Easy Prey
Understanding our cognitive biases can help us realize that we sometimes are too trusting of emails, texts, or calls from someone we perceive to be an authority. Today’s guest is Martina Dove. Martina is a researcher with a fervent passion for fraud prevention. Her expertise focuses on persuasion, scam techniques, and individual characteristics that make people susceptible to fraud. She is passionate about fighting fraud by teaching people how to spot scammer techniques and has recently published a book on fraud psychology. Show Notes: [0:50] - Martina shares her background in...
info_outline Hacker Tactics with John HammondEasy Prey
The tech world is ever-changing and it can be difficult to keep up. As businesses and individuals, it's important to remember to keep your software up to date and apply patches as they are released. Today’s guest is John Hammond. John is a cybersecurity researcher, educator, and content creator. As part of the Adversary Tactics Teams at Huntress, John spends his days analyzing malware and making hackers earn their access. He is an online YouTube personality showcasing program tutorials, malware analysis, dark web threats, and other cybersecurity content. Show Notes: [1:01] - John shares...
info_outline Top 5 Supply Chain Risks with Kevin KumpfEasy Prey
As businesses embrace digital transformation and rely on interconnected networks for their operations, the vulnerabilities within the digital supply chain become increasingly apparent. From data breaches to third party vulnerabilities, the threats are multi-faceted and ever-evolving. Today’s guest is Kevin Kumpf. Kevin has more than 20 years of IT Security and Compliance experience including over 10 years of cybersecurity, governance, and critical infrastructure experience working in the energy, medical manufacturing, transportation, and fedramp realms. Show Notes: [0:54] - Kevin...
info_outline The Risks and Rewards of Cryptocurrencies with Natalie BrunellEasy Prey
There are significant risks to be aware of when using crypto and over the past two years, many tokens have imploded. As you choose to invest digitally, do your research and understand the commodity that you use. Today’s guest is Natalie Burnell. Natalie is the host of the #1 woman-led show in the bitcoin space, Coin Stories. She is a bitcoin educator, a frequent media commentator, and an award-winning journalist. Show Notes: [0:50] - Natalie shares her background and the mission behind the Coin Stories Podcast. [2:19] - Learning about bitcoin gave Natalie a little more hope as she...
info_outline Tax Scams with Richard GilbertEasy Prey
In this episode, we uncover the intricate web of tax-related scams that prey on unsuspecting individuals every year. From phishing emails promising tax refunds to elaborate identity theft schemes, join us as we expose tactics used by scammers to exploit fear and ignorance during tax season. Today’s guest is Richard Gilbert. Richard is the Director of the Examination Division with the North Carolina Department of Revenue. He has been with the department for over 25 years. He is a licensed CPA and has received his Bachelor’s of Business Administration from North Carolina Central University....
info_outline Virtual Kidnapping with Titania JordanEasy Prey
In this episode, we shine a light on the sinister phenomenon of virtual kidnapping. From deceptive phone calls to the psychological manipulation tactics, join us as we delve into the dark world where fears are exploited for profit, leaving victims shaken and families torn apart. Today’s guest is Titania Jordan. Titania is a nationally renowned tech, social media, and family expert who has appeared on programs such as the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, and more. She is the author and founder of Parenting in a Tech World and serves as Chief Parent Officer of the online...
info_outline Balancing Privacy, Security, and Accountability with Kurt LongEasy Prey
In this episode, we navigate the ever evolving landscape of messaging app dynamics, examining the challenges and opportunities in striking the right balance between preserving user privacy, ensuring robust security measures, and maintaining accountability in an ever changing digital landscape. Today’s guest is Kurt Long. Kurt is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in starting, growing, and building Information Security and Privacy businesses. Kurt is the Executive Director of The Long Family Force for Good Foundation which focuses on supporting not-for-profits dedicated to...
info_outline 5 Alerts to Prevent Identity Theft with Paige HansonEasy Prey
The fundamentals of scams are the same. However the technology used is increasingly more clever. It is important to know how to spot identity theft and credit card fraud and where to report it if and when it happens. Today’s guest is Paige Hanson. Paige is an authority in consumer and digital safety with nearly 20 years of experience in identity management. As co-founder and Head of Communications and Partnerships at Secure Labs, Paige has dedicated her career to protecting consumers and businesses from identity theft and cyber threats. She is a certified Identity Theft Risk Management...
info_outline Advances in Everyday Tech with Leo LaporteEasy Prey
Advances in technology are increasing at a rate we’ve never experienced before. Many will need to decide how much privacy they’re willing to give up for the sake of convenience and the impact that AI will have on that decision. Today’s guest is Leo Laporte. Leo is a broadcaster, author, tech pundit, the former host of The Tech Guy weekly radio show, and the founder and host of Twit.tv which is a podcast network focused on technology. Show Notes: [1:20] - Leo has been in broadcasting since 1976. He explains how he got into the industry. [5:02] - Eventually, Leo found himself learning...
info_outline Financial Exploitation of Older Adults with Joyce PetrowskiEasy Prey
Our golden generation, rich with wisdom and experience, unfortunately often finds itself in the crosshairs of deceitful schemes. In today’s episode, we shine a spotlight on the tactics employed by scammers, share real-life anecdotes, and provide practical advice to help safeguard our beloved seniors. Today’s guest is Joyce Petrowski. Joyce started her professional career in the public accounting sector and is an accountant and tax preparer. As an avid volunteer and philanthropist, she shares her focus on the non-profit sector and co-founded a non-profit in 2014. Since leaving that...
info_outlineIn 2020 and 2021, the scam that impacted the largest number of people was done through online purchases. Either you or someone you know may very well have been scammed. Today’s guest is Melissa Trumpower. Melissa Trumpower is the Executive Director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, the Educational Foundation of the Better Business Bureau. Melissa is the co-author of several research reports, including the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, the BBB Online Purchase and Employment and Small Business Scam Reports. She has more than 30 years of leadership experience working with not-for-profit, has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from John Hopkins University.
Show Notes:
- [1:01] - Welcome to the show, Melissa! Melissa shares her current role with BBB and the mission of the organization.
- [2:05] - Scam trackers from the BBB were created in 2015 to be really intentional and specific to track data on threats.
- [3:30] - Melissa explains why she was drawn to this position with BBB.
- [5:09] - Due to Covid, more people were online in 2020 and 2021 and online purchasing scams were the riskiest.
- [6:25] - The BBB utilizes a risk index that looks at more than just the most prevalent of scams.
- [7:23] - Online purchase scams don’t involve a lot of money per individual target, but they are riskiest because of how many of them are extremely believable.
- [8:37] - Online purchase scams are simple. You purchase an item from a website or an ad and you never receive the item.
- [9:45] - Be aware that you can come across fake websites in your web searches as well.
- [10:46] - Melissa shares things to look for in sites that you have never purchased from before.
- [11:56] - Don’t do anything rash especially if you feel like something is off.
- [13:03] - The method of payment can be a red flag.
- [14:21] - Crypto is also increasingly used in online purchase scams.
- [16:43] - Be very careful even when sending crypto to someone you know and be certain you are sending it to the right person.
- [17:04] - Employment scams are another top scam for the third year in a row.
- [19:24] - Employment scams average a loss of over $900 per target.
- [20:38] - Some job listings, especially on Craigslist, tend to be very vague and promising.
- [22:55] - The other two top scams are home improvement scams and investment scams.
- [24:24] - If you are investing money, do the research before making decisions. Melissa gives examples of what you can do to ensure safety.
- [27:25] - Scammers do sometimes also pose as legitimate companies.
- [28:02] - Don’t believe everything you see or read. Be cautious.
- [29:28] - Another element BBB is looking at is the non-financial impact of scams.
- [30:42] - The highest scam for susceptibility is the moving scam.
- [32:29] - Consumers often read reviews and it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a real or fake review.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.