Strap in, listeners, Scotty here—your favorite scam-sleuth and cyber-sidekick—and let’s jump right into the digital jungle, because the news on scams this week is wilder than a phishing email promising you unlimited crypto riches from “Prince Elon” himself.
Just days ago, the University of Pennsylvania revealed that over 1.2 million personal records got compromised when a crafty cyber goon used social engineering—think fake emails or phone calls pretending to be someone they’re not. Why did it work? The attackers bypassed accounts without multifactor authentication. So this is your cue: if you’re not rocking MFA, you’re pretty much leaving your digital door wide open.
Meanwhile, hospitality is under siege as Booking.com gets hammered by a relentless phishing blitz. Hackers are posing as hotel guests or managers, firing off emails that whisk victims away to login pages as real as Monopoly money—and just as worthless for your wallet. One click, and they’re nailed by ransomware with a side of credential theft. Lesson: When in doubt, don’t click that “urgent” link.
Speaking of massive cons, did you see the reports on “pig butchering” crypto scams? No, they’re not coming for your bacon—it’s scammer jargon for fattening you up with fake friendship or romance before cleaning out your crypto wallet. Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney, unveiled the new Scam Center Strike Force, aimed at dismantling Southeast Asian syndicates running these schemes—some so cruel they involve trafficking workers, trapping them in scam compounds where they target Americans. Billions lost, lives shattered, and shockingly, the US just sanctioned the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and others for running these “offices” out of places like Burma.
On the tech front, Google is unleashing legal hell on a Chinese outfit called “Lighthouse,” which runs a “phishing-as-a-service” that’s enabled text and site scams from New York to Nevada DMV, stealing millions of credit cards’ data. Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, is leading a RICO lawsuit against “Doe” criminals, hoping to make it so risky for scammers that setting up a phishing site is more trouble than it’s worth.
But let’s get practical, because AI scams are everywhere—cloning voices, impersonating your boss, and pushing bogus VPNs. Google’s Trust & Safety team warns fake job postings, review extortion, and even “holiday scams” are peaking. FBI data shows crypto investment scams alone drained $10 billion last year from Americans, a number scarier than your bank balance after Black Friday.
How do you win at this? Use strong passwords, enable MFA, keep devices updated, avoid public Wi-Fi for anything sensitive, and remember: Any payment method someone insists must be crypto, wire transfer, or gift card? That’s a neon “SCAM AHEAD” sign. Slow down, verify independently, and talk about scams with friends and family—especially as the holidays approach.
That’s the download from Scotty! Smash that subscribe button, send this episode to someone you want to keep safe, and remember: for every new scam, there’s a way to outsmart it—if you know what’s coming. Thanks for tuning in! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
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