The CyberGuy Report

CyberGuy
  • 5.0 (10)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The CyberGuy Report. I'm Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson, and my new podcast explores the surprising ways technology shapes our everyday lives - from the gadgets we trust to the risks we don't see coming. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the breakthroughs, stories, and people redefining how we live, work, and stay safe in a digital world.

  1. 2D AGO

    [Ep. 32] Jury Duty scam stole $10,000 from Arizona woman

    What happens when you miss jury duty? Like most normal people, Gale had no idea. She had just finished up work on her 70th birthday when she discovered a voicemail from an unknown number.  The caller claimed to be an enforcement officer, informing her that if she didn’t pay the hefty $10,000 fine immediately, she was going to be in even bigger trouble.  Within hours, thousands of dollars were gone. But this story does not end there. Thanks to a new law in Arizona, Gale was able to recover her money and turn a devastating situation into a powerful lesson for others. In this episode we explore:  • How scammers can easily impersonate law enforcement • The psychological tactics used to pressure victims into acting quickly • Why cryptocurrency ATMs are a common tool in modern scams • The warning signs that indicate you’re being scammed • What to do immediately if you suspect a scam • How new legislation can help recover stolen funds • Steps you can take to protect yourself and your family Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    15 min
  2. [Ep. 31] How facial recognition put an innocent grandmother behind bars

    MAY 13

    [Ep. 31] How facial recognition put an innocent grandmother behind bars

    A 50-year-old grandmother in Tennessee was babysitting when US Marshals showed up at her door with guns drawn. The charge: bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota, more than a thousand miles away, in a state she had never set foot in. The only evidence? A facial recognition match from Clearview AI, run against photos pulled from social media. Angela Lipps spent more than five months in jail before her defense attorney, Jay Greenwood, finally got somebody to listen. This is what happens when AI gets treated like proof instead of a clue. What You Will Learn in This Episode: - How a single facial recognition match landed an innocent grandmother in jail for over five months - Why the photos you've posted on social media may already be in a Clearview AI database - What detectives should have done before issuing an arrest warrant - How attorney Jay Greenwood proved Angela was a thousand miles away from the crime - What to say (and not say) if police ever come to your door for something you didn't do - How to remove your photos from facial recognition databases before this happens to you - Why this case is a warning for anyone who has ever shared a picture online - The simple piece of evidence that finally got Angela's case dismissed Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    15 min
  3. [Ep. 30] SIM card swap scam: How hackers drain your bank account in minutes

    MAY 6

    [Ep. 30] SIM card swap scam: How hackers drain your bank account in minutes

    Patricia lost service on her cell phone. The next morning, she was out thousands of dollars. In this episode, we break down a real-life example of how quick and vicious SIM-card swapping scandals can really be.  We walk through: What SIM swap scams are and how they work Warning signs to look out for Why banks and carriers sometimes fail to stop fraud quickly The timeline of how the money was stolen  What to do immediately if you think you’re being hacked  Practical steps to protect your accounts This episode is a must-listen for anyone who uses their phone for banking, social media, or authentication codes. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    12 min
  4. [Ep. 29] Fake phone numbers on Google are scamming people right now

    APR 29

    [Ep. 29] Fake phone numbers on Google are scamming people right now

    Rosette needed to file a travel insurance claim, so she did what anyone would do, she Googled the phone number. Someone picked up immediately, sounded completely professional, and asked for her credit card and date of birth. It wasn't until the pricing felt off and a confirmation email didn't match the official website that she realized she'd been talking to a scammer the entire time. This is called a search result scam, and it's one of the fastest-growing fraud tactics happening right now, and it's hiding at the very top of your Google results.Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    12 min
  5. [Ep. 28] Florida man loses $200K in PayPal Scam, then helps police catch scammer

    APR 22

    [Ep. 28] Florida man loses $200K in PayPal Scam, then helps police catch scammer

    An 85-year-old man receives what looks like a harmless PayPal refund email… and within days, he out $200,000. He was ashamed and lost. But instead of staying silent, he worked with the police to set up a sting operation, seeking at least partial justice for his misfortunes. In this episode, we break down one of the most sophisticated refund scams we’ve seen, how it unfolded step-by-step, and the red flags everyone should know about.  In this episode we discuss: How a fake PayPal refund email started the scam The mirrored bank website that made everything look real How crypto ATMs are often used by scammers  The moment he realized he was being scammed  How scammers isolate victims and create urgency The police sting operation to catch the scammer  The multi-million dollar scams this trial cracked open Partial justice – the arrest and 18-year prison sentence Why victims rarely recover their money Common scam variations involving warrants and gold Warning signs everyone should watch for The red flags and top tips the policeman (whatever his title is) suggests people do in these types of scams (“"Do the research yourself and figure out what that real phone number is"”) This story is shocking and unfortunately, not at all rare. Just like Brian, at CyberGuy we feel a duty to share these stories far and wide. If we can help even one person recognize the warning signs and cut off a scam at the pass, we’ve done our job.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    23 min
  6. [Ep. 27] Your TV, doorbell, and car are spying on you... here’s what they know

    APR 15

    [Ep. 27] Your TV, doorbell, and car are spying on you... here’s what they know

    You didn't hand over your life to big tech, but your smart devices did it for you. In this episode, Kurt breaks down the five most alarming privacy clauses buried inside the smart home gadgets most of us already own: your TV, your Ring doorbell, your Amazon Echo, and yes, even your car. The revelations are infuriating — and most of it was turned on by default the moment you plugged in. The good news? Kurt walks you through exactly how to shut every single one of these down, step by step, without getting rid of any of your devices. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How your smart TV is watching what you watch and selling it to advertisers in real timeWhy your Ring doorbell has built a detailed map of your daily routine — including when you leave for workWhat it means that real Amazon employees can listen to recordings from inside your homeHow one automaker was logging your vehicle speed 25 times per second — and selling it to your insurance companyWhy your Amazon Echo has been saving every conversation you've had since the day you bought itHow to turn off smart TV tracking on Roku and Samsung in under two minutesThe exact steps to lock down your Ring app, delete your Alexa history, and opt out of car data sharingWhy these devices are priced so low — and what you're actually paying withEnjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    16 min
  7. [Ep. 26] She drove to the bank with a scammer on the phone… almost lost $15,000

    APR 8

    [Ep. 26] She drove to the bank with a scammer on the phone… almost lost $15,000

    Dorothy Rhode got a text that looked exactly like a legitimate Apple Pay fraud alert. She called the number in the message, and the man who answered already knew her name, her address, and which banks she used.  He told her she'd been targeted by corrupt bank employees, that he was working with the FBI and FDIC, and that she needed to pull $15,000 in cash immediately and tell no one. She got in her car and drove to the bank. What happened next is the reason she's telling this story. Kurt breaks down how this scam works, why even sharp people fall for it, and exactly what to do if it happens to you. What you will learn in this episode: How a text message that looks completely real can be the opening move of a $15,000 scam Why scammers already know your name, address, and bank before they call you — and how to stop that What to say to a bank teller if you ever feel something's wrong, even mid-transaction How to set a daily withdrawal limit on your account so scammers can't drain it even if they get in Why hanging up without saying a word is almost always your best defense How to filter unknown callers and unknown text senders on your iPhone so scam messages never reach you Why the "Do Not Call Registry" does nothing — and what actually works instead What real red flags look like: urgency, secrecy, and any request involving cash Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    27 min

  8. APR 1

    [Ep. 25] Big Tech knows AI isn’t safe for kids, but they’re cashing in anyway

    In this episode of Beyond Connected, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered toys and the risks they pose for children. AI companies insist their chatbots aren’t meant for kids, yet third-party developers are creating toys that put these chatbots directly into the hands of children. RJ Cross, a researcher from the Public Interest Research Group PIRG joins the show to uncover the loopholes, risks, and what parents need to know. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are not designed for children, yet appear in toys. How third-party developers exploit loopholes to insert AI into toys without proper safeguards. Real examples of AI toys giving dangerous instructions or engaging in inappropriate conversations. The lack of transparency around AI models and privacy policies leaves parents in the dark. How revenue incentives drive companies to allow AI in kids’ toys despite safety risks. The role of legislators, lobbyists, and potential solutions like citizen tech oversight boards. Practical takeaways for parents: how to evaluate AI toys, identify risks, and protect children. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to The CyberGuy Report. I'm Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson, and my new podcast explores the surprising ways technology shapes our everyday lives - from the gadgets we trust to the risks we don't see coming. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the breakthroughs, stories, and people redefining how we live, work, and stay safe in a digital world.

Information

  • Creator
    CyberGuy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CyberGuy
  • Show Website
    The CyberGuy Report

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