Kitboga, one of the most famous scammer baiters on YouTube, hopped on Kim Komando Today and shared with us some of his favorite memories tricking scammers.
Online dating the safe way
You may not be looking for love online, but Tinder says about 40% of couples meet via apps. I know a couple who met on a dating app for farmers. They’re perfect for each other — they got married and have two boys and two girls under age 8 with another on the way. But for others, dating apps can be a complete nightmare.
The dirty details
A few months ago, I was trying to convince a friend to dump her loser boyfriend. We whipped up a dating profile for her. The next day, she had to delete it. Why? Her messages were filled with nothing but … 🍆.
There are so many stories of men and women dealing with creeps, stalkers, perverts and lowlifes. A recent Pew Research survey agrees:
- 38% of online daters surveyed received at least one unwanted sexually explicit message.
- 30% continued to receive contact from someone after they told them they weren’t interested.
- 24% were called an offensive name.
- 6% of respondents received threats of physical harm.
Don’t forget about scammers; some 52% of online daters believe they’ve encountered at least one scam. That’s 63% of men under 50 and 44% of women of any age.
A safe search for love
Looking for love online comes with a warning, but you don’t have to throw in the towel. Practice these tips to find your new sweetie safely:
Look for a verified profile badge. Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and OkCupid have them. If they’re verified, odds are, they’re not using fake photos.
Keep an eye out for photos that look overly edited. Try a reverse image search to see if the photo pops up somewhere else.
Only talk to new matches through the app. If they want to immediately take things to text or another app, that’s a red flag.
Video chat with a match before you meet them in person. Steer clear of people who want to meet up ASAP or don’t want to meet at all. I don’t want you to become the victim of a romance scam.
National Public Data breach: How to protect yourself and your SSN
National Public Data, a company that collects information from nonpublic sources without consent, according to a class-action lawsuit (paywall link), has been hit by a massive data breach. The company makes money by selling personal data to employers, private investigators and anyone conducting background checks.
Synthetic identity fraud: That’s when scammers steal a kid’s Social Security number and add bogus names, birth dates and email addresses to create fake personas. They open credit cards, max them out and leave a trail of debt. Have a kid age 13 or younger? Fill out this form to see if they have a credit report. Freeze it if they do.
Google is an illegal monopoly
A judge ruled Google illegally built and maintained a monopoly in online search by paying to be the default on smartphones. Plus, a website flaw puts democracy at risk, scammers hit the skies, and why wrapping your keys in tin foil could save you trouble.
🚨 Banking app scam alert: A new phishing attack is tricking people into installing an “updated” (read: bogus) banking app. Scammers contact you via email, SMS or voice call. Download their app, log in, and now they have your password. Stay safe: Only update apps via the App Store or Google Play. If you need your bank’s app, go to their website for a direct link.
What does the “P” in HTTP stand for? Is it … A.) Protocol, B.) Platform, C.) Portal or D.) Princess?
How to spot a fake retail website before you buy
I got a question this week from Janet in Idaho. She was scrolling Instagram, clicked an ad for a super-cute dress and bought it. Next thing you know, there are bogus charges on her debit card. “How the heck did that happen?” she asked me. “It was a website I’ve shopped on before.”
⚠️ Scammers’ new tactic? Using social media and messaging apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram to tell you you’re hot or offer tips to show you how to make money. About 86% of victims are tricked into transferring money themselves — without the crooks ever accessing their accounts. Come on! Please don’t fall for it.
I’ve seen it: Photos of a Pennsylvania man, Brian Posch, are all over Facebook with the message “HELP FIND HIM.” Sadly, Brian passed away months ago. So why are messages still being shared? Because scammers are posting them to trick others into sharing their link. Once the post gets a ton of shares and follows, they change their page to a scammy site where they steal your money. Gotta be on your toes!
🏠 Phony landlords: Scammers are flooding Facebook Marketplace with fake rental listings. They use real addresses and legit-looking pics at prices that seem like a steal, and they’ll even let you check it out in person. Major red flag: They’ll demand an application fee upfront via PayPal, Venmo or Zelle.
Warn your older adults: An 83-year-old woman was conned out of $1.4 million by scammers posing as JPMorgan’s fraud department and U.S. agents. They said she needed to help catch a rogue employee, but she was the real target. It took 279 days after her first big withdrawal for anyone to notify her son about the suspicious activity (paywall link). Don’t count on banks to step in and help you not get taken.
Witch parking – All others will be toad: Scammers are leaving fake parking tickets on windshields. They look like the real deal but have a bogus payment website at the bottom ready and waiting for your credit card details. Always go directly to your city’s or town’s website to pay a parking ticket.
Sounds familiar: Scammers are after Google Voice accounts. If they trick you into giving up your multifactor authentication code, they can make calls that look like they’re coming from you. Never share this info. If you already have, go to Protect your verification code and disconnect your number.
Scammers take to the skies
When you rant about that awful layover on social media, you’re painting a target on your back. Scammers are lurking, ready to cash in on your bad flight experience.
💳 Don’t fall for it: Scammers pretending to be bank employees are phoning and texting with fake account fraud warnings. They’ll tell you to cut up your credit cards, leaving the chip inside intact. They then send someone to pick it up. With just that chip, they duplicate your card. A friend of mine started chanting in Latin the last time a scammer called. The man screamed, “No, don’t put a curse on my family!”
Scammers in the skies: Crooks scan social for posts complaining about flight delays and then pose as airline customer service. They’ll DM you about your booking or send you to a fake site to harvest your info. Only contact customer service using the airline’s official website or phone number.
Clone your voice in 15 minutes
A new iPhone feature can make a copy of your voice. Could scammers use it for deepfakes? A German company will freeze your body for over $200,000, hoping to bring you back to life later. Plus, Taco Bell brings AI to the drive-thru, and be wary of fake Facebook stores.
🗞️ Trust fall: Science says you’re more likely to believe fake news from an acquaintance than your best friend. That’s why so many scammers pose as long-lost classmates or distant relatives. Focusing instead on who’s sharing — not what’s being shared — could be the best way to stop fake news.
Stay far, far away: Scammers use crypto ATMs to defraud U.S. victims out of millions every year. They’re less regulated and let you send money overseas instantaneously. A 77-year-old woman just got scammed out of $9,000. Once her money left the country, she was SOL. Listen up: No legitimate entity will ever ask you to send money in crypto or from an ATM.