Podcasts · True Crime · Education

Let's Talk About Scams

Talk 4 Podcasting

112 episodes

“Let’s Talk About Scams” is the must-listen show for anyone who wants to protect themselves and their loved ones from scams. Host, Joyce Petrowski, and her guests will provide valuable insights and practical tips on how recognize and protect yourself from scams. Scams can have devastating financial, emotional, and psychological consequences. Each week you will gain insights on scam awareness and tips and tools on how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio – Hollywood Talk Radio (www.k4hd.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). Let’s Talk About Scams TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com). Let’s Talk About Scams Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets. Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual professional / legal advice. The podcast information was carefully compiled from vetted sources and references; however, R.O.S.E. Resources / Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly cannot guarantee that you will not fall victim to a scam. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/let-s-talk-about-scams--6483699/support.

Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. AI is making scammers more efficient

    · 22 min · S2 E36

    Artificial Intelligence (aka AI) did not invent new scams. It made the existing ones cheap, fast, and convincing. And here is the scary part - AI makes scammers more efficient. This week, we discuss three ways that…

  2. Medicare and Annual Enrollment Period

    · 49 min · S2 E35

    Join us as we talk with Alicia Rosenquist, Insurance Broker with Arizona Medicare Plans and Insurance Solutions. Medicare Annual Enrollment is just around the corner, and we will learn about new updates and best way to…

  3. Impersonation scams and malicious actors gaining access to your account

    · 35 min · S2 E34

    We are reviewing a couple new FBI Public Service Announcements. One PSA is about OAuth scams - malicious actors gaining access to your accounts through consent phishing. Tune to learn more about this. We will also run…

  4. Learn About Our New Facebook Group - Scam Prevention Through Education

    · 26 min · S2 E33

    We have a new Facebook Group - Scam Prevention Through Education. Check out the information we have posted already, lots of good stuff. Learn more about this group and how to request to join. Let’s Talk About Scams is…

  5. The future of cryptocurrency ATMs

    · 19 min · S2 E32

    Many of us in the scam prevention world keep asking the question, “Why are cryptocurrency ATMs legal?” In 2026, Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota have enacted total statewide bans on cryptocurrency ATMs. Hawaii…

  6. Learn How Data Brokers Buy and Sell our Data

    · 48 min · S2 E31

    Join us as we talk to David Hawkins and learn about how data brokers buy and sell our data. This information can get into the wrong hands and then used to scam us. David works for cloaked, you can find more information…

  7. Top 10 scam prevention tips

    · 21 min · S2 E30

    At our fraud prevention presentations, we always send attendees home with some good advice. This episode will feature 10 common sense scam prevention tips. You have probably heard most of these tips, but it never hurts…

  8. We all had the same rotary dial phone

    · 19 min · S2 E29

    40 or 50 years ago, most of us didn’t have call waiting, caller ID, or answering machines. The telephone was the main way we communicated with the world. Phone scams were extremely rare so there was no need to be so…

  9. "You didn’t win the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes"

    · 17 min · S2 E28

    Fraudsters are calling people and telling them they won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. After getting a potential victim excited about winning millions of dollars, the scammer claims the prize cannot be…

  10. Robo Calls - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

    · 51 min · S2 E27

    Join us as we talk with Matt Mizenko of Nomorobo. We will review their 2025 Annual Fraud Report and discuss how scammers are targeting older adults with robo calls. Read Nomorobo's full annual report here:…

  11. Why choose a senior placement company

    · 37 min · S2 E26

    Senior placement is a free advisory service that helps older adults and their families find and transition into appropriate senior housing or care facilities, such as assisted living or memory care. Specialists…

  12. Another wave of the jury scam is here

    · 19 min · S2 E25

    Scammers posing as court employees or law enforcement officers may threaten to fine or arrest you for allegedly failing to comply with a court order or jury duty summons. This particular scam has been around for…

  13. Why words matter when we talk about scams

    · 15 min · S2 E24

    Far too often, the blame for financial fraud is directed at the victims rather than the criminals. We say things like “he fell for a romance scam” when in reality, a criminal targeted, manipulated, and exploited this…

  14. Non-Medical Home Health Care - What You Need To Know

    · 48 min · S2 E23

    Join us as we talk about non-medical home health care with our guest Mary Doyle of Adultcare Assistance Homecare. Learn which questions to ask, why you should use a reputable company, and the risks you want to avoid.…

  15. How To's - Block Cookies, Turn Off Text Previews and More!

    · 22 min · S2 E22

    We will walk through how to block third-party cookies from your internet browser, turn off text message previews, and more! And learn why this is important. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM PT…

  16. Impersonation, Tech Support, and Medicare Scams Through our Guest's Experience

    · 48 min · S2 E21

    Join us as we talk with our guest about her personal experiences with scams. Fraudulent Medicare charges, impersonation scam, and tech support scam. Our guest will walk us through her experience and the red flags of…

  17. Fraudulent Websites and Property Sales

    · 27 min · S2 E20

    Tune in as we discuss two FBI Public Service Announcements. Identity Theft of vacant property owners and attempt to fraudulently sell the vacant property. Scammers redirecting people to fraudulent websites. Learn more…

  18. Hospice Fraud and Couriers being used by Scammers to Collect Cash

    · 31 min · S2 E19

    Join us as we discuss a few scams and protection tips. 1. Hospice fraud targeting Medicare recipients 2. Scammers using couriers to collect cash. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM PT on K4HD…

  19. The FBI’s role in protecting victims from scams

    · 36 min · S2 E18

    FBI victim specialists are part of Operation Level Up, a U.S. federal initiative launched in January 2024 to identify and notify victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud before they suffer further losses, with the…

  20. Technology and Education and their role in Scams

    · 53 min · S2 E17

    Ever wonder how technology and education can work hand in hand when it comes to scams? Tune in and find out as Patrick Coughlin with Savi talks about his new product Scamwise (https://scamwise.com). Patrick will…

  21. Cryptocurrency ATM Scam Refund

    · 40 min · S2 E16

    Arizona's new Cryptocurrency Kiosk Law went into effect September 2025. Gale joins us to discuss her scam experience and getting her money refunded through this new law. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live…

  22. Update on states and cities that have banned crypto ATMs

    · 23 min · S2 E15

    If someone ever sends you to a cryptocurrency ATM, it is almost always a scam. Any legitimate company, financial institution, or government agency will not demand this method of payment. To combat scams related to…

  23. Not all gel-ink is created equal!

    · 16 min · S2 E14

    Who knew, not all gel-ink is created equally! Listen in while we discuss a test on three different gel-ink pens and two different solutions. Which gel-ink pen passed the test? Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live…

  24. Yikes! The 2025 FBI data is not good!

    · 43 min · S2 E13

    We still have work to do. The 2025 IC3 report is out from the FBI and it is not good. Join us as we dig through the report and see what scams caused the most damage for 60+ year old and older population in 2025. Let’s…

  25. Why You Should Update Your Hardware and Software in the Coming Months

    · 54 min · S2 E12

    Do AI products have security holes? David Hawkins is back to discuss a recent announcement and its potential impact on end users. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio - Hollywood…

  26. Watch out for gold bar scams

    · 23 min · S2 E11

    Gold bar scams are an increasingly widespread form of fraud, costing victims millions. In these schemes, scammers—often pretending to be government officials or tech support—claim that a person’s bank account is at…

  27. Don’t respond to random text messages

    · 19 min · S2 E10

    If you receive a text message from an unknown number, we recommend that you don’t respond. There is no reason to be polite. Scammers are trying to steal your life savings through a scheme called pig butchering. Save…

  28. Watch out for scammers using remote access

    · 17 min · S2 E9

    Allowing remote access to your computer is basically the equivalent of allowing someone to have unfettered access to your finances and personal information. That is why scammers love to use remote access, but here is…

  29. Using Artificial Intelligence to Research your Software Options

    · 51 min · S2 E8

    There are so many software options, how do you know which one is best for you? How do you research? In our presentations, we discuss how to research your options. David Hawkins is back to walk us through using…

  30. How to gather information using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    · 44 min · S2 E7

    Looking for a software subscription to help protect your devices and yourself? There are so many out there - antivirus, credit monitoring, VPN, and many more! Where do you even begin to do your research? Tune in as we…

  31. Is My Grandchild Really In Trouble

    · 51 min · S2 E6

    David Hawkins is back to talk about Artificial Intelligence, Deep Fakes, and Voice Cloning. Is it really your grandchild calling? Is this video real or fake? Join us to learn more about Artificial Intelligence, Deep…

  32. Scammers Looking To Take Your Senior Benefits

    · 31 min · S2 E5

    Scams related to senior benefits, such as Social Security and Medicare, have increased substantially. Learn about these scams, what to look for, and how to protect yourself. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live…

  33. Do I Really Need This?

    · 25 min · S2 E4

    Tune in as we talk with our guest, Martin, about his experience when his parents purchased a home security system. "Do I really need this?" might have saved them some aggravation and money. Let’s Talk About Scams is…

  34. Revisiting scams from 20 years ago

    · 19 min · S2 E3

    This week, we are going to talk about how scams have changed over the last 20 years. Most scams are now operated by transnational criminal gangs that are well financed, organized, and skilled at stealing our money.…

  35. Passwords, Password Managers, Passkeys and How to Manage Updates

    · 53 min · S2 E2

    Join us as we talk with our guest, David Hawkins, about passwords, password managers, and passkeys. What is more secure, what is most user-friendly? We will also talk about managing updates on Windows and Mac. How…

  36. Seemingly Innocent Texts Can Be Deceiving

    · 29 min · S2 E1

    The text comes out of nowhere "looking forward to seeing you this weekend" or "Hi there" or any one of a number of seemingly innocent texts. We know it is a wrong number, but should we respond? Tune in to find out.…

  37. My almost scam experience

    · 34 min · S1 E54

    This week’s guest is Rachel Mullis. She was contacted by a real-life scammer and was on the path to losing money. She will share her story, what warning signs changed her mind, and she will offer advice to anyone who…

  38. How agents investigate pig butchering and other scams

    · 36 min · S1 E53

    This week’s guest is Christopher Scheer. He is a Special Agent with IRS Criminal Investigation. We will discuss various scams including pig butchering. We will talk about how criminals utilize cryptocurrency ATMs to…

  39. What can we do to stop overseas scammers?

    · 42 min · S1 E52

    This week’s guest is Ken Westbrook. He is the founder and CEO of Stop Scams Alliance. We will talk about tech support scams and how someone he loves was targeted. We will discuss where scams emanate and what our…

  40. Scammers Continue to Devise Unbelievable Schemes

    · 22 min · S1 E51

    This week, we are going to talk about several outlandish scams that defy belief. Yet all of the scams worked and victims lost money. The purpose is not to judge anyone, but to show the deviousness and creativity of the…

  41. Time to reflect on some positive experiences

    · 20 min · S1 E50

    Fraud prevention can be a very dreary topic that includes sharing some depressing stories of people getting defrauded out of their life savings. At times, it seems like an uphill battle trying to protect the ones we…

  42. New Year - Let's Get Down to Scam Basics

    · 35 min · S1 E49

    Happy New Year! We are going back to the basics of a scam - reviewing our Anatomy of a Scam. Tune in to learn how to recognize a scam. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio -…

  43. Scam updates and how to protect yourself

    · 46 min · S1 E48

    Join us for the last episode of 2025. We will discuss some scams like phone return scam, phishing scam, and fake kidnapping scam along with prevention reminders for the new year. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast…

  44. Empowering Conversations About Scams

    · 24 min · S1 E47

    Conversations about scams usually happen after your loved one has become a victim and these conversations are not always positive nor productive. Join us as we discuss how to have conversations about scams with your…

  45. Would You See These Minor Differences That Have Huge Consequences?

    · 15 min · S1 E46

    This is going to be a short but very important episode. Join us as we share a scam email and scam text where there are minor differences with huge consequences. Let’s Talk About Scams is broadcast live Tuesdays at 8AM…

  46. Securing Your Cell Phones

    · 44 min · S1 E45

    How secure is your cell phone? Not as secure as you might think. We are getting better at securing our other devices but what about our cell phones. If you think about everything you do on your cell phone, you will…

  47. Online Shopping, Charity Scams and How to Protect Yourself

    · 41 min · S1 E44

    Today we are talking about a few prevalent scams that ramp up in December, online shopping and charity scams. Join us as we give examples and show you how you can protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday…

  48. Job Scams Meet Aging Scams

    · 51 min · S1 E43

    Join us as we talk with our guest, Jay Jones, on how he uncovers the latest digital job scams and the overlapping tactics with scams targeting the older adults. Learn best practices for intergenerational collaboration…

  49. Beware of cryptocurrency ATMs

    · 20 min · S1 E42

    A cryptocurrency ATM looks and operates like a traditional ATM you would use at your bank or credit union. Scammers often direct their victims to utilize cryptocurrency ATMs because it a method of payment most people…

  50. Sometimes it’s good to act like a sloth

    · 17 min · S1 E41

    Some of the best advice I have heard when it comes to acting deliberately is act like a sloth. This slow-moving animal doesn’t do anything in a hurry. If we can act like sloths, we can prevent most scams. We must…

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