Curious about the Flipper Zero, one of the most talked-about `gadgets` out there? We give you a quick look as we unbox a new one.

This is a companion to one of our earliest episodes, where we talked about the ethics and proper use of hacking tools. https://youtu.be/BVca3X8wE_c

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Job scams are getting scary good. We're talking AI deepfakes, fake recruiters, and cryptocurrency traps that are fooling even tech-savvy professionals. In this Security Cocktail Hour holiday special, Joe and Adam break down four of the most dangerous job scams hitting people right now—because nothing says "Happy Holidays" quite like protecting yourself from scammers, right?

If you're job hunting (or know someone who is), grab a drink and settle in. We're covering everything from deepfake video interviews to the bizarre world of "lucky order" scams that'll drain your crypto wallet faster than you can say "I got the job!"

What You'll Learn:

✅ How scammers use real-time deepfake technology to impersonate legitimate recruiters

✅ The malware delivery tactics hidden in "competency tests" and coding exercises

✅ How to spot fake job postings before sharing personal information

✅ The "lucky order" scam that tricks workers into depleting their own accounts

00:00 Intro: Job Scams for the Holidays

01:08 AI Enhanced Interview Fraud

11:26 Packaging and Processing Scams

17:23 Mystery Shopper Scam

24:30 Gamify/Task Scams

28:48 Help Spread Awareness

29:40 Wrapup and Happy Holidays

30:58 Bonus Bloopers!

Key Takeaways:

🚩 Red Flag #1: Any job asking for money upfront (deposits, equipment fees, background check fees)

🚩 Red Flag #2: Payment exclusively in cryptocurrency for employment

🚩 Red Flag #3: Requests for excessive personal information before an interview

🚩 Red Flag #4: Downloading special software for interviews or tests

🚩 Red Flag #5: "Too good to be true" easy money for simple tasks

Protect Yourself:

✓ Always verify recruiters through official company websites (not LinkedIn alone)

✓ Never give MFA/2FA codes to anyone—even for "deposits"

✓ Be wary of video interviews that seem glitchy (could be deepfakes)

✓ Research the company independently before sharing personal data

✓ Use multi-factor authentication on all financial accounts

📧 Subscribe to Our Newsletter: Get exclusive cybersecurity insights, episode updates, and career tips delivered to your inbox every week.

👉 https://securitycocktailhour.com/newsletter/

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Website: securitycocktailhour.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/security-cocktail-hour/

Twitter: @SecCocktailHour

Share This Episode: Know someone job hunting? Share this video to help protect them from these evolving scams.

Scammers stay busy during the holidays. From recognizing fake gift card requests to safe phone payments for teens, we're bringing back the best cyber security tips from last year's holiday episode, as a warmup for a new episode focusing on the latest job scams coming next week.

00:00 Introduction to the Holiday Episode

00:31 Phone malware and app privacy

06:41 EZPass Alerts and Package Delivery

08:56 Sexploitation

12:07 The Importance of Zero Trust

14:07 Gift Cards

20:54 Tap to Pay

24:52 The Debate: Debit vs. Credit Cards

29:56 Subscriptions and Hidden Costs

31:41 Wrapup

Whether you’re buying gifts, traveling, or just enjoying the holidays with family, these practical tips will help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

👉 Help us fight back against the scammers:

• Share this episode with friends and family to keep them safe too!
• Leave a comment with your experiences or questions about scams.

Stay safe, stay smart, and have a happy holiday season! 🎁