• Cyber-Sleuth Scotty Unveils the Dark Underbelly of Online Scams: How to Protect Yourself

  • Apr 13 2025
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

Cyber-Sleuth Scotty Unveils the Dark Underbelly of Online Scams: How to Protect Yourself

Listen for free

View show details

  • Summary

  • Hey hey, it’s your favorite cyber-sleuth Scotty, back on the grid with the latest and greatest—or I should say the worst—scam stories that have hit the headlines this week. And trust me, folks, the grifters are out in full force. So buckle in while I walk you through some of the internet’s nastiest underbellies, and how not to end up in their traps.

    First up, let’s talk about the Canadian teen who thought he was in a Hollywood heist movie. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Gonsalves from Ontario was arrested just three days ago after being linked to a wave of deepfake voice scams. Yep, he allegedly used AI-generated versions of family members' voices—think "Hi Grandma, it’s me!"—to trick relatives into wiring money. In one case, he fooled a woman into sending over $4,200 thinking her grandson was in jail. The only bars he’s near now are probably the metal kind.

    And speaking of AI-fueled madness, there's a growing scam trend right now called “Virtual Kidnapping 2.0.” This one is straight-up dystopian. Scammers are using the target’s own social media, then layering in AI voice cloning to call a parent and fake a kidnapping situation. They’ll scream, cry, and even say your exact name to demand ransom. Authorities in California and Florida have seen a spike in these calls just last week. The FBI's advice? Always establish family safe words and never post too much personal data online.

    Meanwhile, over in London, UK police nabbed a trio behind a massive crypto scam that stole over £6 million using fake investment websites. The crew used platforms that looked like real companies—slick branding and all—and promised insane returns. Spoiler: no returns, just good ol’ fashioned theft. The ringleader, a charming 29-year-old named Aaron Patel, was arrested at Heathrow as he tried to hop a flight to Dubai. Nice try, Aaron.

    Let’s not forget the classic phishing scams, which have gotten sneaky fancy. Security researchers at Proofpoint warned this week about a new Microsoft OneDrive phishing campaign. Emails look like legit shared doc links—but click it, and it’s game over. Victims are redirected to a fake Microsoft login page, credentials are stolen, and boom—you’re compromised. Always double-check the sender’s email, and if you're not expecting a file, don't click it.

    So what can you do to stay ahead of this digital doom? One: delete outdated personal posts—it’s gold for scammers. Two: use multi-factor authentication like your digital life depends on it, because spoiler—it does. And three: keep your software and brainware updated. Scams evolve fast, and so should you.

    That’s your scam brief for now! Stay skeptical, stay secure, and for the love of bandwidth—if it smells fishy, it’s probably phishing. Scotty out.
    Show more Show less
Show more Show less
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup

What listeners say about Cyber-Sleuth Scotty Unveils the Dark Underbelly of Online Scams: How to Protect Yourself

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available