - What is needed in the US is age appropriate child protection legislation. [31:03] - John explains some of the challenges in current legislation. [32:17] - Do we hold all these tech companies liable? [33:40] - The larger the bill, the more things that people will have a problem with. [36:02] - If we can articulate things the right way, this legislation can make a huge difference. [38:06] - Child advocacy centers are impactful but their funding gets cut. [39:16] - The challenge with research is that researchers move from project to project. And action must be a result of theories. [40:25] - John shares ways you can impact this cause and who to talk to. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest John Pizzuro on LinkedIn Raven Website

AI creates opportunities as well as challenges. We may need to become more skeptical about what we see and hear knowing that images and words can be generated without transparency of its creation. Today's guest is Paul Valente. Paul is the CEO and co-founder of VISO Trust, a former CISO of Restoration Hardware, Lending Club, and ASAPP with over 20 years of technology, financial services, ecommerce, and information security innovation. Paul holds several industry designations, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM) and ISO 27001 Lead Implementer. Show Notes: [1:02] - Paul shares his background and what he does now in his career. [3:23] - One of the key learning opportunities for Paul was being a victim and being involved in scams and cyberattacks. [5:28] - It's getting harder and harder now to tell something's legitimacy with the ability to use AI to generate content for scamming. [7:54] - As a consumer, when you work with a company and share your data, you are sharing it with the whole ecosystem. [10:16] - It is very hard for security to be managed when there is so much data. [11:58] - Surveys sometimes give a false sense of security. [14:21] - At VISO, they remove the friction in order to make the process scale. There are so many third parties and vendors. Focus on real information. [17:02] - Security is not a solved problem. There are always imperfections. [19:07] - There's a variety of different responses to cybersecurity breaches. [20:46] - Companies who are transparent about breaches tend to be seen as good companies. It's how you handle it and take steps to communicate. [23:27] - We've been trained to look for errors but today, with the use of generative AI, it is easier for scammers to create perfect messages. [25:30] - We need to learn ways to improve our ability to discern real content from fake content. [26:46] - AI also creates unique opportunities. [29:47] - We still tend to have the idea of AI being a sentient being based on science fiction. So what is AI? [31:12] - It's all about shrinking the problem space. [33:17] - AI growth and what is called the Cyber Kill Chain will happen incrementally. [34:55] - Be aware of where you are communicating. You will need to look hard when it comes to social engineering. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest VISO Trust Website Paul Valente on LinkedIn

If you experience any high pressure tactics or urgency that someone needs you to make a financial decision fast, take a pause and realize that you might be talking to a scammer. Today's guest is Professor Marti DeLiema. Marti is an Assistant Professor and Gerontologist at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on identifying the extent and cost of financial fraud in the US as well as factors related to financial victimization of the aging. Show Notes: [0:48] - Marti shares her background and as a gerontologist, her focus on the aging. [3:02] - When doing her research, Marti discovered that fraud is not limited to the elderly. [4:16] - Why are older adults more likely to be targeted? [5:50] - Executive functioning skills decline earlier than other abilities. [7:30] - Social isolation can take form in a few different ways. [9:47] - People who are grieving a loss are even more susceptible to scams. [11:38] - Underreporting is a really big problem in the research and it is common among older adults and older victims. [14:26] - Marti recommends reporting scams to the Federal Trade Commission. [15:38] - To help prevent potential issues, start to think about who in your family or close circle can help make financial decisions. [17:08] - Bringing people in actually makes you more in control. [19:02] - There is a societal stigma about being a victim of a scam and it prevents older adults from sharing the situation for help. [20:20] - There is a huge shift in our population in our demographics and the largest wealth transfer coming. [22:09] - The world is very complex right now, especially when it comes to communication, technology, and finances. [24:10] - Financial institutions can help prevent scams through strong customer service and education. [26:36] - Marti shares an experience overhearing a retail manager explaining why he wouldn't let an elderly customer purchase any more gift cards. [28:50] - Scammers will warn victims that they will be asked specific questions about their gift card purchase. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Marti DeLiema on LinkedIn

Identities are under attack and with few ways to either validate or authenticate, it's difficult to know whether a company or person you are communicating with is fake or not. Today's guest is Mike Kiser. Mike Kiser is currently the Director of Strategy and Standards at SailPoint. He speaks regularly at events such as The European Identity Conference and The RSA Conference. He is a member of several standards groups and has presented identity related research at Black Hat and DevCon. Show Notes: [0:46] - Mike shares his current role at SailPoint and what he does to help people protect themselves online. [1:48] - As identity has risen in importance, so have job scams. [2:44] - The rise is not surprising, as more people look for remote work. [3:50] - Generally, employment scams are targeting remote and online applicants. [6:10] - Mike describes some of the ways these scams work including receiving fake checks and wording to target those who are looking for side work. [8:04] - Fake LinkedIn accounts are on the rise and it is very easy to target specific types of people and build off of common connections. [10:01] - In 2019, Mike created a fake profile and he describes the easy infiltration to any organization's LinkedIn connection. [11:47] - There has been an obvious uptick in generic LinkedIn contact in the last few months. [15:13] - Business people need to connect, so it can be tricky. Mike explains how to take a close look at new connections. [17:13] - With generative AI, communications are even more convincing. [18:41] - Falsified job applications are also on the rise. [20:33] - Fake identities are more and more in play for different malicious use cases, not just for jobs. [22:58] - Mike shares the experience of a family member realizing that they were talking to a scammer. [25:08] - We all customize a resume to match a job, but AI is making things much more challenging. [27:05] - Applicants and potential new hires will be able to easily outsource and it will become more common. [31:22] - The pandemic accelerated the importance of validating identity. [33:31] - There is also a unique opportunity for privacy to be changed right now and there is some good potential. [36:40] - Multi-factor authentication fatigue is a real problem. [39:27] - Eventually, Mike believes all things will shift to QR codes. [41:17] - What are the pros and cons of QR codes and how can they change the user experience? [42:24] - The job market is going to continually change and we have to learn how to interact with people differently. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest SailPoint Website Mike Kiser on LinkedIn MikeKiser.org

With all of the AI advances and the metaverse, people will face the decision on how to embrace the technology because it will become unavoidable. Today's guest is Dr. Mark van Rijmenam. Mark is The Digital Speaker. He is a leading strategic futurist who thinks about how technology changes organizations, society, and the metaverse. Mark is an international keynote speaker, five time author, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Datafloq and the author of the book Step Into the Metaverse. His mission is to help organizations and governments benefit from the innovative emerging technology while ensuring that it is done ethically and responsibly. Recently he founded the Digital Futures Institute which focuses on ensuring a fair digital future for everyone. Show Notes: [1:03] - Mark shares his background and current endeavors in the field. [2:40] - Using ChatGPT, Mark wrote a book and you can't really tell until the end. [5:02] - After a while, the patterns are noticeable. [6:49] - Start understanding the metaverse but understanding what it is not. [7:40] - "What the metaverse is is when the physical and the digital world converge. It's nothing more than the next iteration of the internet. We move from a 2D internet to a 3D internet." [8:49] - When the digital comes into the physical, we get augmented reality and it has very interesting uses. [10:37] - The problem with the next iteration of the internet is how to behave in this new world. [12:32] - Right now, the newer generation has less distinction between the digital and physical world. [15:03] - Some people's behavior is unacceptable online and some don't realize how public their actions are. [16:14] - We already see a problem with people not recognizing the distinction between digital and physical. Some are already addicted to social media. [19:11] - With the heavy use of digital content with children, it will become harder for the next generation to separate the two. [21:33] - The transition is so fast that we don't know what the implications are. [23:18] - Education is crucial but no one is teaching us how to use this emerging technology. [25:18] - Children and adolescents are particularly impacted by this transition. [27:23] - When earning his doctorate, Mark had to have permission to do his research for ethical reasons. [28:57] - We don't have to use social media and emerging technology as it becomes available. [31:20] - How can education keep up with the speed of change? [32:30] - ChatGPT shouldn't be banned. You have to embrace and adopt new technology so we can teach students how to use it. [34:48] - We are moving into a voice-world. What does that mean and how is it different from how we interact with the internet now? [37:20] - Mark describes what is necessary for this to be successful. It's possible but it requires a lot of work. We should act now. [38:49] - There are things that need to change, specifically in education, verification, and regulation. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Datafloq Step Into the Metaverse by Mark van Rijmenam

Business opportunities can entice you to believe that you can make large amounts of money in a short period of time. It's important to verify proof of their claims before joining and knowing how to research this can save you time and money. Today's guest is Jeff Lerner. Jeff is a five time Inc. 5000 CEO with over $100 million in sales. In 2019, he founded Entre Institute, the world's first institute of higher learning for entrepreneurs which is now one of the fastest growing education and technology companies in the world. Show Notes: [1:12] - Jeff shares his background as an entrepreneur and the creation of Entre Institute. [3:26] - When you do the entrepreneurship work legitimately, it can be very lucrative. [6:18] - The way people work in their chosen industry works a lot differently in this generation than it did in the past, with people changing companies often. [9:25] - There are four ways to earn money in the entrepreneurial industry. [11:25] - Jeff thinks about the current economy as wilderness. The key is to have a guide and a map. [12:57] - The number one thing when vetting opportunities is to verify social proof. [15:10] - The responsibility is on the provider of the opportunity, but vetting them is on you. [17:29] - If you understand the mechanics of business, you'll see through the smoke screen. If not, you'll be enticed by the smoke screen. [21:49] - There are a lot of people who are coming from a place of desperation who will say whatever needs to be said to bring in an income. [24:00] - How do you know the right questions to ask? [26:44] - There are job scams and business opportunity scams. [27:39] - If you are offered a commission but it's not a sales job, question what you are being asked to do. [29:12] - You should never have to spend money to make money in a legitimate business opportunity. [31:42] - It's okay to have a level of attractive compensation as long as it is coupled with skills needed to realistically bring in that amount. [35:10] - A lot of people feel very discouraged and frustrated with the management of the economy and entrepreneurship sounds appealing. [38:20] - There are a lot of amazing stories of people making tons of money with few skills, but they are few and far between. [41:14] - Nothing worthwhile is easy. If you embrace getting better rather than things being easier, you will be scam proof. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Jeff Lerner on YouTube ENTRE Institute Website

If AI knows your data patterns, it can help keep families safe online by preventing cyber security incidents from happening rather than just reacting once they do. Today's guest is Hari Ravichandran. As an engineer by trade and entrepreneur by nature, Hari has a track record of founding successful businesses in technology and security. After a painful personal experience with identity theft, Hari founded Aura, a way to simplify digital security for consumers. He has since grown Aura into a business worth over 2.5 billions dollars dedicated to creating a safer internet for everyone through an intelligent, proactive platform. Show Notes: [0:57] - Hari shares his role as founder and CEO of Aura as well as his experiences that created the drive to launch the organization. [2:47] - There's no real way for Hari to know how his identity was stolen, but he has a theory. [4:08] - The ones responsible for this had several months of impacting Hari's credit. [6:09] - This situation was a lengthy ordeal. [7:38] - Aura began as reactive as are many security programs. But now they have morphed into being proactive. [10:48] - Based on patterns they see, Aura predicts what could happen to the consumer and gives a direction on where to focus protection. [12:08] - AI can even determine the intent of a conversation as it's happening on the phone. [13:40] - Chris shares an example of a time when a credit card of his was cloned and how it was used. [16:08] - Alerts are really helpful but too many could become an annoyance and then ignored. [18:09] - It is advised to contact your banks and credit card companies when you travel to notify them that the alerts won't shut things off. [20:50] - Hari continues to be amazed by how many scams there are and how ingenious and clever they are. [22:32] - Without AI and learning systems, it would be impossible due to how many variants of scams there are. [25:09] - Do not use the same password across devices and services. [26:22] - When it comes to two-factor authorization, it has to be usable. [28:31] - Some security is better than no security. [30:17] - Hari describes the book he has available that acts as a guide for consumers. [32:24] - Take a look at things that need firmware updates and how long they have gone without one. [34:03] - Do you have enough sentries in place that can help protect? [35:39] - Aura takes into consideration everyone's unique needs based on how they use the internet. [37:18] - Ease of use is a compromise to security. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Hari Ravichandran on LinkedIn Aura Website Intelligent Safety: How to Protect Your Connected Family from Big Cybercrime

Cyberattacks can happen to an individual computer or an entire network. It's vital to have well-tested plans in place before ransomware rears its ugly head. Today's guest is Steve Orrin. Steve is Intel's Federal CTO and Senior Principal Engineer. He leads public sector solutions architecture, strategy, and engagement and has held technology leadership positions at Intel. Steve was previously CTO, CSO, and co-founder of several successful security startups and is a recognized expert and frequent lecturer on enterprise security. Show Notes: [1:01] - Steve shares what his current role is at Intel Corporation and how he became drawn to the field. [2:52] - There are risks everywhere. Where do we start when it comes to cybersecurity for a business? [3:54] - Steve describes risk profiles and what you need to understand what you're trying to protect. [5:21] - Once you know your environment and risk profile, it's time to look at the key things above security "hygiene" and the processes to raise the bar. [7:48] - There are benefits to microsegmentation, including smaller network enclaves. [9:44] - Steve makes a suggestion for network segmentation when it comes to state of the art equipment. [12:07] - Ideally, you want sensors in every network enclave but that isn't always realistic. [13:57] - Having network segmentation will also give you the information needed to find which part of your business receives an attack. [15:39] - How do we protect data in the cloud? [17:04] - It all goes back to understanding the data you need to protect. [21:01] - Just like in your business, you need to know how your IT resources are being used and which ones are not right. [23:20] - These building blocks help you see how you are utilizing security and it needs to be built in from the beginning. [24:55] - Changing approaches in large organizations can seem challenging, but Steve says they are constantly modernizing and it's all about perception. [26:24] - Literally any type of company can be attacked because of every industry's reliance on digital tools and infrastructure. [28:16] - There are different types of attackers - those who target someone specific, those who are opportunistic, and those who are purely automated. [29:44] - Everyone is a potential target even if you aren't being targeted. [31:33] - Planning will also help answer the question of how to continue running the business while ransomware is active. [33:21] - Companies need to adopt a gamified system to train everyone in the organization on how to respond to an attack. [35:13] - Supply chain issues exist in cybersecurity, but it's not the same as other industries. They are problems that they are actively searching for a solution for. [38:26] - When it becomes a requirement and in a contract, it will be adhered to. [40:26] - There are a lot of programs out there looking for the anomaly, but Steve says we aren't looking in the right place. [42:33] - Take all reports of suspicious activity seriously. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Steve Orrin on LinkedIn Public Sector on Intel's Website

We are all being targeted by imposters on social media, websites, and dating sites. Once a person has been scammed, your information can be added to a database where criminals can purchase your data and then offer you "recovery assistance" from that scam. Today's guest is Nick Smart. Nick has 18 years experience as a professional Intelligence and Security Analyst working for government agencies and private companies as well as experience as a compliance officer. Show Notes: [0:57] - Nick describes his current role and his background in security. [1:41] - Nick admits that he is generally very pessimistic and initially wasn't drawn to the crypto industry. [2:55] - Why does crypto have a high reputation for fraud? [4:15] - Once you are scammed, your information can be sold to more criminals and then you will be targeted again. [6:52] - It is very easy to believe that you would get the money back if you act fast which is falling victim to a sense of urgency. [8:01] - For some people, losing out on a few hundred dollars doesn't impact them much, but for others it could be the money they need to feed their family. [10:18] - When something goes wrong, people look to those in authority for help, but law enforcement is catching up to how they can deal with the problem. [12:29] - The laws surrounding crypto currency are very new and we don't know the future of recovery scams. [13:43] - Nick explains "hackers for hire". [15:13] - These scams aren't much different than others, but the way they find targets is unique. [18:23] - Some people think crypto currency is completely anonymous. But that's not entirely correct. [21:05] - The area of conversion is where we can try to find someone responsible for money laundering. [22:29] - The block chains are useful in following and piecing together to find someone. [24:35] - Crypto currency is hyper transparent which is not necessarily a bad thing. [26:30] - KYC stands for Know Your Customer and Nick explains what that means to a financial institution. [28:37] - If you've lost money through a crash or a scam and someone approaches you claiming they can help you get your money back, be skeptical. [31:39] - Real asset recovery is not a fast process. [35:13] - Individual cases and the experiences vary, but for the most part, block chains want to help. [37:42] - It happens to the best of us. No one is immune. [39:22] - There are more costs than just monetary. [42:24] - It doesn't help the victim to stigmatize being scammed. [44:01] - Nick shares ways to report crypto fraud. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Crystal Blockchain Website

There's one common desire that allows you to be taken advantage of or to be manipulated that leaves you wanting to kick yourself for not doing one simple thing to prevent it. Today's guest is Mark Edward. Mark is a professional mentalist who has specialized in magic of the mind for over 35 years. He travels internationally as a skeptical activist using his skills as a mentalist to teach and promote critical thinking. Show Notes: [1:01] - Mark shares his interesting background in magic and as a mentalist. [4:03] - As a starving artist, Mark formed a group with other magicians and began street performing. [6:33] - If people want to believe in it, it's mentalism. [8:09] - When working as a medium, Mark learned about people's desire for things to be true. [11:41] - Mark describes the 900 years where people could call psychics on the phone. [15:27] - After his years in the field, Mark wrote a book. [17:42] - Mark shares his experience moving over into the skeptic community. [20:20] - Scams are like magicians because it's all manipulation and performance. [24:35] - In some cases, Mark investigated people who claimed to be able to do something that genuinely believed they could. [28:14] - Don't be fooled by those who know things about you. A lot of things can be determined through observation. [29:13] - These days there are Zoom calls for sessions with psychics and they have the internet at their fingertips to search for information. [31:08] - Mark explains what a pre-show is and some of the ways to manipulate getting information ahead of time. [33:19] - What is the difference between a mentalist and a psychic? [37:28] - No matter what you know, you can still fall for things if you really want to believe them. [40:40] - Generally speaking, most Americans don't want to be told the truth, but rather be told what they want to hear. [42:44] - Manipulation is the lowest form of humanity. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Mark Edward's Website Psychic Blues by Mark Edward

After being scammed, embarrassment can prevent people from getting the help they need, but in order to destigmatize the painful mistake, more people need to report incidents and understand that it happens to even the most technically savvy. Today's guest is Rory Innes. Rory has spent his entire career in cybersecurity and has worked for leading global cybersecurity companies in a range of senior management positions. Rory spotted the huge gap in support for victims of cybercrime and online harm and created the Cyber Helpline to mobilize the cybersecurity community to step in and fill the gap. As CEO, Rory is responsible for the strategic, direction, performance, and operational effectiveness of the Cyber Helpline. Rory often provides comment and opinion for the press and has appeared on live TV and documentaries providing his expert opinion on cybercrime. Show Notes: [1:10] - Rory shares what Cyber Helpline is and his motivation to start it up. [3:26] - There are different types of cybersecurity such as commercial issues and personal concerns. [4:31] - Now, Cyber Helpline sees an average of 2,000 reports a month. [5:53] - Cyber Helpline began as a UK only organization, but they are now looking to help globally. [7:11] - Rory shares the types of things reported and the things that have been surprising over the last five years. [8:35] - In many places across the world, Covid-19 had a huge impact on the economy and the rise of scams. [10:46] - Hacked social media accounts are really common and can be really detrimental to the people in your network. [12:00] - Investment scams are also very commonly seen and you may not see the problem for a while. [14:43] - Hypervigilance from the threat of cyberstalking makes things mentally draining, scary, and creates difficulty for them to be believed. [16:36] - Rory describes the process of investigating and helping a victim through a cyberstalking case. [19:50] - Misconceptions are created and then spread wide through crime stories, social media, and crime shows or movies. [22:46] - Does changing your password and wiping your devices really help? [24:24] - When it comes to cyberstalking, it is important to remember that stalkers are obsessed. If you remove the access, you don't remove the obsession. [26:51] - The Cyber Helpline also helps educate the victim in how to spot signs of scams. [28:00] - The Cyber Helpline uses the Assistance Self-Help model. [31:30] - Service users are asked how this experience is impacting them. [32:59] - Mental health is the highest reported impact on victims, even more so than money. [35:31] - Mental health support is getting better, but is still not effective for many people who experience this. [37:32] - The demographics of the victims can tell a lot about the likelihood of them reporting something. [40:27] - Rory himself has been a victim of cybercrime and admits that he was very embarrassed by it at the time it happened. [43:41] - The hardest thing is when targeted children and teens don't feel comfortable talking about it with their parents. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest The Cyber Helpline

Scamming is a multi-billion dollar industry that is creative and evolving. The National Consumer Protection Week is geared toward education and the National Slam the Scam Day focuses specifically on government imposter scams. Today's guest is Anthony "AJ" Monaco. AJ currently serves as a special agent in charge of the major case unit at the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. His unit investigates complex fraud cases with a particular emphasis on Social Security Administration imposter scams and organized fraud rings. AJ has over 30 years of combined federal law enforcement, Marine officer, and legal experience. Show Notes: [1:00] - AJ shares his current role and what he manages at the Social Security Administration. [2:59] - The Secret Service is also a leader in financial fraud. [4:01] - Government imposter fraud is when a scammer presents themselves as a government official, specifically from the Social Security Administration. [6:04] - Scams evolve the way business evolves. Scammers take notice of human nature. [7:56] - Scammers pay great attention to everything including social media and the news. [9:09] - Sometimes these government imposter scammers will present fake credentials but real officials won't send credentials through text or email. [11:02] - Scammers have shifted back to physical mail because that is generally the way the government contacts you. [13:21] - You can report calls from phone numbers that you suspect are fraudulent. [14:26] - For any phone call or text you get, do a search online to see if there's anything that the phone number comes back as. [16:50] - If you get physical mail, there will be some minor things that could stand out as suspicious. [19:39] - Once scammers get past your initial barriers, they are easier to believe. [20:40] - The 4 P's are the "Phony Phundamentals" and they are Pretend, Problem, Pressure, and Pay. [22:01] - When it comes to the Pay step, scammers will ask for money in a way that is not standard for sending money to a real government official. [25:37] - Gift card scams seem like they wouldn't be easy to fall for, but once a scammer gets past the barrier, it is easier to convince targets. [28:01] - Purchasing and sending gift cards are almost impossible to trace. [30:09] - AJ describes a recent organized crime ring that they were successful in shutting down. [32:58] - How likely will a victim of fraud get their money back when investigated by the Social Security Administration? [36:02] - Be suspicious if someone reaches out to tell you that they will be able to get your money back. [39:40] - AJ explains what Slam the Scam Day is. [41:09] - National Consumer Protection Week is this week and Slam the Scam Day is soon! Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest National Consumer Protection Week: Slam the Scam Day

Have you ever Googled yourself to see what information is available about you? Knowing how to remove some of your private information or negate the impact of a negative review can make a big difference to your personal or professional reputation. Today's guest is Darren Dunner. Darren is a digital marketing and SEO guru with a track record of results-driven leadership. As Net Reputation's VP of Reputation Management Operations, he provides expert insight and mentorship needed to consistently prove and optimize deliverables. He helps people and companies protect and correct their online reputation. Show Notes: [1:04] - Darren shares his background and what his current role is in Reputation Management. [3:44] - If you follow their guidelines, Google can follow and understand what you are trying to accomplish. [4:53] - Online reputation for a company could be reviews, information in articles, blog posts, or videos. [6:04] - Posts without consequences in mind can be detrimental. [8:28] - Darren and Chris describe a scenario of someone needing to do damage control. [10:19] - Negative sentiments are click bait and move through Google faster. [12:09] - There's a lot more impact for public figures due to notoriety. [13:06] - Digital marketing and reputation management is surprisingly complicated. [13:58] - Reputation management takes a long time, usually at least more than a year. [15:52] - Darren lists some of the things he does to help manage reputation and how much work it really is. [17:46] - Life online means that other people find out about what is going on in your life and that could have both good and bad consequences. [19:07] - Darren's advice is to only focus on putting out positive things online. [20:01] - Searches are geo targeted so your search results will be different than someone searching the same thing in a different location. [21:44] - For a company, it is important to have enough things out there that are connected properly to Google so your page is top in searches. [24:01] - Location is important to keep in mind for potential customers or clients to search. [25:18] - Darren explains a situation with a negative piece used in email marketing that brought up a huge uproar. [27:29] - You can catch things ahead of time as long as you prepare for it. [29:14] - You can't always prepare for a bad review, but train employees and team members that things they do can be used against them and the company. [32:44] - Two factor authorization is crucial to keep your assets protected. [34:00] - No one you know will ever ask you for any authentication code. [35:07] - If you have a social media account, use it. Don't let it sit unused. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest NetReputation.com

Taking a proactive approach versus a reactive approach to cybersecurity makes a big difference for the stress levels of employees and customers. The daily conversations that take place with management can change the impact of a ransomware attack remarkably. Today's guest is Robert Anderson Jr. Robert is a national security expert, author, and business leader dedicated to helping companies improve cybersecurity and reduce business risk. As Chairman and CEO of Cyber Defense Labs, he brings decades of executive leadership and operational experience in cybersecurity, counterintelligence, economy espionage, and critical incident response. Show Notes: [0:57] - Robert describes his current role as CEO of Cyber Defense Labs and his background in the FBI. [2:14] - The plan for Robert going into cybersecurity evolved over the decades of his career as a direct result of the evolution of how crime is committed. [3:52] - Anything you can do before something bad happens is the best thing for your company. [4:42] - Once a breach happens, it goes beyond inconvenience and risk for clients. It could mean the end of a business. [7:01] - In Robert's experience, most companies have a plan but the plan hasn't been tested and doesn't hold up to an actual data breach. [9:01] - Robert describes scenarios while working in the FBI in companies choosing to pay ransoms after being hit with ransomware. [11:10] - The larger the company, the more complicated this becomes. [12:50] - Breaches have changed in recent years and now ask for millions of dollars. [14:45] - Chris and Robert recommend approaching practicing for possible breaches like fire drills. [17:03] - Robert advocates for being informed and understanding all laws when getting involved with ransomware. [18:57] - The reason why ransomware is so prevalent is it's a trillion dollar industry. Bad guys are making a lot of money. [21:26] - Hacking ability or high level hacking is not necessary to perform a breach anymore. [23:10] - Skilled hackers make even more money because they are often contracted for jobs. [24:36] - Robert believes there should be a global set of norms similar to the UN when it comes to what the world will tolerate when it comes to cybersecurity. [27:30] - The first call a company makes is not for help. It's for mitigation. [29:18] - In Robert's organization, cybersecurity is a daily conversation. [32:03] - Robert will not open a single email if he does not know who it is from. [34:10] - Logging onto public wifi can be dangerous. [35:55] - Your frontline of your company is made up of your employees. Educate them. [37:58] - You must have an internal and external communication plan. [39:31] - What are three things you can do after a breach? [42:31] - Chris gives an example of proper communication from a company that included their proactive approach and a timeline. [45:32] - Communicating with customers is important but it is equally as important to communicate with your team. [46:36] - When it comes to class action lawsuits, nowadays, even employees can sue the company. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Cyber Defense Labs Website

Scammers are creatively trying to deceive and manipulate Amazon customers by getting them to do activities outside the Amazon ecosystem through texts, emails, and phone calls. Hopefully by looking at how the top scams are implemented, we can create more awareness and prevent loss. Today's guest is Abigail Bishop. Abigail is the Head of External Relations for Scam Prevention at Amazon, where she leads the organization's outreach work to protect customers from falling victim to scams globally. Show Notes: [0:56] - Abigail shares her background and what she does at Amazon as the Head of External Relations for Scam Prevention. [2:46] - Her background was originally in Public Affairs so her path to her current role in scam prevention is non-traditional. [3:50] - There are over 12,000 employees behind the scenes at Amazon that work on scam prevention. [5:32] - Working across borders to find perpetrators is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. [6:32] - Over 50% of the scams reported to Abigail's team are order confirmation scams. [7:41] - Gift card scams continue to be common. Amazon will never ask you for payment in gift cards. [9:04] - Amazon will never ask you to install an app or allow them to access your computer. [10:30] - Verify any purchases on your Amazon account and report any malicious communication to Amazon's message center. [12:46] - If you are ever contacted about Amazon for any reason, they will be able to verify all information and you can cross verify it on your account. [14:20] - You can always reach out to Amazon's report a scam to verify any interaction you've had. [15:45] - Amazon is driven to protecting all Amazon users. [16:48] - Amazon Scam Prevention also sends out emails and information to help educate consumers on best practices. [18:01] - Abigail describes some of the steps that they have taken at Amazon to offer customers validation that any contact from them is legitimate. [19:05] - In 2022, over 20,000 phishing sites were found and shut down as well as over 10,000 phishing phone numbers. [24:01] - Current events play a role in when and how scammers approach their attacks. [25:21] - Because of the size and popularity of Amazon, they have the opportunity to act swiftly and cooperatively with other entities. [28:13] - Abigail shares what Amazon has been able to develop in cooperation with BBB and other corporations publicly. [30:30] - Amazon does have processes in place to help mitigate damage or prevent entirely data breaches. [32:41] - The scam reporting feature on Amazon is new within the last year. They rely heavily on consumers reporting for them to be able to track scams. [35:10] - Because of the volume of scam attempts, especially through text and email, many consumers don't have time or desire to report every single one and would rather delete and ignore. [37:17] - What scams should be reported or prioritized to report? [39:14] - Always check your account directly on Amazon. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Report a Scam to Amazon BBB Scam Tracker Help Identifying a Scam

We like to think that we're too smart to be taken advantage of by a scammer, but some are willing to invest a tremendous amount of time and effort for a payout. Many do not come forward because of the fear, shame, and victim-blaming, but that's not true with today's guest. Today's guest is Ayleen Charlotte. Ayleen was one of the women featured in the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler. She made a radical choice between victimhood or becoming a beacon of female empowerment. After what became five years of misery, she decided not only to tell her story, but to make a lifelong entrepreneurial dream come true. Show Notes: [1:20] - When Ayleen contacted, there were already other women victimized, but Ayleen was a big part of the Tinder Swindler's arrest. [2:49] - She had three goals that participating in the documentary helped achieve. [4:27] - Ayleen met this scammer five years ago and started a relationship with him. [5:19] - Because he claimed to have many enemies, he moved in with Ayleen and used her money and credit cards to "stay under the radar." [6:58] - The lavish lifestyle he lived made sense with the story he provided to the women he victimized. [8:15] - One indicator that something was wrong was that money given back to her in the form of a check would never go through. [9:40] - He always had an operation to start and Ayleen took several personal loans to help with these endeavors. [11:27] - He laid a foundation of trust with the small things. [13:15] - Ayleen says that in the beginning, he really made her feel special. The development of the relationship was going well and very believable. [14:18] - There is a big difference between this situation and other types of fraud, as there was a real relationship built. [16:15] - The Tinder Swindler used the same stories over and over again with every victim. [17:08] - Even when he had "interactions" with enemies, he would show up with real injuries. [18:15] - Some of the people on his team did not know they were part of this, although Ayleen says his bodyguard and his right-hand were aware. [19:51] - An article was released about him and Ayleen saw it and immediately knew. [21:18] - Ayleen lists some of the reasons he gave for the article being released. In this instance, Ayleen trusted the article over him. [22:43] - When he continued to ask for money, Ayleen was in contact with the police. She wound up tricking him and, in a way, taking some of her money back. [25:58] - If Ayleen didn't give him money, he made it clear that she would be in danger from his enemies. [27:18] - If someone is asking you for money and trying to push you, take a step back, shut down your phone, and think about it for a few days. [28:38] - Over time, Ayleen saw a change in character, especially when she stopped sending him money. [30:44] - The Tinder Swindler started his fraud schemes at the age of 15 and did not only target women. He swindled men as well as organizations and charities. [32:26] - He is not able to get a real job or career at this point. This is the only thing he can do and he will continue. He is still out there, living in Israel. [33:50] - The documentary has helped in slowing his scam. [35:39] - Ayleen's trust of other people has not been impacted. She knows that she has experienced the worst already. [37:29] - Ayleen says the best thing you can do in a situation like this is to talk about it. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest

Pending legislation mandating cybersecurity representation at the top levels of an organization in a relatively young field and understanding that field are testing the bounds of practical cybersecurity leadership. Today's guests are Richard Brinson and Rachel Briggs. Richard is an experienced executive, board advisor, and global top 100 Chief Informations Security Officer. He has been providing strategic guidance to many of the world's largest global organizations for over 20 years with core expertise in cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, and enterprise architecture. Richard leads Savanti's cybersecurity practice, helping large organizations to transform and modernize their security functions for the digital age. Rachel is a leading expert on security and has advised governments and multinational corporations on security, resilience, terrorism, and responses to extremism. She is an Executive Advisor with Savanti and founder and CEO of The Clarity Factory, which provides and arranges services to its clients including research, consultancy, and thought leadership. Show Notes: [1:35] - Richard shares his background and what Savanti is known for. [2:30] - Rachel works with Richard and his team on thought leadership products. [4:01] - Organizations reach out to Savanti and don't know if what they are doing is right or wrong. SISOs seemed to be coming and going. [5:35] - There were 6 key factors that were causing this churn in the industry. [6:50] - The supply in demand problem for cybersecurity leaders is one issue in retaining professionals as SISOs. [8:45] - For every three years, a company is really only moving forward one. [10:05] - Rachel shares data that shows the importance of strong cybersecurity and leadership that does it right. [12:37] - It's not just about security. It's actually part of a good business model now. [14:03] - When cybersecurity isn't a part of leadership, the board's understanding creates a problem with delegating and solving problems. [15:20] - Richard is a board advisor on many organizational boards to help with this lack of understanding. [16:48] - There are fewer than 100 SISOs with effective boardroom expertise. [18:02] - When speaking with SISOs and others in leadership, things are lost in translation. [20:28] - We tend to just expect people to be good communicators but it is a skill that needs to be trained. [21:43] - There are leadership training companies that organizations can work with to coach a leadership team. [23:30] - SISOs can and should be taught to communicate effectively in the boardroom and that should be something the organization provides. [25:20] - There is pending legislation that will mandate the requirement of cybersecurity in leadership, but Richard shares some possible problems. [27:04] - Savanti helps demystify this problem with communication. [28:42] - For smaller companies who cannot afford a full time SISO, fractional SISO roles that are usually virtual are offered by Savanti. [31:18] - If an incoming SISO does not have the support of the board, they cannot be effective or successful. [32:50] - The turnover rate for this role is quite high. [34:02] - Companies who aren't willing to implement recommendations or bring in a qualified SISO leads to a number of costs and risks. [36:02] - Changing SISOs so often is destabilizing. [37:35] - With solid security, a company can take more business risks safely. [40:03] - Regulations can be helpful but not helpful in many ways. [41:52] - If you are considering a role as a SISO in leadership, round yourself off as a business leader with effective communication skills. [43:53] - You can read the recent report that Richard describes by clicking here. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest The Future of Cyber Security Leadership Series Savanti Website Richard Brinson on LinkedIn Rachel Briggs on LinkedIn

Millions have been impacted by data breaches. Many of us know how fraudsters work and how they utilize this information. But our parents and children become victims because of their fear or urgency inflicted by the scammers. Today's guest is Mike Cook. Mike is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience working and serving in the financial services, wireless, cable/satellite, and auto financial industries. He has built several data breach applications in compliance, manual verification, and account management solutions. Show Notes: [0:56] - Mike shares his background and what he currently does. [2:10] - When Mike talked to a fraudster who stole cars, he immediately became interested in fraud and scams. [3:47] - Mike's daughter was a victim of a scam and lost a lot of money, but the biggest impact was how fearful she was. [6:20] - In years past, fraud was easier to stop, but now everyone's data is available somewhere online. [8:04] - Once data is breached, that information can be copied and sold over and over again. [9:30] - What is a citizen fraudster? [11:01] - Lenders and consumers are both heavily impacted by data breaches. [12:31] - As a consumer, you need to listen to every word. If it sounds too good to be true or too scary and urgent, it's a scam. [14:08] - It is so easy to click on things without thinking about it. [15:19] - Don't ever feel bad about choosing not to give someone information. [16:57] - When the economy goes down, fraud goes up. [18:55] - Fraud has never been harder to stop, has never been smarter, never been swifter to change patterns. It is on fire right now. [20:04] - Covid resulted in everyone moving to remote working, learning, and everything being online. It expedited the growth in fraud. [21:22] - Fraud is easier to commit online in a faceless environment. [23:46] - Mike is optimistic about upcoming policy changes. [25:18] - What is synthetic fraud and what are the impacts for consumers? [26:44] - There are ways to create a false identity to get through defenses and commit fraud. [28:21] - Synthetic fraud can get through but isn't as hard to stop. [29:42] - Stopping fraud for consumers is a huge balancing act for organizations. [31:47] - Chris shares a story that shows the work that banks are doing to help mitigate fraud. [34:06] - We are going to see a lot more confirmation from organizations, especially financial institutions, to be sure you are not being scammed. [37:19] - There are several things we can do to make sure our kids don't experience credit fraud by way of someone using randomly generated numbers. [40:21] - There are definitely other legislation needed to protect people from theft and fraud. [42:08] - Things that are being done in credit repair need to change in order to protect people. [43:58] - The government and the industry work together. [45:21] - Over time, fraud trends change. They follow whatever the fastest way to take money is. [46:19] - Synthetic fraud is unique in that all of it is completely fake. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Mike Cook on LinkedIn Socure Website

With AI having the ability to search the internet and write a paper, create an image, or even a video having someone say what they didn't say, we can no longer use the phrase that seeing is believing. Today's guest is Peter Sisson. As a serial entrepreneur with a master's in AI from Stanford, Peter is working to fight fake news, fake reviews, and fake products. Misinformation and polarization have exploded since Peter began his career in Silicon Valley more than 20 years ago and his latest company CertifyIt offers an app that can help stop it. Show Notes: [1:08] - Peter shares his background in AI and as a serial entrepreneur. [3:01] - We believe what we see and it is already getting hard to determine what is real. [4:38] - The biggest concern is faking videos and faking images is already happening. [6:04] - The technology isn't there yet and usually you can tell when an image or video is fabricated. [7:55] - AI has been trained by the entire internet. AI can write anything you want it to, but none of it is original. [9:18] - AI doesn't actually know anything. It uses what is already available to learn patterns. Peter explains how it works. [11:25] - There are a lot of ethical concerns about using AI to create content. [12:51] - News providers use CertifyIt to know that content they release is accurate before they break fake news. [14:08] - Peter shares the story of CNN breaking news that wasn't true but really appeared to be accurate. [16:16] - How does CertifyIt use metadata to confirm accuracy? [18:07] - Chris and Peter discuss some examples of how people need to use CertifyIt, which is a public benefit corporation. [21:01] - It is a simple concept, but it works and is a viable solution to ensure content is accurate. [22:25] - The sooner the video is determined to be true, it is news that can be broken faster. [23:46] - Fake reviews are a big problem right now where people are even hired to write them for companies or products. [26:21] - Certified location videos could be beneficial for certain products or services. [27:50] - A third party like CertifyIt is necessary as people won't believe the vetting if it's done by the news organization. [30:16] - You can trick people's brains pretty easily as we are designed to believe what we see. This is especially easy if the viewer is tired or distracted. [31:50] - The more people get fooled, the more they will need a tool to vet the accuracy of a video they view. [33:29] - There will be false positives and false negatives as the technology gets better and better. [35:54] - The things that AI can create are truly very cool and can be entertaining, but the way people use it will change and probably not for the greater good. [38:21] - It will be possible to create alternate realities that are very convincing. [39:23] - It will probably take something major happening to bring this problem to light for the general public. [41:03] - The CertifyIt app can be used in a multitude of ways to provide a sense of confidence that the content you are viewing is true. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest CertifyIt Website CertifyIt on Apple App Store

Thank you for tuning in to our 150th episode! I started the Easy Prey Podcast with the goal of helping listeners learn to avoid being an easy target for scammers and fraudsters, both online and in the real world. Since the first episode on March 18, 2020, I've had the honor of interviewing some of the most influential people in their fields. We've talked about topics ranging from personal safety, self-defense, social engineering, and romance scams, to phishing, cybercrime, and everything in between. This episode is a slightly different format than normal. We've had some amazing guests on the show over the last 149 episodes. Today, I'm sharing highlights from our top 10 episodes! In this highlight episode, you'll hear clips from: Narcissist Specialist, Dr. Ramani Durvasula Romance and Scam Survivor, Debby Montgomery Johnson Trust and Safety Architect, Jane Lee Programmer, John McAfee Author and UnMarketing Specialist, Scott Stratten People Hacker, Jenny Radcliff Former Cybercriminal, Brett Johnson Author and Gaslighting Expert, Dr. Deborah Vinall Former FBI Negotiator, Chris Voss Tech Pioneer and Podcast Host, Steve Gibson Show Notes: [1:50] - Dr. Ramini Durvasula is an expert in understanding Narcissism. She shares the shocking traits of narcissists and you may realize you know a few. Click HERE for the full episode with Dr. Ramini Durvasula. [9:49] - Debby Montgomery Johnson was a victim of an online dating scam. She shares how she was drawn in and what red flags you should look out for. Click HERE for the full episode with Debby Montgomery Johnson. [16:31] - Jane Lee went undercover to learn about the new online dating scam known as Pig Butchering. She explains how Pig Butchering works and what to look out for. Click HERE for the full episode with Jane Lee. [23:34] - John McAfee worked hard to stay hidden while he was on the run from the US government. He shares the unexpected costs of privacy. Click HERE for the full episode with John McAfee. [30:29] - As a former salesman, Scott Stratten knows that people can see through sketchy sales techniques. He talks about the advantage of doing business with people you know, like, and trust. Click HERE for the full episode with Scott Stratten. [36:37] - Hacking isn't just for computers. Jenny Radcliff's hacking specialty is hacking people. She shares how people can be manipulated and how your business or family can be compromised. Click HERE for the full episode with Jenny Radcliff. [45:41] - As a renowned cybercriminal, Brett Johnson helped define cybercrime as we know it. He now uses his experience to protect people from the type of person he used to be. Click HERE for the full episode with Brett Johnson. [52:01] - Gaslighting is a term that many of us have heard but not all of us know how to recognize. Dr. Deborah Vinall explains what it is and what to do when it happens to you. Click HERE for the full episode with Dr. Deborah Vinall. [57:16] - As a former international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, Chris Voss has plenty of experience with high-stakes negotiations. He shares his tips for the negotiations we face each and every day. Click HERE for the full episode with Chris Voss. [64:09] - Steve Gibson has been working on computers since before the internet existed. He shares how the internet was not designed with security in mind and what kind of online security we can hope for in the future. Click HERE for the full episode with Steve Gibson. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest

Many people are comfortable sharing data in an environment that they believe to be a safe space. But not everyone considers where that health data goes after it has been collected. Today's guest is Katie Lips. Katie is an author and entrepreneur who helps consumers to understand the value of their data and protect themselves online. She is currently creating a data-centric health app with her extensive experience. Show Notes: [0:51] - Katie shares her broad and diverse career in technology. [2:06] - The growth of the internet has changed exponentially since its inception. [4:04] - Covid opened up everyone's eyes on how useful data is in the health space. [5:16] - For many, sharing health data during the pandemic made them nervous. [6:19] - Many of us have health tracking apps and devices that collect an enormous amount of data. [7:57] - Sharing data means that it could land in the hands of companies that you may not want to have so much information on you. [8:43] - Consider who will see your data as it can paint a picture of who you are and your life. [10:00] - Fitness trackers use a GPS which is a great tool for runners, but Chris shares an example of how it puts military personnel at risk. [12:29] - If you share health data online, like on social media, it is considered personal data and isn't strictly governed. [14:05] - Some companies may use social media to determine how healthy someone is. [15:36] - The truth is, we don't know who can take that data and use what they want. [17:01] - Chris and Katie discuss an example of unintended consequences of using health tracker apps. [19:50] - What is a data play? [21:23] - Some data is best preserved as saved on a device rather than online. [22:52] - It's important to consider what data would be accessed in a breach as a consumer and a business owner. [24:14] - The possibility of data being sold to health insurance companies is a scary concept. [25:47] - There is a difference between sick care and health care and this space has changed in recent years. [27:37] - Can your health choices be held against you with your health provider? [29:44] - Chris describes an insurance company incentivizing healthier choices. [31:56] - Companies need to be more upfront on what the data shared will be used for. Chris and Katie believe that is something that will become more common. [34:30] - Katie describes her startup and health journey. [37:07] - Something can be data driven, but doesn't collect a lot of unnecessary data. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Eatiful Website Katie Lips Website Katie Lips on Instagram Katie Lips on LinkedIn

Virtual networks with anonymous accounts allow cybercrime gangs the ability to work together without even knowing who they work with. This could be how the good guys infiltrate these networks. Today's guest is Peter Taylor. Peter is a former police detective and Director of Fraud Management for major UK companies. Ten years ago he set up his own consultancy and has established a reputation as "The Fraud Guy" specializing in research, training, and investigation around organized crime. Show Notes: [0:50] - Peter shares his background and why he's known as The Fraud Guy. [2:10] - Throughout his career, Peter spoke with former cybercriminals and hackers. [3:51] - Cybercriminals are applying advanced business techniques to their organizations. [5:40] - What gets ignored is what cybercriminals and former criminals can tell us. [6:46] - We know that cybercriminals can watch what we're doing, but what we don't think about is that we can do the same to them. [8:49] - The first function of these organized cybercrime gangs is to steal data. Next is to buy and enhance the data. And the third is to cash out. [10:50] - There are some exceptions to the rule. [11:50] - The purpose of creating false identities has changed over the years. [13:53] - The biggest advantage that cybercriminals have is they get things done, while the good guys abide by time-consuming policies. [15:14] - Peter feels like the "good guys" need advice on how to help this problematic trend. [16:28] - The more sophisticated areas of cybercrime, the more elitist are actually a small portion. The largest portion of cybercrime is actually several years old. [20:11] - Peter shares an example of how organized cybercrime has impacted corporations as well and the rise of check fraud. [23:07] - The common Nigerian prince scam still works! [25:13] - Guilt and fear are commonly triggered emotions. [27:03] - Another reason the Nigerian prince scam works is the trigger of a victim's ego. [28:36] - The use of bots and automated messaging can hit so many people at one time with very little effort. [29:50] - Talk to the people who are important to you that may not be aware of these scams. Just because we know it, doesn't mean they do. [30:56] - Millennials are now the highest target age bracket of those being targeted by scams. [32:40] - Cybercriminals reach a point of success where it's no longer about the money. It's about their ego. [36:00] - We have to understand the difference in lifestyle and how cybercriminals recruit more people. [37:43] - There is little to no support for scam victims and in many countries there are no laws stating that this is even illegal. [40:18] - What role does machine learning play? [43:01] - Peter shares some experiences in changing up his spending habits. [45:12] - There are many different types of ways to access data that Peter lists here. [46:52] - There is a lot more going on before, during, and after every single transaction, especially those done online. [48:59] - Peter initially got into fraud because of an increase in the apparent theft of thousands of vehicles. [50:20] - Insurance fraud is also a very common problem. [52:53] - Obligatory security is a form of protection that could be a solution to many problems. [54:08] - Peter is optimistic about the future of cybersecurity. [55:35] - If we can decrease the money taken by cybercriminals through fraud, the money can be used for better things. [57:56] - There are some varying opinions on the politics of scams. [59:49] - Many scammers are in the industry out of desperation. [61:35] - We can't continue to be in a world where this industry grows. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Peter Taylor The Fraud Guy on LinkedIn

We understand that hackers look for weaknesses in networks to manipulate or take data, but understanding the ways that vehicles can also be accessed either remotely or physically can be a bit surprising. Today's guest is Derrick Thiecke. Derrick works as an Embedded Systems Security Tester in the automotive industry where he found himself after spending over a decade in the corporate IT world. When Derrick isn't data dumping ROM chips, scouring through vehicle log data, or fuzzing CAN networks, he can be found as a brief blur passing by you on the highway. Show Notes: [0:58] - Derrick shares his background and current role as a security tester for automotive controllers and devices. [3:30] - There are differences between vehicle networks and home networks. The main network for vehicles is CAN bus. [5:12] - Because it is a bussed network, Derrick explains how all devices on the network can access all the data. [6:50] - Previously, you had to have physical access to hack a car, but not anymore. [8:19] - Derrick describes how his own vehicle accesses data on a network. [9:56] - The implementation of standards has changed the way vehicles are serviced. [11:18] - Safety critical features are isolated, but some things can still be accessed that can be harmful. [12:29] - There was an event in 2015 where a parking feature was hacked while the vehicle was in motion. [13:59] - There are ways to communicate with and change the fuel mapping over CAN bus, but there is usually a physical component required. [16:07] - Derrick describes a scenario that creates a potential threat. [19:04] - The automotive industry typically sits about a decade behind in technology. [21:24] - Derrick lists some of the features in a vehicle that are connected to a network. [23:18] - The number of vehicle recalls due to software issues has increased since 2015, but the issues aren't growing. [25:01] - Movies depict vehicle hacking as possible disasters. Derrick shares his concerns. [26:44] - When ransomware became a problem, we had the same questions. The threat for the worst case scenario is plausible. [28:31] - Derrick describes the most concerning problem he has experienced as a tester. [30:59] - Different cars all use the same controllers, even those without the same features. [32:26] - There are devices that can unlock vehicles without the key or keyfob. [34:18] - When there is an issue with a computer, typically there is an update to solve it. That currently isn't the case for most vehicles. [35:41] - There are some updates that can happen remotely, but the catch-22 is that the wireless connection makes the vehicle susceptible to threats. [37:02] - There is a huge shortage of workforce in this industry. [38:41] - Derrick recommends the book The Car Hacker's Handbook if you are interested in this field. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Derrick Thiecke on Twitter Email Derrick Thiecke The Car Hacker's Handbook by Craig Smith

Scammers are brilliant at targeting the vulnerable and then often using the fear of exposure to extort even more out of them. Education about these manipulators isn't enough. Can we do more to make a global impact knowing that less than 0.1% of scammers are ever prosecuted? Today's guest is Jorij Abraham. Jorij Abraham is the Managing Director of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance with a mission of preventing consumers worldwide from getting scammed. He is also the General Manager at ScamAdvisor.com, the global blacklist for malicious websites. In addition, Jorij is an ecommerce professor at University of Applied Sciences TIO. Show Notes: [1:01] - Jorij shares his current roles and background in the field. [2:27] - He fell into ScamAdvisor when working in ecommerce. [3:42] - Scammers are remarkably smart when it comes to marketing fake sites. [5:12] - Subscription scams are specifically successful in getting quite a lot of money from victims. [6:18] - Scammers tend to take advantage of current events such as the energy crisis and abortion and then extort their fear of exposure. [7:26] - ScamAdvisor.com sees over 4 million visitors per month and they are from all over the world. [8:24] - In most countries, victims of scams are unable to get any help. [9:49] - Jorij explains how the laws work regarding scammers and the pitfalls of the process. [11:40] - It's important to educate consumers, but there's only so much that can be learned. [12:56] - The tips and tricks that helped just a few months ago are already not working all the time. [14:33] - Jorij describes a Ponzi scheme that took down the government in Albania. [16:10] - One little bump in supply and demand has drastic ripple effects. [17:32] - Scams are not simple anymore. The marketing power is extremely impactful and mostly successful. [19:11] - Even in the Netherlands, FBI phone scams are successful. [21:00] - Jorij predicts that legislation will be necessary. [22:10] - Awareness is good, but consumers need more protection. [23:35] - Phishing scams are created to filter out specific groups of people. [24:37] - Jorij shares his thoughts on retraining scammers to do good, especially since they are skilled hackers. [26:34] - How can we reduce scams? [27:41] - The Global Anti-Scam Alliance is a networking organization with the goal of pushing everyone together to define new ways to combat scams. [29:17] - Jorij describes the changes coming to ScamAdvisor. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Jorij Abraham on LinkedIn ScamAdvisor.com Global Anti-Scam Alliance

Utilizing hacking skills cannot only make it easier to work with management, but helps translate technical information for non-technical staff. Today's guest is Alyssa Miller. Alyssa is a lifelong hacker and cybersecurity leader. She is the CISO for Epiq Global and has over 16 years experience in security. She is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and researcher. She has also been featured in Tribe of Hackers blue team, Cybercrime magazine, and many other media. Show Notes: [1:06] - Alyssa has always been a hacker and shares the beginning of her journey. [3:01] - She saved up her money in the late 80s to buy her first computer. [5:04] - When she received discs for internet and couldn't pay for it as a 12 year old, she learned how to hack into the internet provider. [7:11] - Alyssa got her first full time job in tech at 19 years old and then began her career in cybersecurity. [9:24] - After working as a consultant for a while, she worked for a Wall Street Firm. [11:09] - Alyssa explains how she serendipitously fell into her current role as a CISO. [13:41] - In management, Alyssa believes that the ability to translate technical terms to non-technical staff is a requirement for management positions. [16:12] - Hackers want to know how things work and how to make them work differently. [17:47] - CISO is a role that hasn't existed for a long time. [19:13] - Because it is a relatively new role, how is knowledge built for people coming into that role? [21:10] - Technology and security have always been connected. [23:16] - Risk management is an important part of what Alyssa does. [25:56] - Alyssa demonstrates how she communicates risk to business leaders. [27:59] - In her current CISO position, she is pulled away from the tech part of things. She likes looking at the bigger picture. [29:58] - Misinformation is the main concern for the future in security. [32:18] - Privacy concerns will spill into the cybersecurity realm as well. [33:37] - The line between physical and digital gets increasingly blurred. [34:53] - Kids growing up in this digital world need to learn how to be safe online. [37:01] - How will the next generation operate in regards to cybersecurity? [39:50] - Colleges need to be focusing on concepts, rather than actual programs. [41:52] - There are amazing graduate programs, but there are professionals who are incredible as self-taught. [43:42] - This is a hot industry but not everyone is cut out for the skills needed to be right for the job. [45:20] - In Alyssa's book, there are activities that help those seeking employment in cybersecurity. [46:56] - Her book is available online and in retailers. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Cybersecurity Career Guide by Alyssa Miller Alyssa Miller on Twitter Alyssa Miller Website

Online dating has become more complicated than ever. Learning how to verify that the person you're talking to is actually the person in the dating profile can save you from heartbreak and financial loss. Today's guests are Kathy Waters and Bryan Denny. Kathy Waters is an expert advocate and an educator on the subject of online romance scams. Kathy is co-founder, along with retired Colonel Bryan Denny, of the non-profit organization Advocating Against Romance Scammers. Both have been working for safer platforms since 2016 with the same goals in mind: justice for victims and educating all online of the cybercrime known to tear people down emotionally, psychologically, and financially. Show Notes: [1:18] - Bryan shares his experience with someone using his name and images in fake profiles. [3:00] - Kathy's mother's friend was a victim of a romance scam that used Bryan's photos. [4:36] - AARS became a non-profit last year and works to educate not only users, but lawmakers, too. [6:01] - Dating profiles of someone in military uniform is a red flag. [7:41] - There are many red flags to look for and there will often be more than one indicator. [8:50] - Ask a friend in the military about an unusual profile or reach out to Kathy and Bryan. [10:23] - It's tough to get people to report these interactions. [11:40] - Prior to Covid, the demographic was more elderly aged people. But a younger crowd has been affected since Covid. [13:22] - Younger people are more likely to come forward and talk about their experiences than an older demographic. [14:41] - It is also therapeutic to come forward and talk about it. [16:07] - Scammers tend to have a similar story, working out of the country. [17:51] - Bryan shares that he continues to receive messages about his photo circulating on fake profiles and the stories are all very similar. [20:07] - Bryan explains how scammers manipulate videos to pretend to be interacting on video calls. [22:23] - If you're concerned about interacting with someone through video calls, you can ask them to do something like touch their head or look a certain way. [24:01] - What do you do if you know you are interacting with a scammer? [26:04] - Scammers share where they have had success with other scammers. [27:43] - If you are watching this happen to someone else, there are ways to approach it with them. Outsiders tend to see the red flags sooner. [28:54] - Unfortunately, they may not believe you. Try to educate them on red flags. [29:46] - There are support groups for helping manage the emotional toll this takes on a victim. [32:09] - What laws are in place for this? [33:19] - Scammers are typically in another country. They are hard to go after legally because they are not in the United States. [34:49] - On their website, there are commonly used photos in fake profiles and ways to report a scam. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) Website

Every time you pay a bill, data is sent to a credit reporting agency. Errors can be made. It's important to know where to look to see if your credit information is correct, stolen, or purchased. Today's guest is Steve Baker. Steve is chairman of the Privacy Rights Institute. He is a lawyer and previously served as a leader at the FTC for over 27 years addressing consumer fraud in areas like telemarketing and spamming. Steve now writes The Baker Fraud Report, a free weekly newsletter covering consumer fraud from around the world. Show Notes: [1:08] - Steve shares what he currently does with The Baker Fraud Report and his career background. [2:46] - In the field of consumer fraud, there is always something to learn. [3:27] - The Privacy Rights Institute is meant to educate people on their rights regarding credit reporting. [5:02] - With tons of pieces of data, errors can occur. [6:05] - Steve shares some of the people who can pull your credit report. [7:34] - One error happens when people with the same name get mixed up. [9:04] - Steve explains how the system is supposed to work. [11:07] - Unfortunately the credit reporting agencies have poor customer service. [12:54] - Credit reports can also be pulled by employees and associates at places like car dealerships. There's no stopping them from searching anyone. [13:40] - Data breaches are also a concern and can lead to identity theft. [15:27] - The Los Angeles school district recently experienced a data breach through ransomware. [17:25] - There are some alternatives that are starting to come out for security. [18:56] - With the increase in people changing jobs and the economy in its current state, credit reports are being pulled more frequently at the moment. [21:09] - You can get a copy of your credit report once a year. Do this at AnnualCreditReport.com. [22:26] - If you see an error, reporting it to one agency is good. Keep an eye on your credit card bills. [24:24] - Scammers have also been known to alter recordings of your voice on the phone. [26:04] - If you see an unusual charge, don't try to locate or contact the person who made the charge. [27:48] - Currently, the best way for scammers to get your money is through cryptocurrency. [29:07] - Immigrants are particularly hit hard by scammers and credit report confusion. [31:01] - Keep an eye on your credit reports and periodically check for errors. [32:06] - Steve explains how credit repair works and what to look for. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest AnnualCreditReport.com Baker Fraud Report

Consumer Reports is known for the research and comparisons of products and services, but they also offer a free personalized security and privacy planner. Today's guest is Amira Dhalla. Amira is the Director of Impact Partnerships and Programs at Consumer Reports focusing on digital privacy and security. Amira works on projects that improve the cybersecurity and privacy products and tools on the marketplace while also tackling topics like discriminatory technologies, deceptive design, trust, and safety. Show Notes: [0:57] - Amira shares her background and her role at Consumer Reports. [3:10] - The internet is incredible, but the quality isn't always what it should be. [4:26] - Technology has expanded at an unprecedented rate. [6:14] - Amira explains some of the fears that people had in different countries when learning about internet use. [7:21] - Security Planner has been around for a long time and Consumer Reports brought it into their toolset a few years ago. [9:29] - Constant updates as technology changes and trends emerge is crucial. [11:19] - Consumer Reports studies tools people use. MFA is becoming much more commonly used. [12:30] - MFA is also required by many organizations for their employees. [13:40] - Password managers are not trending as more commonly used. [14:14] - Amira shares Consumer Report's picks for password managers and VPNs. [16:12] - Online shopping has increased since the pandemic and is prime time for scammers. [17:31] - There are ways to be smarter online shoppers. [19:45] - What is a Grinchbot? [20:59] - Once you go to a third party site, you are no longer secure. [23:07] - Amira describes some of the things to look for to determine if you are looking at a fake site. [25:20] - Question yourself on why a site needs the information they are asking for. [27:54] - Charity scams are a huge problem particularly during the holiday season. [29:10] - Always go to the site you know directly. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Security Planner

Criminals and trained to hone in on people who are vulnerable. Listen on to learn how you can protect the people you care about and what signs to look out for. Today's guest is Louise Baxter. Lou graduated with a law degree and worked for Sussex Trading Standards. She took over as the chair of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's consumer power alliance and is the CTSI's lead officer of education. She got frustrated by the system in relation to support of scam victims and started what is now the National Trading Standard Scams Teams, and she was awarded an MBE for protecting vulnerable consumers from financial abuse. Show Notes: [1:10] - Lou shares her background and why she was driven to be more proactive. [3:05] - Her team deals with specific types of scams. [5:19] - If you respond to one letter scam, your details get passed around to more. [6:54] - There are times of mental health challenges that make you vulnerable, such as grief and high stress. [8:40] - There are different types of vulnerabilities and you could experience several at once. [10:51] - There are mental health impacts when learning that you've been a victim of a scam. [12:35] - Scams are only reported between 5 and 15% of the time. [14:48] - Even Louise has been affected by situational vulnerability. [16:01] - Louise describes the way a lottery scam increases their web of victims. [18:49] - What support is available for scam victims? [20:35] - Louise shares the types of responses her team receives when they reach out to scam victims. [23:00] - Situational vulnerability creates opportunity for scammers to make their message more believable. [25:35] - At the start of Covid-19, vulnerabilities were at an all time high. [27:13] - Criminals can target constantly. [28:38] - One million people have completed the training Louise's company offers. [30:19] - As a society, we need to begin supporting victims rather than shaming them. [32:50] - Scams and fraud are forms of emotional abuse. [34:12] - Lou compares the tactics used by scammers to domestic emotional abuse. [35:41] - Louise explains that most criminals are not in the same country as their targets. [37:35] - There has been some valuable international work that's been done, but every country operates a bit differently in their standards. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest

Once a data breach has taken place, your data can be sold and resold and resold again. It's important to know how to proactively protect your personal information. Today's guest is Kevin Roundy. Dr. Roundy received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin where he developed tools by which malware can be analyzed both with detailed statistical analysis techniques and dynamic instrumentation. He has collaboratively developed threat detection tools and has offered several research publications and patents. He also has a background in machine learning and database systems. Show Notes: [0:56] - Kevin shares his current role and why he has become passionate about keeping people safe from scammers. [2:45] - Oftentimes, scammers take advantage of current events and news stories. [4:02] - Student loan forgiveness is a recent trend in scams as it is a current focus in the US. [5:06] - Don't click the ads that pop up at the top of your search as scammers will pay money to have their ad placed there. [6:01] - Kevin shares the common things scammers will say to target those looking for student loan forgiveness. [7:20] - Scammers can also just take your information and use it to claim unemployment. [8:50] - Kevin shares some things to help protect your social security number. [11:47] - There are great opportunities to protect yourself and get to these things before someone else does. [12:44] - If a company is breached and they lose your information, they are legally required to notify you so keep your contact information updated. [13:50] - We do not have the best practices with passwords. [15:06] - It's not possible to have unique passwords that you can memorize. [16:56] - Dark web monitoring is very effective and fast. [17:50] - There are times in the past when your information could have hit the dark web before anyone knew there was a breach. [19:24] - The price of things on the dark web may indicate the level of security your account has. [22:22] - It's annoying to have to work with two factor authentication, but it is worth it. [24:38] - How do we have conversations with family members to educate them without sounding demeaning? [26:58] - When it comes to having conversations with children, the earlier the better. [31:43] - It's important to keep lines of communication open with your kids about security and privacy. [33:23] - When it comes to having a phone, Kevin has guidelines for his kids. [35:40] - Once you put something out there, it's out there forever. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest

Online predators can pretend to be anyone, any age, anywhere. We need to educate and empower our children to stay safe on their devices and not become victims. Today's guest is Titania Jordan. Titania is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life. Titania has contributed pieces to the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Huffington Post, Fox Business, Daily Mail, USA Today, Vogue, and more. Her first book Parenting in a Tech World was published in 2020 and quickly became a best seller on Amazon. She was also featured in the 2020 documentary Childhood 2.0. She frequently appears as a subject matter expert on nationally broadcast programs such as Today Show, Steve Harvey, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and many others. Show Notes: [1:14] - Titania shares her background and why she was drawn to her field. [3:07] - In her history, Titania has many childhood traumas and wants to help protect others. [5:18] - Kids have access to everything that's good but also everything that is bad and parents did not have that experience in their own childhood. [7:41] - Kids are being exposed to everything more frequently and at a younger age than ever in history. [9:50] - Parents can feel helpless because there is a fine line between controlling what their children access online and giving them the freedom to use it. [11:37] - The frequency in which negative experiences online happen to children is much higher than you think. [13:09] - Be aware of how you model technology use and talk about "tricky" people. [15:07] - It can happen anywhere, not just in social media apps. [16:21] - Titania shares some of the issues that can arise depending on the age and abilities of a child. [17:29] - There are some apps that appear as something other than what they actually are. [19:34] - Predators can be seemingly upstanding and moral people and some can also be people you know personally. [21:39] - Kid slang changes all the time and could mean something you aren't aware of. They are designed to overcome algorithms. [23:21] - Titania created a Facebook group about parenting in a tech world. [24:25] - Titania lists some of the things Bark tracks to keep kids safer online. [25:50] - It's not about keeping technology away from your child, but to go on the journey with them. [27:40] - Titania explains some of the things she talks to her son about regarding privacy [30:17] - When it comes to sharing photos of your child on social media, consider the reason you are doing so and who can see it. [33:00] - Bark is a tool, but does not replace conversations and education. [35:47] - Titania shares some of the feedback from parents who have used Bark. [38:49] - Become familiar with parental controls on all the connected devices in your home. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Bark.us Parenting in a Tech World Facebook Group Parenting in a Tech World by Titania Jordan

Taking online quizzes can be fun and entertaining. Clicking on links in emails and DMs is just plain convenient. Unfortunately, both of these can put your identity at risk for theft. Today's guest is Patrick Glennon. Patrick has over 20 years of experience in banking and consumer identity protection with roles at companies including JP Morgan Chase, Core Logic, Arthur Anderson, and eBates. He has built software and infrastructure teams from the ground up, managed not only data center cloud migrations, but also managed transitions from legacy to modern engineering standards. Show Notes: [0:55] - Patrick shares his background and his current role at IdentityIQ. [2:15] - We are putting more and more of our personal information online. [4:06] - Credit card numbers can be used for more than purchasing things with your funds. [6:06] - There is a wide variety of ways people can use your identity and every day there seem to be new ones. [8:06] - When something happens once, the same information can be used across platforms and accounts. [9:26] - Online quizzes can be used in surprising ways. [10:52] - There is some organization to the ways scammers take information. [14:56] - There's nothing we can do to prevent people from trying. But there are many things we can do to help prevent them from being successful. [16:08] - Mix it up and use different security questions on different sites. [17:48] - Don't click on links in emails or texts. [19:09] - Shred personal mail and credit card offers from the mail. [21:44] - Your information is probably out there. [23:12] - There are so many ways people can get information and then have full access to tons of things. [24:47] - If one thing is compromised, assume that everything is and take the steps to stop access. [26:54] - Depending on what happens, it could take weeks or even months to have this resolved. [28:57] - Time is a big loss for many victims, but there is also an emotional toll. [30:53] - Move to authenticator apps rather than text message two factor authentication. [32:12] - Young people will have a harder time recovering from identity theft. [33:13] - You don't just want to be educated for your sake. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest IdentityIQ Website IdentityIQ Facebook IdentityIQ on Instagram

It is fascinating to see an investigation using dark web technology showing how criminal syndicates work and the process stolen equipment goes through. Today's guest is Anthony van der Meer. Anthony is a Dutch investigative journalist and filmmaker. As a filmmaker, he has been focusing on the dark side of the digital world since 2015. For his investigations, he dives deep into the world of cyber criminals by infiltrating using OSINT and ethical hacking. He was recently a speaker at the Global Online Spam Summit on the dark web and cyber crime. Show Notes: [0:55] - Anthony shares his background and what he does in his current role. [2:12] - While working in film, he realized he really liked documentary and investigative work. [3:42] - Hacking is doing something different with a product than it's originally designed or intended for. [5:21] - Anthony describes an experience of his phone being stolen and it was done in a very professional and organized way. [7:24] - Anthony's film on this experience, called Find My Phone, went viral in 2016. [8:51] - Currently, Anthony is working on a television series. [11:03] - Scams are almost always through organized crime. [12:27] - Anthony has even found surprising rituals involved. [14:15] - He describes an experience in tricking a scammer. [16:10] - The groups of organized crime are divided into groups and are very sophisticated and structured. [18:40] - Another surprise was the extremes the scammers went through to establish a believable connection, including cyber sex. [21:14] - In another experience, the scammer in contact with Anthony even offered to have someone pick up money from his own home. [23:41] - In the end, Anthony was able to get the scammer to confess. [25:29] - Because of his work, Anthony has actually received death threats. [27:40] - Anthony shares that some scam companies are making $15,000 per month per employee. [30:01] - During Covid-19 lockdowns, some people took the new opportunity of being stuck at home for money laundering. [33:18] - There is quite a lot of cyber warfare happening in Ukraine. [36:21] - When people are eager for information, it is easy for fake news to be injected. [40:00] - There are many ways to investigate and verify information. [41:11] - OSINT techniques are now being taught to journalists. [42:24] - How are groups that are talking about these topics found? [45:01] - You can find Anthony's translated films on YouTube. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Anthony van der Meer Website Anthony van der Meer on YouTube

We've all heard of dating scams, but realizing that most of them are part of larger criminal organizations working 24/7 to manipulate and defraud you can be a bit shocking. Today's guest is Jane Lee. Jane is a Trust and Safety Architect at Sift who specializes in malicious websites, spam, misinformation, account content abuse, and payment risk. Prior to joining Sift, she was on the fraud teams at Facebook and Square and also spent some time as a private investigator. Show Notes: [1:08] - Part of Jane's responsibility at Sift is to understand new and emerging fraud trends. [2:36] - Jane gets to do the detective work she likes but in a more physically safe tech environment. [3:46] - Pig butchering scams are similar to romance scams but more advanced. [4:25] - Scammers start on dating apps and move targets to another form of messaging. [6:36] - It's called pig butchering by the scammers. [7:34] - As a dating app user, Jane noticed patterns and decided to investigate. [9:29] - Jane shares the trends in the profile photos and images on dating accounts. [11:58] - Over time, it is easy to see patterns in profiles. [13:55] - Using IP emulators is common for scammers. [15:47] - Machines are better at detecting patterns than the naked human eye. [17:26] - Fraud is largely agnostic. [18:58] - It is the same dance but with different "flavors". [20:49] - Moving over to another messaging system is one red flag. After that, love-bombing is another common indicator. [23:07] - Covid has given scammers another reasonable excuse for them to use about not being able to meet in person. [24:22] - These types of scammers also talk about investments and even screenshots of bank accounts. [26:46] - To compensate for grammar and language errors, these scammers will mention that they were born overseas. [28:50] - These scammers also may have a fake crypto exchange platform. [30:22] - Jane describes the experience of interacting with the "tech help" line of a fake crypto platform. [35:27] - Jane shares that a lot of these scammers are coming out of Southeast Asia. [36:34] - There is a very sophisticated fraud economy. [39:35] - Deep fake technology is getting more and more advanced. [42:15] - What is synthetic identity fraud? [43:55] - It is necessary to have a little less trust in people you talk to online. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Sift Website Sift Fraud Alert: Pig Butchering Blog Post

Many believe that cybersecurity is for high tech professionals only. It's important to know that employees at every level can accidentally open the door to your network. Today's guest is Roy Zur. Roy is the founder and CEO of Thrive DX for Enterprise which is a global education company committed to transforming lives through digital skills training and solutions as well as addressing the human factor of cybersecurity training. Roy is a 15 year veteran of the Israeli Defense Force where he served as a major. Roy also serves as the adjunct professor in Risk Management and Cybersecurity. He is the founder and chairman of the non-profit Israeli Institute for Policy and Legislation and a member of the Forbes Business Council. Show Notes: [1:05] - Roy shares his background in cybersecurity and the different responsibilities he's had. [2:27] - Roy describes the challenges experienced in the Israeli Defense Force. [3:55] - It's not just about the training, it's also about the screening. [6:30] - The rapid changes in cyber security makes maintaining the curriculum a challenge. [9:13] - When finding people that qualify as candidates for this learning, there is a lot to learn. Roy describes parts of the program. [11:47] - Many people are afraid of cyber security because it seems so complicated, but it is more of a human factor issue. [13:08] - There are different groups within an organization that have access to data. [14:34] - Roy defines the groups or levels of an organization. [16:11] - Software developers and engineers have a huge responsibility. [17:08] - Each group has to have an education about security and the type of skills they need will vary. [18:47] - The method of learning is also different per level. [20:21] - Giving employees the information they need and nothing more is crucial so they can spend their time working on their responsibilities. [22:12] - Training for awareness which usually includes everyone in an organization takes about 2 hours a year but people don't always take it seriously. [24:11] - Phishing simulations are very effective. Roy describes the most effective methods of training. [26:15] - Full bootcamps can be up to 500 or more hours. [27:25] - In Education, Bloom's Taxonomy plays a big role. [29:11] - When you create new knowledge, you've completed the full cycle of truly learning something. [30:58] - For most people, the motivation to complete cybersecurity training is simply for compliance. [33:12] - These trainings have to be tied into the human factor of cybersecurity. [36:36] - Small businesses are actually at more risk of being impacted more greatly by a data breach. [39:10] - On Thrive DX's website, there are a lot of great resources available. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Thrive DX Website

Talking to our aging parents about their finances can be a tough conversation. But there are ways to educate and protect our parents from being taken advantage of by scammers, charities, and other organizations without being seen as controlling or overstepping. Today's guest is Cameron Huddleston. Cameron is an author, speaker, and award-winning financial journalist. She's the Director of Education and Content at Careful, the first service built to protect and monitor aging adults' daily finances. Cameron's work has appeared in a number of publications including Forbes and The Chicago Tribune. Show Notes: [1:09] - Cameron described the experience of caring for her mother with alzheimers. She had not had a conversation with her about her finances. [2:37] - Talking to your parents about scammers is a way to open the door to more conversation about finances. [5:13] - Warn your parents about red flags because there's no way you can keep them updated on every single scam. [6:29] - As we age, we all experience some level of cognitive decline. [7:38] - Get an idea of how they are doing now so that you will be more aware of changes. [8:56] - You're not trying to pry or be nosey. This is a series of conversations that open the door to communication about finances for the future. [10:00] - Older adults are more likely to be exploited by someone they know. [11:10] - Nothing has to happen right now except the beginnings of conversations. Cameron lists some things to have in order later. [13:07] - There are things you can do to help prevent a caretaker from taking advantage of your parents. [14:35] - There are some red flags to listen for in conversations with your aging parents and/or their caretaker. [15:43] - If you are concerned about your parent's credit or finances, you can have their credit frozen and you can monitor everything for safety. [16:58] - Your parents can also sign up for services while they are healthy and add you to the monitoring account for notifications. [18:39] - Cameron shares an experience with her own mother. She was a giving person but with her alzheimers, she wound up donating money frequently. [19:51] - How can you help them get the spending on charity donations under control? [22:21] - One piece of advice for parents is to let all calls go to voicemail and don't call the numbers they called from. [24:21] - Chris describes an unusual and suspicious new text scam. How can we warn parents about the things that are out of the norm? [27:00] - If you have a parent with dementia, these warnings won't always do much good. Leave notes and reminders for them. [28:26] - Cameron describes a situation with her mother and she realized that she was no longer safe to live alone. [31:09] - There are a lot of things that parents can have in place in writing while they are relatively young and healthy. [32:33] - Cameron has a lot of great resources on her website CameronHuddleston.com. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Carefull Website Cameron Huddleston's Website

On this podcast, we talk a lot about identifying and avoiding online fraud. But in this episode, our guest is going to share his experiences tracking down the individuals, syndicates, and criminal organizations behind pet scams, how they utilize freelancers, and how they launder their ill gotten gains. Today's guest is Jack Whittaker. Jack is a Criminology PhD candidate with a specialization in published literature on online fraud. In addition, he has a proven track record of doing media interviews for local and national outlets, lectures, conference speaking, and promo consulting for policy think tanks. Show Notes: [0:54] - Welcome back to the show, Jack! Check out episode 103 with Jack on pet scams. Jack shares his background and current roles. [1:51] - What are pet scams? [3:36] - These types of scams do not actually have any pets that are being sold. [5:12] - Jack discovered the economy built behind building websites and laundering money. [6:30] - These crime organizations are typically located in Cameroon. [7:21] - Some web developers are hired freelancers to create a fraudulent website. [9:10] - All the web developers in Cameroon know that they are doing something wrong, but they are looked over. [11:05] - The civil war in Cameroon has facilitated people's willingness to participate in crime. [13:20] - CashApp and Cryptocurrency have made money laundering a lot easier for scammers. [14:31] - Syndicates are better paying clients. [15:52] - Why do people knowingly work for syndicates when they know that they are helping them defraud others? [17:28] - Scammers are now recruiting people from other countries by flaunting their money. [19:05] - Jack shares one of the more intriguing ways scammers launder money. [22:37] - Jack tells the story of a scammer who works for a syndicate and an experience he had with the police in Cameroon. [25:05] - The FBI needs to put more attention on volume crimes. Lots of people stealing small amounts of money from lots of people. [26:14] - Jack explains things to look for in listed apps that could be money laundering. [29:05] - Jack would love to see more research and interviews with cyber criminals. [30:58] - If you are doing research, there are some ethical questions to answer. [32:08] - When interviewing cybercriminals, one of the harder questions for Jack to answer was whether they should be paid for their time. [34:10] - If you want to be a good researcher in crime science, you unfortunately have to get your hands dirty. [35:51] - There is a hierarchy of different scams and cybercrime. [37:46] - In Cameroon, this type of business is accepted. [39:40] - Jack describes some of the things that he has seen sold online illegally that people don't think about being available. [41:16] - Because of the nature of purchasing things illegally, people won't report being scammed. [42:10] - Cybercriminals are 97% guaranteed to get away with their crime and in a war torn country, there's almost no chance of getting caught. [44:12] - There's a lot of confusion on who monitors domain name registrars. [46:30] - We don't know if private regulators are legally viable. [48:30] - There have been some successes that Jack shares examples of. [50:51] - Chris and Jack have the idea of paying web developers to report fraudulent sites they create. [53:50] - Cybercriminals that Jack interviewed are very desensitized to the work they're doing to hurt people. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest PetScams.com Pet Scams on Twitter Pet Scams on Instagram Scam Directory

Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, and other payment apps are convenient for sending money to family and friends. But are they really safe to be using? Today's guest is Michelle Couch-Friedman. Michelle is the founder and CEO of Consumer Rescue. She is an experienced consumer reporter, advocate, mediator, author, and licensed psychotherapist. Michelle has also been a columnist, contributing editor, and former executive director for Elliott Advocacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy. Show Notes: [1:05] - Michelle explains her role within Consumer Rescue and the mission of the company. [2:52] - About 7 years ago, Michelle had a negative consumer experience. [5:12] - Her experience led to her journey in consumer advocacy. [7:56] - Through Consumer Rescue, Michelle assists people in staying calm and logical. Stick with the facts and stand out with brevity. [9:32] - Payment apps have become the preferred method for scammers worldwide. [10:33] - Payment apps will not refund you your money if you are scammed. [12:34] - Scammers set up websites that look professional and legitimate. [13:32] - This is very common with purchasing pets online. [14:35] - There are incremental steps to increase the amount of money sent. [15:50] - The incremental steps are common in romance scams as well. [16:51] - Michelle describes what a Chargeback scam is and how it began with Venmo, but shouldn't work with Zelle. [18:59] - Don't send money back if you receive money by accident from a stranger. [21:03] - There are safety nets in place to ensure accidents don't happen. Don't be hasty. [22:42] - If you don't use a payment app or don't understand how to use it appropriately, don't have it on your phone. [24:35] - The apps are not a bank. They do not come with the same kind of protections. [26:52] - Payment apps are never going to be the preferred method of payment from any legitimate company. [28:27] - It is always a red flag when someone is trying to get you away from the website or legitimate platform. [30:48] - Look closely at websites and reverse lookup images on Google. [32:23] - Airbnb and vacation listings are common scams. [34:31] - When it comes to property listings, there are steps you can take to ensure its legitimacy. [36:37] - Alternatively, if something is listed underpriced, that could also be a red flag. [39:29] - Airbnb began as shared space rentals only. [41:10] - Make all your payments from the platform. Avoid third party payments. [42:57] - Prevention is best. Once you're in this situation, you are likely out of your money. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Consumer Rescue Website Elliott Advocacy Website Michelle Couch-Friedman on LinkedIn

With financial payment platforms used more regularly to exchange cash between individuals, scammers have become more creative in using them to defraud users. Today's guest is John Breyault. John is the National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. As the director of Fraud.org, John is a nationally recognized expert in fraud, with more than 17 years of experience in educating consumers in advocating for stronger consumer protections at the federal, state, and local levels. He is the author of Fraud.org's monthly Fraud Alert emails and NCL's bi-weekly Data Insecurity Digest. He has testified before Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and state legislatures dozens of times about fraud related topics. He is quoted regularly in the press about fraud including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Show Notes: [1:10] - John shares his background and current roles with the National Consumers League. [3:02] - John has been working in consumer advocacy for over 20 years. [4:27] - What are peer to peer payment platforms? Venmo is the most commonly used. [5:53] - The features of peer to peer payment platforms that are attractive to users are also attractive to scam artists. [7:46] - John shares the trends in what scammers have been using to get money through Western Union, Green Dot cards, and gift cards. [9:32] - More needs to be done to make security a priority. [11:09] - John explains the difference between credit card transactions and peer to peer payment platforms. [12:16] - With peer to peer platform fraud, banks can't do anything about it due to a loophole in the law. [13:38] - When this type of fraud is much more painful to experience than credit card fraud. [14:44] - A huge appeal to these platforms is that they are free. But security needs to be improved. [17:09] - There are a couple of regulations related to the connection of Venmo to a bank account. [19:19] - The responsibility has been put on users and victims to monitor and fight back against fraud. [21:47] - Scammers are very adept at creating a sense of urgency. [23:38] - John shares an example of how this sense of urgency can fool anyone. [24:34] - Cryptocurrency is the next focus of attention for those trying to prevent fraud. [26:40] - These trends tend to follow a pattern. [28:09] - One of the problems in tracking scam trends is the way data is collected. [29:23] - We need to change how we talk about fraud victims. [31:28] - Scams are run as a business these days, which make them much more convincing than in the past. [34:15] - With most overseas scams, the likelihood of getting your money back is slim. [35:50] - As a business, think about how you can make peer to peer payment apps as safe as possible? [37:35] - John shares an example of Venmo transactions that are protected and those that are not. [40:07] - A legitimate business will accept payment in other ways than only peer to peer apps. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Fraud.org National Consumers League Website John Breyault on LinkedIn

Predators look to take advantage of people during the roughest situations of life. A perpetrator of insurance fraud makes a career out of milking the system thinking it's a victimless crime. Today's guest is Officer Tony Royall. Officer Royall started in the Virginia Department of State Police in 1986. He worked in Accident Reproduction and then became an agent in Narcotics. Officer Royall has now been working in Insurance Fraud for the past 22 years. Show Notes: [0:47] - Officer Royall shares his background in law enforcement. [2:24] - Over the years, there have been a lot of wild insurance fraud cases for Officer Royall. He describes a recent one that had an unexpected twist. [4:47] - How was this insurance fraud discovered? [7:18] - One of the most prevalent insurance fraud situations is staged auto accidents. [9:01] - Officer Royall describes another case and what the result was for the perpetrator staging accidents and fabricating medical bills. [11:15] - Investigations are geared toward the people who intentionally commit crime. [12:55] - Staged accidents that are insurance fraud are usually committed by multiple people working in tandem. [13:59] - Officer Royall explains another type of insurance fraud case involving a staged slip and fall accident. [15:59] - Sometimes people take the opportunity to purposefully stage an accident in a public place. [17:54] - With every case of insurance fraud, premiums for everyone else could go up. [19:53] - There are times when the police are contacted by insurance agencies, but are mostly contacted about insurance fraud by possible victims. [21:18] - Always make sure your policy is up to date and periodically check on things to be sure it's active. [22:13] - Read the policy and what is covered. [23:14] - Keep an inventory of high ticket items in your home and business including serial numbers. Documentation is extremely helpful in the event of fraud. [25:20] - Catastrophic events create opportunities for perpetrators trying to solicit. [26:15] - If you find yourself in an automobile accident, take photos of the damage of both cars and document details. [28:02] - How can you document details of an accident? [29:21] - Be diligent and make as much information known as possible. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest

The instinct to respond immediately to incorrect, negative, or hurtful comments online almost seems to be hardwired. How we respond can lead to unintended detrimental consequences and lead us down a dark path. Today's guest is Dr. Robin Kowalski. Dr. Kowalski is a professor of Psychology at Clemson University. She obtained her PhD in Social Psychology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her research interests focus primarily on adverse interpersonal behaviors, most notably complaining, teasing, and bullying with a particular focus on cyberbullying. Show Notes: [0:57] - Welcome to the show, Dr. Kowalski! She shares her focus on cyberbullying and how she found herself interested in this research. [2:27] - Traditional bullying is intended and repeated aggressive behavior. Cyberbullying is similar but there are some differences. [4:24] - Perceived anonymity in the online world gives bullies a great deal of power. [5:42] - People who are involved in traditional bullying tend to also participate in cyberbullying. [7:05] - There are many different reasons why someone bullies another either traditionally or virtually. [9:18] - In the virtual world, anyone can be a victim and anyone can be a perpetrator. [10:31] - Cyberbullying can take several different forms. [11:56] - If it happens once, simply walk away and don't respond. But what happens if it keeps happening? [13:10] - Young people may not want to be honest with their parents out of fear that their technology might be taken away from them. [15:29] - The feelings involved with cyberbullying range from anxiety to suicidal ideation. [17:22] - Academic issues become a problem as well, even though cyberbullying takes place off of school grounds. [18:58] - Robin describes "mattering" and how this can impact youth in school. [20:38] - Social isolation is a warning sign for a lot of things. Parents need to be on the lookout and open up lines of communication. [22:40] - Anonymous reporting needs to be present, effective, and people need to be educated. [23:51] - Cyberbullying is not limited to youth. It happens in the workplace as well. [26:47] - Through Covid-19, prevalence rates did not change as much as Robin expected. [29:15] - If we receive something negative, Robin advises to pause before responding emotionally. [30:55] - There's such a familiarity with technology that it has become normalized to cyberbullying. [32:57] - Suicide is a possible and horrible result of cyberbullying. [35:05] - There's a more permanent feeling to cyberbullying. [36:32] - Employers can also search for evidence of behavior patterns in potential employees. [38:57] - Education is key and victims speaking out about their experience helps people understand the impact. [41:42] - Robin shares about a time she experienced some level of cyberbullying. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Clemson University - Dr. Robin Kowalski Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age by Dr. Robin Kowalski

Smishing texts have increased over 60% in just one year. With scammers spoofing caller ID, how can you trust any communication coming onto your phone? Today's guest is Giulia Porter. Giulia is the Vice President of RoboKiller, the app that eliminates 99% of spam calls. Since 2017, Giulia has been leading RoboKiller's vision to create a world without spam calls. And now more recently with spam texts, they've introduced Text Killer. Show Notes: [1:04] - Giulia shares her background and why she was led to a career with cyber security. [2:24] - Caller ID spoofing is when a scammer changes what number comes up on your phone when they call. There is also neighbor spoofing. [4:30] - Technology has allowed scammers to call from any number, including your own. [5:54] - Scammers try to stay ahead of trends. [6:30] - Stir/Shaken is a framework designed to help stop spam call problems. [8:12] - Most United States phone providers did implement this. [10:10] - Giulia explains how this framework works and some of the pitfalls it has. [12:08] - As of May, we are at about 6.5 billion estimated spam calls in the United States per day. About 35-40% of those use caller ID spoofing. [13:19] - Spam texts are on the rise having experienced a 60% increase in one year. [15:01] - Text Killer tries to distinguish between spam and unwanted texts. [16:21] - Giulia describes a court case against Facebook that changed the landscape of notification texts. [18:01] - Some people have a "burner phone" with a separate number that they use for accounts that require a phone number. [21:03] - Giulia shares some of the scams that were trending in the last couple of years and what scammers were targeting. [22:20] - In 2022, there has been an increase in illicit spam texts. [24:27] - Don't tap links in texts or reply to them. Delete the text. [26:18] - Thinking about your phone number in a more serious way is a way to be more aware of how many people have access to it. [27:56] - Chris shares something you can do about your personally identifiable information online. [29:20] - RoboKiller and Text Killer use AI and machine learning to analyze calls and texts to stop them from reaching you. [30:50] - You can talk to your carrier to find what protection they offer. [32:01] - Another concern is lobbyists paying providers to have select campaign texts to come through. [33:13] - You can report spam texts and notify your carrier. [34:52] - How does Robo and Text Killer make sure the numbers and texts that are blocked are accurate? [38:12] - RoboKiller has to work with different providers and that creates challenges when they all function slightly differently. [40:38] - The next wave of scams are through apps like WhatsApp and Messenger. [43:12] - Organizations need to also consider how much they lose to scams posing as them. [45:12] - RoboKiller is available online as well in the app store on iPhones and Android. There are free services and premium. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest RoboKiller Website

Can understanding someone's digital footprint really make it easier for it to predict what they'll be doing using AI? Today's guest is Daniel Hulme. Daniel has a PhD in Computational Complexity and works in the field of AI, applied technology, and ethics. He is the CEO and founder of Satalia, a Tedx speaker, and educator at Singularity University. Show Notes: [0:50] - Daniel has already been interested in how humans behave and describes how he got into AI. [2:05] - AI gets grouped into technology but there are a lot of different types of AI. [3:50] - The ultimate goal of AI is to have computers make decisions and learn from the decisions, but that's not commonplace right now. [5:31] - Someone's digital footprint can be used to learn a lot about them. [6:51] - The challenges that we are facing with AI are not ethical challenges, they are safety issues. [8:29] - AI is super complex and is becoming more difficult to test. [10:03] - AI's learning isn't usually the problem. It's the framework put in place. [11:36] - Machine learning is a generalization of the world which can create biases. [14:26] - Building explainable systems is incredibly important. [16:20] - Daniel gives an example of how AI can use data but why human decisions are still important. [18:16] - It's much more cost effective to have simple solutions than complex ones. [20:35] - What is the effect of building a super intelligence? We don't know. Daniel explains the singularities involved. [21:45] - These technologies are replacing people in completing some tasks. This is arguably a good or bad thing, depending on how you think about it. [23:47] - There are different safeguards against each of these singularities. [24:56] - Daniel shares what he thinks will be the solution. [28:07] - Who is going to make this "glorious future"? [29:36] - As AI takes the roles of employees in some companies, Daniel believes it will balance out again. [32:01] - There are jobs that may be impacted more than others. [33:46] - Something else that Daniel thinks may happen is a new economic structure. [35:12] - The highest cost for many organizations is human labor. [36:42] - There's a possible paradigm shift that will have to change the way we think about work and money. [39:30] - Daniel is optimistic that we're headed in the right direction. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Satalia Website Daniel Hulme on Twitter Daniel Hulme on LinkedIn

Advertisements can manipulate us and depict a product that doesn't actually work. The challenge is knowing if the technology does what they say it does. Today's guest is Ken from Computer Clan. Ken, or commonly known as Crazy Ken, has been running the Computer Clan YouTube channel since September of 2007. He posts tech videos about rare and retro tech, new tech, and even has a series about scammy tech products. Whether you are a tech whiz or a beginner, it doesn't matter. Ken will bring the knowledge, science, entertainment, and even debunk a few scams along the way. Show Notes: [0:51] - Computer Clan is one of the longest running tech focused YouTube channels. Ken shares the channel's background. [2:28] - The channel is celebrating its 15th anniversary and now is Ken's full time job. [3:06] - Ken shared how a tech product advertisement gave him the idea to debunk false advertisements in videos. [4:27] - When he was younger, Ken made a purchase and experienced the disappointment of advertisements that promise more than they offer. [7:38] - A big red flag to look for is the cheesy video ad that promises things that seem miraculous. [8:40] - Another ad feature that can be used ethically, but can also be abused are those fake countdown timers on websites. [9:47] - Review sections of a product are not always accurate. If you take a closer look, some of the comments are the same. [11:45] - If there is a bad experience, even if there isn't a review, people do tell their friends. Be careful about perfect reviews. [12:37] - Ken shares a story about ads that steal video footage from other companies. [14:10] - There are a lot of ways to find stock footage, but many fake ads pull footage from copyrighted material. [16:57] - Some of the products might not be odd, but Ken says that some of the clickbait ads are strange. [18:21] - In the early days of Covid, people took advantage to create ads that claim more than is possible. [20:25] - Ken shares some products that he thought would be a scam that actually turned out to work fine, but the ads were misleading. [22:40] - During his videos, Ken even sometimes has a fire extinguisher handy. [24:19] - Urgency could be a red flag. [25:30] - Ken shares some of the products he is looking at to debunk the ad and the product. [27:20] - The educational element of the Computer Clan YouTube channel can show you that although not all products are fake, they may not be what you need. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest The Computer Clan's New Upcoming Website Computer Clan YouTube Computer Clan on Twitter

Working from home has increased the ability for cyber criminals to exploit companies. Listen on for how to be sure that the email you received isn't from someone impersonating someone else. Today's guest is Eric O'Neill. Eric is a security expert and author that presents keynotes internationally about espionage, national security, cyber security, fraud, corporate diligence and defense, and of course, hacking. Eric has worked as an FBI counterterrorism and counterintelligence operative, national security attorney, and a corporate security consultant. He founded The Georgetown Group, a premier investigative and security business firm. Eric is also the national security strategist for Carbon Black, the leader in next gen endpoint security and serves on the general council for global communities and international security. Show Notes: [1:05] - Eric shares his background and how he got involved in cybersecurity. He describes his previous role in the FBI. [2:47] - Moving on after his career in the FBI, Eric currently wears many different hats in various roles. [4:58] - Using his interest in hacking, he was able to catch the biggest FBI spy in history. [6:48] - Everything changed about how we work since the pandemic. [7:46] - In many cases, people were working and kids were learning from mobile devices. We weren't ready for this to happen. [9:09] - The massive increase in people working from home, increased the number of attacks. [10:25] - Eric shares some statistics of reported cyber attacks in the last couple of years. [11:38] - Romance scams are the second-highest attack trend since the start of the pandemic. [12:50] - One of the positives that came from this change to remote, is in hiring talent from around the world. [14:10] - Eric thinks we will see more scams of people impersonating CEOs or higher ups in a company. [16:27] - Passwords are useless without multi-factor authentication. [18:03] - SMS authentication isn't great, but it's better than nothing. [19:53] - Eric shares how people can mine data they purchase from the dark web and how easy it could be. [22:48] - Cyber criminals want to take down an entire critical infrastructure. [24:42] - Criminals are getting much more clever in throwing people into chaos by attacking critical infrastructure. [25:32] - Eric believes that cyber attacks will be the method of attack in the next major war. [28:05] - He uses the example of the colonial pipeline to demonstrate what chaos these attacks can create. [30:10] - There is some speculation of possible attacks on critical infrastructure and the possibility of them maintaining presence. [33:19] - Chris shares the issues with power in his area. [35:25] - Jokingly but accurately, Eric shares that your children are great hackers. [38:42] - Some apps change the location of numbers for entering a PIN so people can't pick up patterns. [40:54] - There are some medical devices that could be compromised. [42:50] - The average person doesn't think about the ways someone can have malicious intent. [44:41] - Cyber espionage is definitely a problem, but cybercrime is what the average person needs to be aware of. [46:09] - Don't click on links. Known vulnerabilities are the most commonly successful attack. [48:20] - The Dark Web is the third largest economy in the world. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Eric O'Neill's Website Eric O'Neill on Twitter Eric O'Neill on LinkedIn

The thought of your computer getting a virus implies something biological, but the fear of infection is real. Are there prevention techniques that you need to be implementing now? Today's guest is Ran Levi. Ran has been podcasting since 2007 and started with a podcast regarding history and technology. He is the co-founder of PI Media LTD, helping other people do podcasts. He is the editor and host of the popular podcast Malicious Life that tells the stories of the histories of cyber security with commentary by hackers, security experts, journalists, and politicians. Show Notes: [1:02] - Ran is a podcaster from Israel and he shares his background and podcast beginning. [2:18] - Through podcasting, Ran was asked to begin another podcast about cyber security which was a topic he was passionate about. [4:36] - Knowledge is important but the stories are the key to an impactful podcast. [5:56] - In the early days, pirating games and media was commonplace and through personal experience, Ran became very interested in the history of cyber security. [7:03] - Cyber security professionals are used to the idea of autonomous software, but for the public at large this is a weird idea. [8:50] - The terms used in cyber security suggest something biological and can be confusing. [10:45] - People have rediscovered how to create and replicate computer viruses hundreds of times over the decades. [12:54] - Computers and emotions intersect when it comes to scammers and viruses. [13:35] - Ran shares one of his favorite cyber security history stories from Israel. [14:48] - The feeling of anonymity is something very appealing about the internet. [16:08] - One of Ran's favorite interviews was with Steve Wozniak. [18:25] - Some hackers decide to go commercial. [20:14] - Ran shares the wildest story revolving around the Equifax breach. [22:02] - AI has extreme potential and we haven't seen its impact yet in cyber security. [23:31] - The human element is sometimes easy to detect a scam, but when AI learns to scam, things can get scary. [25:41] - Right now, the script or content from AI is written by people. [26:33] - You can easily gather a lot of information about almost anyone. [29:04] - Ran says never to trust an organization with your information. [30:06] - Working on his show and writing his book has created some level of cynicism. [31:20] - Things used to be a lot more "fun" online without being as fearful of being hacked. [32:28] - Scam calls are not as common in non-English speaking countries. [34:42] - Social media isn't evil. But the scammers are using organizations like Facebook and others to help them gather the data they need to scam you. [36:47] - For many companies, client data is a liability. [40:05] - For every modern company, information is their lifeblood. [42:03] - Ran shares the story of, as a newer employee of a company, he was able to get into systems he shouldn't have been able to access. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Ran Levi on Twitter Malicious Life Podcast