Online Scams
Don’t Get Scammed: A Deep Dive into Modern Fraud and How to Protect Yourself
In today’s digital age, scams aren’t just popping up—they’re evolving faster than ever. In a recent episode of the Gula Tech Adventures show, Ron Gula sat down with fraud prevention expert Anna Fridley to unpack the ever-growing landscape of fraud across email, SMS, social media, and even the dark web. Their conversation shed light on the mechanics behind today’s most common scams, who’s behind them, and how regular people and enterprises alike can protect themselves.
Scams Are Getting Smarter—and Funnier
The video kicks off with a humorous animated skit highlighting real-world scams: dating cons, Nigerian prince emails, tech support shakedowns, and cloned credit cards. While played for laughs, these scenarios mirror the very real—and often devastating—tactics that scammers use every day. Fridley emphasized that behind every joke is a critical lesson in awareness.
From Cyber Intelligence to Fraud Defense
Anna Fridley’s journey into fraud prevention began in cyber threat intelligence. After collaborating with financial institutions on how criminals were targeting banks, she transitioned into fraud operations. Her current work helps proactively detect and block scams before they cause harm—shifting security from reactive to preventative.
The Cyber-Fraud Convergence
According to Fridley, every digital touchpoint—from websites to phone calls—has cyber implications. Fraud used to focus on the financial aftermath; today, it must leverage cyber intelligence to intervene earlier in the attack chain. Fraud and cyber teams must work together, combining behavioral signals with technical data to build an “invisible safety net.”
Scams to Watch Out For in 2025
Romance Scams & Pig Butchering
These begin with messages on dating or social platforms and evolve into fake investment schemes, especially involving crypto. Victims are lured into transferring large sums into platforms controlled by scammers.
Fake Invoice Emails
Scammers send emails with fraudulent PDFs or links impersonating trusted vendors, aiming to trick users into entering payment information.
Package Delivery Texts
Messages claiming your package is stuck in customs or awaiting payment are wildly successful, especially since so many people order online. Even cybersecurity professionals can be momentarily fooled by coincidental timing.
Voice Phishing (Vishing) & Call Center Scams
More convincing than robocalls, these scams involve live fraudsters using fear tactics (e.g., fake fraud alerts) to steal information over the phone. Fridley emphasized: always hang up and call the number on the back of your bank card.
Marketplace Overpayment Scams
Fraudsters overpay for an item and ask for the balance back. Once the check bounces, the seller is left out of both money and merchandise.
The New Tools of the Trade: AI and Deepfakes
AI has become a force multiplier for scammers. Tools like voice cloning and text generation allow fraudsters to sound authentic or craft highly personalized phishing attempts. Fridley shared chilling stories of people receiving phone calls with AI-generated voices of loved ones begging for help. The best defense? Ask personal questions only the real person would know.
SMS and Social Media: The New Fraud Frontier
Scammers are targeting younger audiences where they live—on their phones. SMS is used because it’s cheap, widely adopted, and easy to spoof. Social media scams, including crypto schemes and impersonations, thrive in marketplaces like Facebook, Signal, and Telegram. Fraudsters often leverage these platforms’ privacy protections to evade detection.
Business Identity Theft: When Criminals Steal Your Brand
Fridley warned of business-level fraud where criminals register similar-sounding LLCs to intercept checks or create scam websites mimicking real brands. Her team works with vendors to find and take down these fraudulent sites using trademark infringement laws.
Checks, Mail Theft, and “Business” Fraud
Check fraud is making a comeback. Scammers steal physical mail, wash the checks, alter the details, and deposit them into fraudulent accounts. Businesses can protect themselves using services like “Positive Pay,” where banks verify check details before clearing.
What to Do If You’re Scammed
If you’ve sent money:
Wire Transfer: Contact your bank immediately. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovery.
Credit Card: Dispute the charge. Credit cards have strong consumer protection laws.
Cash App or Venmo: You're likely out of luck. These platforms offer limited recourse unless you know the recipient.
Always follow up with law enforcement. Even if the amount is small, your report could help piece together a larger investigation.
Behind the Curtain: Who Are These Scammers?
Fridley dispelled the myth of the lone hacker in a basement. Today’s scammers are a mix of organized crime syndicates (some with ties to foreign adversaries), tech-savvy youths, and opportunistic individuals. They run scams like businesses—with infrastructure, teams, and targets.
Fighting Back: Collaboration is Key
Fridley praised efforts like:
NCFTA (National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance): A public-private partnership tackling cyber-enabled crime.
FS-ISAC: Helps financial institutions share threat data.
Flashpoint & Threat Intelligence Tools: Used to monitor dark web marketplaces where stolen data and services are sold.
She emphasized that crime rings rarely target just one brand. They reuse tactics across many victims, making collective defense essential.
Fraud Trends by Demographic
Younger people get scammed more often, but typically for smaller amounts. Older people fall less frequently—but when they do, the financial losses are greater. Person-to-person payment apps (e.g., Venmo, Cash App) are frequently abused, with little recourse once money is sent.
Tips to Protect Yourself
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—preferably app or hardware-based.
Never Trust, Always Verify—especially with urgent requests or payment prompts.
Be Skeptical of Coincidences—fraudsters rely on mass-scale timing to trick victims.
Report Everything—to banks, the FTC, and local law enforcement.
Talk It Out—if something seems off, ask a friend or loved one before acting.
The “Dark Web” Isn’t So Dark
Fridley demystified the dark web, describing it as just another set of marketplaces—albeit with tighter access and more criminal activity. Most serious fraud teams rely on third-party tools to monitor these spaces for compromised data, impersonations, or stolen credentials.
Final Thoughts: Education is Power
Fridley closed with a call for vigilance and education. Whether through LinkedIn, speaking engagements, or internal training, her mission is to inform the public and industry professionals about how fraud is evolving—and how to fight back.