Brushing Scams with Venkat Margapuri
Easy Prey26 Feb 2025

Brushing Scams with Venkat Margapuri

Scams come in many forms but receiving a freebie from a scammer doesn't make sense. If something shows up at your door that you didn't order, should you be worried? Brushing scams are becoming more common and while they may seem harmless at first they can be a gateway to fraud, identity theft and financial loss.

Today we're diving into how these scams work, why they exist and the real dangers behind them. Our guest is Dr. Venkat Margapuri, an assistant professor of computer science at Villanova University. His research focuses on AI applications in agriculture and healthcare but he's also spent time studying online fraud and digital security. He's here to help us understand what's really going on when scammers send you something for free and most importantly what you should do about it.

Show Notes:
  • [00:44] Venkat is an assistant professor in the department of computer science at Villanova University. A lot of his research is focused on artificial intelligence, image processing, and security.
  • [01:53] Brushing scams are where you receive products that you haven't ordered. It's a fraudulent e-commerce scheme. They try to get reviews or add additional sales for their product.
  • [04:48] Venkat explains why it's not a good idea to scan those QR codes in products. You don't want to put your credentials into the website.
  • [05:41] This is where brushing leads to phishing scams by getting people to enter information into a fake website.
  • [06:20] The major risk of receiving these packages is identity theft.
  • [09:30] Scam charges on Amazon can be used to verify stolen credit card credentials and overconfidence often leads to being scammed.
  • [10:52] We discuss where these scammers find people's addresses.
  • [13:05] A lot of scammers are really smart people who got into the wrong business. Key qualities include narcissism and psychopathy.
  • [17:05] When you receive these packages just dispose of them. Don't scan the QR codes.
  • [21:25] A scam where they send emails with the link to free Apple Gift Cards. Be careful about what you post on social media.
  • [22:43] Assume unsolicited contact is a scam.
  • [23:50] Don't share personal information. Look out for things that are out of the norm.
  • [27:04] Venkat talks about advance fee scams.
  • [28:14] Being careful about geographic perceptions.
  • [31:18] Be cautious if you are being rushed.
  • [32:18] Whenever you suspect something isn't right, err on the side of caution and don't do it.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

Links and Resources:

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(342)

Hidden Phone Tracking

Hidden Phone Tracking

Your phone gives off a surprising amount of information just by being connected to a cellular network. Things like your location, who you communicate with, and your daily patterns can all become part ...

23 Sep 45min

Ransomware Evolution

Ransomware Evolution

Ransomware has changed dramatically over the years. What started as criminals locking up individual computers and demanding relatively small payments has grown into a much larger operation involving s...

16 Sep 40min

The Counterfeit Economy

The Counterfeit Economy

A counterfeit handbag may leave someone disappointed. A counterfeit medication, airbag, or child's car seat can do far more damage. Fake products now reach into nearly every part of daily life, and ma...

9 Sep 43min

The Internet is Playing You

The Internet is Playing You

A convincing lie no longer needs to look suspicious. It can appear in a familiar social media feed, come from someone who seems real, or arrive as a video that looks almost impossible to fake. By the ...

2 Sep 44min

The Psychology of Yes

The Psychology of Yes

It is easy to say you would never fall for a scam when you are looking at the situation from the outside. In the moment, though, things can feel much less obvious. A request may sound reasonable, the ...

26 Aug 49min

Drink Spiking

Drink Spiking

A drink can be out of your sight for only a moment, but that may be all it takes for someone to tamper with it. Spiking can happen in bars, restaurants, festivals, and even among people who already kn...

19 Aug 35min

Love, Lies and Locked Up

Love, Lies and Locked Up

What sounds like the plot of a crime thriller was Sharon Armstrong's real life. An online romance drew her into an elaborate web of lies involving overseas contracts, invented emergencies, and several...

12 Aug 52min

The Recruitment Trap

The Recruitment Trap

Everybody is searching for ways to increase income. Unfortunately, MLMs often look like an easy way to start a business without taking on the cost of a traditional company. The pitch sounds simple. Bu...

5 Aug 51min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
fotballpodden-2
popradet
stopp-verden
saken
dine-penger-pengeradet
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
rss-gukild-johaug
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
rss-ness
hanna-de-heldige
e24-podden
bt-dokumentar-2
aftenbla-bla
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk