Hey listeners, Scotty here, and boy do we have a wild week in the scam world to unpack. So grab your coffee because things are getting spicy out there on the internet.

Let's kick off with something massive. Just yesterday, international authorities coordinated what they're calling Operation Chargeback, and let me tell you, this is the kind of takedown that makes my security-loving heart sing. Eighteen suspects got arrested across nine countries in a fraud scheme that's honestly mind-blowing in scale. We're talking about over three hundred million euros in damages, which is roughly three hundred and forty-five million dollars for those keeping score at home. These criminals had created fake websites pretending to be dating services, pornography platforms, and video streaming sites. They generated nineteen million fake subscriptions and hit credit cards from a hundred and ninety-three different countries. The prosecutor literally mentioned that North Korea was on that list, and even he seemed shocked. The scammers were incredibly clever, keeping charges under fifty euros to avoid triggering fraud alerts. Between two thousand sixteen and twenty twenty-one, they stole credit card data and laundered about one hundred and fifty million euros through shell companies registered in places like Cyprus and the UK.

Now, closer to home for many listeners, TSB bank just released data showing purchase fraud is exploding as we head into Black Friday and Christmas shopping season. They're seeing an eleven percent year-on-year increase in purchase scams, with victims losing an average of four hundred and fifty-two pounds per incident. Here's the kicker: sixty-three percent of all bank transfer fraud they're seeing is purchase-related fraud. Facebook is the number one platform where these scams originate, accounting for three-fifths of all their reported cases, followed by Instagram at twelve percent and WhatsApp at eleven percent. Scammers are targeting everything from concert tickets and gaming consoles to pet deposits, which has spiked notably this year.

But here's what really matters for you: stop clicking links in emails, avoid shopping on unfamiliar websites without research, and if a deal seems too good to be true, it absolutely is. Legitimate government websites end in dot gov, not dot com or dot org. And never, ever send money via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to someone claiming to be law enforcement or a government agency. That's literally never happening with real authorities.

Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Make sure you subscribe for more cyber security insights.

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