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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Welcome back CyberDudes! This week, Omar breaks down a new DocuSign scam that’s raising eyebrows in the cybersecurity community. Attackers are finding ways to exploit legitimate signatures, making fraudulent invoices look official and bypassing the usual defenses—a reminder of how social engineering tactics keep evolving.

In our feature, we chat with Kenneth Ellington, founder of a cybersecurity academy that’s all about hands-on training in security operations and incident management. Kenneth shares his journey from a Big Four accounting firm to launching his own business, opening up about the balancing act required to build something new while working full-time. His academy’s practical approach has struck a chord with those looking to break into cyber or enhance their skills.

We also explore Kenneth’s experiences with representation in the industry, discussing why diverse leadership matters in cybersecurity. His story reflects a commitment to breaking down barriers and supporting growth, making the cyber field a little more accessible for everyone.

Visit the Ellington Cyber Academy here: https://kenneth-ellington.mykajabi.com/

Alternatively, book a discovery call with Kenneth & his team: https://calendly.com/ellington-cyber-academy/

Links for our stories from this week:

• ​https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nigerian-sentence-real-estate/
• ​https://therecord.media/moldova-election-winner-pro-west-president-maia-sandu
• ​https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/germany-drafts-law-to-protect-researchers-who-find-security-flaws/
• ​https://cybersecuritynews.com/hackers-abuse-docusign-api/
• ​https://therecord.media/cisa-2024-presidential-election-threats

Offers:

• ​Get up to 175k Amex Points with a Platinum Card - https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/platinum-card?ref=ROBINTN6e3&XL=MIMNS
• ​Get a $250 bonus when you spend $3k with an Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card - https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/blue-cash-preferred-credit-card?ref=ROBINT3nvs&XL=MIMNS
• ​Get a $100 bonus with Discover - https://refer.discover.com/s/robin.t925?advocate.partner_share_id=4724472810
• ​Get a $200 cash bonus with a CapitalOne Quicksilver Card - https://i.capitalone.com/Gg3TIobsQ
• ​Get $10 free Bitcoin when you sign up to Coinbase - https://coinbase.com/join/Z5UAY8C?src=ios-link

This week, we bring you quick headlines on a phishing scam targeting online shoppers, Delta’s security update dispute, and a new job scam hitting social media platforms. Then, in our Spotlight stories, we dig into two cases with big cybersecurity takeaways:

Employee Sabotage at Disney: A fired Disney employee retained access and tampered with allergy warnings in food venues, a reminder of the risks poor offboarding can pose.

Halloween Parade Hoax in Dublin: Thousands gathered for a parade that didn’t exist, illustrating how fast misinformation can spread and its potential for real-world impact.

“Cybersecurity teams can only protect what they know exists.” – Robin Thornton

“When being first to publish is prized above all else, it leads to situations where misinformation spreads unchecked.” – Omar Sangurima

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