From Fake Stores to AI Scams: Your Holiday Cyber Safety Guide

02/12/2025 35 min Temporada 1 Episodio 13
From Fake Stores to AI Scams: Your Holiday Cyber Safety Guide

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Episode Synopsis

The festive rush is a gift to scammers: more shopping, more parcels, more “urgent” messages. We unpack the most common cons hitting inboxes and phones right now and show you how a short pause and a few simple checks can save your money and identity. From fake storefronts promoted through social ads to parcel “held at customs” texts, we explain how to verify senders, match domains, and trace your original order details so you never have to click blind.We also dive into charity impersonations that mimic trusted brands and campaign tools. You’ll learn a safer donation flow that bypasses risky links altogether, plus quick ways to spot hidden URLs and domain tricks on desktop and mobile. At work and at home, gift card scams remain a favourite: we outline the classic “CEO request,” the two-step verification that kills it, and why retailers warn customers at checkout. For tax season, we break down ATO-themed lures that play on your expectations and emotions, and we share a simple system to catch fraudulent credit checks early with credit file alerts.Scammers are levelling up with AI: voice-cloned calls and realistic video can sound and look like someone you love. We offer a practical defence you can set up at dinner tonight—a family code word—and we close with three cyber habits that outperform any gadget: keep devices and apps updated, use unique long passwords with a manager, and enable MFA or passkeys everywhere. If you’ve ever wondered what to do after you accidentally click, we cover that too: scans, resets, and when to call a pro.If this helped you feel more prepared for the holiday season, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a friendly heads-up, and leave a quick review to help others find us.Since recording the free credit service is no longer available. If you are still interested in protecting your credit identity visit here for more info