Beware the Latest Cyber Scams: Phishing, Smishing, and More cover art

Beware the Latest Cyber Scams: Phishing, Smishing, and More

Beware the Latest Cyber Scams: Phishing, Smishing, and More

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 Listeners, Scotty here—your cyber scam sleuth, always ready to dive into the latest digital deceptions. If you’ve been anywhere near an inbox, text message, or search engine this week, you’ve been in the danger zone. Let’s go straight to the hot scams making waves around the globe right now.

First up, the “Mail Service 2025” email scam is the phishing flavor of the week. According to PCRisk security researchers, these emails look like official notices telling you there are undelivered messages awaiting you. The bait? Click an “Accept Delivery Now” button, and you’re launched straight to a convincing Gmail clone where scammers scoop up your login details. Give them an inch and they end up with your email, bank, and social media accounts—sometimes even selling your data to other criminals. It all starts with a click, so always pause before following mysterious links in your inbox.

Now, if you thought phony emails were bad, let’s talk about “smishing.” The Canadian Competition Bureau is raising alarms about scam texts popping up everywhere. These aren’t your average “Congrats, you won!” messages. Now it’s “There’s an unpaid highway toll,” or “Your account’s been compromised—verify now.” The goal is always to rush you into panic mode so you click a bad link. Remember: never trust texts from unknown numbers, and never, ever tap their links. If you’re worried, contact the actual company using a legit website or official phone number.

Rental scams are back at it too, folks. In Miami, Joshua Jeshurun Harrison, alias “Josh Herrera,” was just arrested after scamming dozens out of deposits on apartments he never had. Victims organized in a WhatsApp group called “We Found Josh” to collect clues, eventually helping police track him down. Never, ever send rental deposits before seeing both the property and proper documentation in person—no matter how charming the would-be landlord seems.

On a global note, Gareth West, an alleged kingpin of “grandparent scams,” was nabbed in Quebec. Authorities say his crew targeted elderly Americans to the tune of $30 million, pretending to be distressed grandchildren in trouble, then swooping in for cash. The lesson? Set up family “safe words” for emergencies and always verify if a loved one is truly in distress.

Fake news sites are also in the mix. CTM360 reports over 17,000 “Baiting News Sites” imitating CNN or BBC are promoting bogus investment platforms. They look real, quote public figures, but every path leads to a financial trap. Search for investment advice? Odds are, you’ll land on one of these honey pots.

Finally, credit card fraud is getting slicker. Bangkok police just arrested Mr. Ma, a suspect running a syndicate that harvested credit card data through fake SMS links and used it for Google Pay purchases in shopping centers. His digital toolkit—EDC machines, card readers, and a Telegram network—shows just how sophisticated these operations get.

So what’s the expert advice? Slow down, verify everything through independent channels, talk to your relatives about “safe words,” and keep personal info off social media. If you’re hit, change your passwords pronto and contact your bank. Quick action is your best defense.

Thanks for tuning in—Scotty’s always got your back when it comes to scams. Don’t forget to subscribe for more digital detective work. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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