Welcome back to CyberDudes! This week, we’re talking about the rise in scams during the holiday season and how we can all avoid falling victim. From fake e-commerce deals to phishing emails, social media traps, and dubious charity appeals, we break down the tactics scammers use to exploit the festive rush. Together, we’re sharing practical tips to protect our money and our peace of mind.

We also highlight a standout story: O2’s clever use of AI to create “Grandma Daisy,” an AI bot designed to waste phone scammers’ time with endless rambling conversations. It’s a brilliant example of how we can use tech to disrupt cybercrime in creative ways.

With Cyber Week, Black Friday, and holiday shopping in full swing, we discuss fake gift card schemes, payment fraud, and the risks of social media promotions. We’re diving into the value of using credit cards for online shopping and exploring why debit cards might not be the safest choice.

Join us as we gear up for the most scam-prone time of the year and work together to stay safe on CyberDudes!

Stories from this episode:

https://www.wired.com/story/trump-administration-cybersecurity-policy-reversals/

https://therecord.media/malware-delivered-by-mail-swiss-cyber-agency

https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-828372

https://www.techspot.com/news/105571-phone-network-employs-ai-grandmother-waste-scammers-time.html

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/11/14/groundbreaking-framework-safe-and-secure-deployment-ai-critical-infrastructure

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