Hey listeners, Scotty here, your favorite cyber-sleuth and digital scam buster. Somehow, each week I think scams can’t possibly get more bizarre, but then the internet proves me wrong. Let’s get right to it, because this October isn’t just about pumpkin spice and tech upgrades—scammers are brewing up some of their most sophisticated schemes ever.
Top of the newsflash: artificial intelligence is now the scammer’s tool of choice. AI-powered phishing is running wild—criminals can whip up perfectly crafted emails or even voice messages that sound just like your boss or your bank, all with a sprinkle of deepfake magic. F-Secure’s latest bulletin warns that phishing websites generated with tools like Lovable can fool even savvy users. And that’s not just emails—imagine calling what you think is Delta Airlines or your bank, only to reach a scammer sitting in a basement with a stolen IVR script.
Just last week, Zhudi Chen was busted in Springdale Township, Pennsylvania for posing as a federal agent and convincing a retiree to cash out $130,200 “to help catch criminals.” Plot twist: Chen was the criminal, not the hero, and the FBI snagged him in a sting when he showed up to collect gold. Seriously, if anyone ever asks you to move money or gold to “protect” it, hang up and call your bank directly.
Those “wrong number” text scams are soaring, like some digital version of catfishing. You might get a text saying, “Hey, is this John?”—and pretty soon you’re roped into a financial trap. According to Mercer Advisors, losses from job offer scams have tripled since 2020, with over $220 million lost just in the first half of this year. If you get a dreamy remote job offer before your first real chat—step back. Scammers love fake job offers almost as much as they love romantic messages with AI-generated selfies.
Romance scams are at their highest point in six years—scammers prey on lonely hearts everywhere, pushing “urgent” requests for money using deepfake photos and elaborate love stories. FBI data last year had losses at $652 million and, no surprise, the numbers are still climbing.
QR codes? Those are the new digital banana peels. Scammers leave them around everywhere—on posters, flyers, even fake parking tickets. Scan the wrong one and you’re sent to a criminal’s trap site. Voice cloning is booming, too. Just imagine your manager “calling” to demand a transfer, when it’s actually an AI imposter.
Pro tips: never trust a link, call, or QR code you didn’t expect; always check with the source using a verified method. Banks like PNC urge you to call them direct, not the number in a sketchy text. Use two-factor authentication, and remember—the IRS doesn’t text, and your true love won’t ask you for crypto.
Stay sharp out there! Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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