Hey listeners, it’s Scotty, your tech detective with a passion for unmasking scams, hacking hype, and keeping you one step ahead in cyberspace. The last few days have delivered a cyber-tsunami of scams, from headline-making arrests to hot-off-the-press warnings—so hang tight as I break it all down, with no encrypted jargon, just real talk.

Let’s cut right to the chase: Social media and online marketplaces are war zones right now. Malwarebytes announced just yesterday that 27 percent of people get hit with scams daily on social platforms, and 15 percent on online marketplaces—think Facebook Marketplace, Instagram DMs, even your favorite influencer’s latest “deal.” The holiday rush makes scammers bolder, with fake ads, cloned brands, and delivery scams buzzing from all angles. It’s a billion-dollar text message grift out there, folks—so don’t click that “track your package” link unless you’re sure it’s legit.

And the crooks? It’s not just faceless bots. In Poughkeepsie, New York, Guiming Zhu from Brooklyn was busted this past weekend after posing as an FBI agent to scam a senior during in-person cash exchanges. Similar moves played out in De Soto, where a scammer claimed ties to Social Security and the FBI, ultimately swindling a woman out of $30,000 before being nabbed during a money pickup. Law enforcement says it loud: The FBI or local police will NEVER ask you to withdraw and hand over cash, period.

Let’s talk about the scary “digital arrest” scheme out of Bhopal, India, where cybercriminals convinced an elderly couple that they were linked to terrorists. Imagine—nearly 24 hours of psychological manipulation, nonstop calls, and over $80,000 transferred under duress. Scammers prey on fear, fake urgency, and the authority of law enforcement. If someone says you have a warrant, missed jury duty, or must avoid arrest by paying up, hit pause! Saratoga County just reported a victim forking over $10,000 via Apple Pay to a scammer impersonating a deputy. Urgency is the red flag—always call the real agency before moving a dime.

On the tech front, scammers are leveling up with generative AI. According to Bitdefender, phishing scams now dominate, with social media overtaking email as the crooks’ favorite playground. Deepfake voices and cloned celebrity posts are luring people to malware sites—if you see Taylor Swift offering you free tickets on some random link, expect ransomware, not a concert invite.

So how do you keep your data and dollars safe? Always shop from trusted sites—look for HTTPS, double-check the URL, and if some deal screams “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE,” trust your instincts. Use strong, unique passwords on every account, enable two-factor authentication, and run security software with automatic updates. Never send money or sensitive info to someone just because they sound official on the phone. And if you get a surprise text about a delivery or a request for payment info, go straight to the source—never through the link provided.

Thanks for tuning in, stay alert out there, and do yourself a favor by subscribing for more Scam-busting insights. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI