Internet Scams Part 1: Identity Theft, Romance Scams & Digital Deception | deep dive$

[@CamJames]

Love to today's sponsor, Aura for making this work possible. Hit aura.com/camjames to get a 2-week free trial and see where your info's being leaked. A bonus tip: use a Challenge-Response system with loved ones to protect against the Emergency scam. I got y'all.

[@CM_CALI]

Very nice! 👍🏾

[@Choclocd]

Peace brother. I tried using your Aura link, and they don’t have your name on the YT channel list. Just a heads up.

[@stephife]

Went all the way thru sign-up and purchase, only to learn they don't cover Linux OS 😒 Linux is part of my self protection protocol.

[@stephife]

Hi Mr. James. Really appreciate your content. A little feedback on Aura. I signed up, but before even hanging up from the call - I had to cancel when I understood from the sales agent that the primary service I was interested in (VPN) was not available for my Linux OS ĺaptop. I immediately explained this and received both my payment confirmation and cancelation emails on March 23. Some time after March 23, I kept receiving all these Aura emails and I called them back to reaffirm I had canceled and to insist they stop with the emails. Imagine my surprise when I reviewed a recent credit card statement and discovered I STILL have not been refunded. A third phone call elicited some cock n bull excuse about the end of the year - I don't even know what their point was, but I made it clear I want my money back, stat. They claimed it would happen. Still no check yet but should be on the way. Pretty sure you don't want your name associated with this type of shady behavior. But I know it's not your fault. This is just an FYI head up.

[@RonnieM90]

I work in retail, and they told us years ago that if someone comes in there trying to buy a lot of gift cards to tell them that they were probably being scammed.

[@CamJames]

your work is appreciated!

[@upfront864]

wish you was around in 2015, i got scammed for $1500 for an Audi off craighlist, mf had me fill out 3 ebay cards with money.. i should've known better lol

[@rodrickplum2989]

Same. They would ignore us.

[@bigbro6446]

Either that or they’re the criminals, lots of scammers or dealers in my area use multistore gift cards as a way to launder their money

[@kevinfitzgerald9319]

I tried to buy a bunch of Home Depot gift cards when I did housing renovations a couple summers ago and they tried to stop me because of this haha

[@herschelsmith6581]

We're in the Golden age of scammery. You can see a scam coming and still get caught up.

[@upfront864]

facts cause they will make it sound and look so good

[@CamJames]

those who think they can't be scammed are in the most danger

[@Seweveryday_]

The Golden Age of Scammery is right!

[@bymmim]

That last line 🙌🏽

[@msylvini]

Why did I chuckle at this? 😂

[@kristianwells8830]

My aunt got 12k in credit card debt in a romance scam. She was married and miserable and thought she had an out. Instead she's still trapped in the household that makes her miserable and their finances are even worse than they already were.

[@CamJames]

playing with people's hope is low

[@enemyofYTemployees]

Why is she trying to cheat though?

[@kristianwells8830]

@@enemyofYTemployees Because she does everything for the household, she works and cleans and does everything that needs done and her husband is incapable of bringing in any money or doing anything for her.

[@jdeux3677]

😮

[@plastikpixelz4178]

WOOOW

[@JustAlex1795]

I'm a massive skeptic when it comes to possible scams, but I almost fell for one once. It was during a nationwide heatwave, I was out of town for a couple of days for work, and my pet was chilling at home with the AC. The local energy company called (actually scammers) telling me my power would be shut off unless I could pay them, claiming I was behind on payments (I wasn't, and the guy had the nerve to act offended when I denied it). I was so scared for my pet that I was on the verge of paying them before the alarm bells went off, I googled and confirmed it was a scam, and hung up. They knew exactly what they were doing, making these calls during a heatwave. It's disgusting.

[@CamJames]

it's honestly such a messed up thing to do, i can't even imagine being motivated to use people's vulnerabilities against them like that

[@tiffanymaxwell951]

Had almost identical happen to me. My dog's ASHES were not getting to me because the mail carrier decided to lie and say my address on the package was incomplete (it wasn't) and then the package started to get lost in the system, and I got a text claiming to be from the postal service (who had my number by then and WAS texting me legitimate things pertaining to the situation) and I clicked on the link before I thought through--I was 19hrs into a panic attack by then--luckily I realized about a second later what I was about to do and stopped myself but oh my god I was about to leap right into that.

[@gwazz]

I had a coworker who got taken in by one of the "I'm in the military" romance scam. She's in her late 40s, single, lonely and working night shift at a grocery store - she starts chatting on OKCupid with a guy on deployment her age. This went on for some weeks and I was happy for her, it sounded like they really hit it off. Then he's supposedly back home and wants to come visit her but needs several thousand dollars *now* to pay unexpected travel fees so he can come meet her ASAP. It was clearly a scam at that point, and the betrayal of it really hurt her. They didn't get her money but they did take her time, her emotional commitment, self-esteem and confidence. EDIT: And they almost had my grandparents - my mother arrived for her regular Saturday morning visit to find them in a panic on the phone with all their bank documents out on the table. They'd impersonated me sobbing and begging to be bailed out of Mexican jail for thousands of dollars. Thankfully mom was there to confirm I was asleep in bed (it being noon on a Saturday), but they were already busting out the credits cards when she got there.

[@CamJames]

Ahh shit. thankful for her timing to stop that scam, what a terrible thing to do. as for the romance scam, the toll it takes on your psyche is sometimes bigger than the pain of the financial loss.

[@Lay__Loves]

I have a relative currently in the midst of one, and another who was in one while I was in a long-distance relationship. In comparing notes, I felt like her situation was suspect (met on the phone through a mutual friend, never met, on a deployment that was super long and should have set their alarm off since their father is a vet that had numerous deployments). Anyway, this mf (or mfs plural) was selling them dreams to the point where they SOLD THEIR HOUSE so that they could start their new life together in a new home. Of course it was all a scam and she refuses to talk about it now but I wish I could have gotten through to them sooner. I'm sending this to my other relative who is currently caught up.

[@michaelclark1221]

I study cyber security, and they tell us that the biggest vulnerabilities to our computers are people. Social engineering is usually the gateway that criminals use to get into information systems. The most effective way of preventing an attack is educating people on how phishing works. I also liked how you mentioned the FBI being on top of it. They provide a lot of resources on preventing cyber attacks and are usually the first responders when shit hits the fan. However, in my opinion, local law enforcement need to start stepping in. The FBI is incredibly understaffed when it comes to cyber crime, and most local law enforcement don't have any experience when it comes to this stuff.

[@NewJohariClassic]

I did not know local law enforcement was inexperienced with this...that explains a lot. I had an issue once and he sounded so naive about it I thought he was being sarcastic so I didn't proceed. I changed all my passwords and stopped being on social media so much.

[@CamJames]

yeah I was surprised at how informative and helpful the FBI is on all the types of scams. the research was a lot easier because of them. we definitely need that vigilance and education to hit local law enforcement instead of modern warfare equipment

[@happiness4beginners]

I have never had local enforcement help me with anything on or offline but I have always lived in urban areas where they had a lot on their plate. I almost got taken in by an employment scam. It was rather sophisticated, but my spider sense was tingly so I listened to it.

[@DazedSocial]

I didn’t know the name of it but I’ve been a target of spear fishing. They got my name and place of work from LinkedIn, and then contacted the head of HR (also found in LinkedIn) to change my pay direct deposit from a spoofed email. I’m SO GLAD they emailed me at work for confirmation and didn’t respond. I had just joined corporate America and was tryna rebuild my life 😭

[@CamJames]

that's terrifying tbh. at most I've gotten the fake texts from my company's CEO

[@mercurius_5962]

These scam mfers almost killed my father one time -- "the IRS" tried to convince him he was going to be arrested/financially ruined & it was the day after he got out of the hospital with heart trouble. Scared him bad enough he had to go right back to the doctor, he made it through okay but died of something unrelated years later. Thank you for putting a face to the victims and helping fight the scammers

[@CamJames]

wow. I'm sorry to hear that fam. that's how serious these scams can get, it's always deeper than the money

[@CedarCream]

Another sad thing is that people behind the catfish scams could be hostages or slaves. Men and women are kidnapped by gangs or tricked to go to another country for work and have their visas stolen. They are then forced to run these accounts. If they escape and go to the police, they’ll just be returned and beaten.

[@CamJames]

dark but true.

[@MidnightAndLuna]

It’s common with ‘pig butchering’ scams. All those who are reaching out to the potential victims were kidnapped (usually under the guise of a real job) and forced into it. They don’t see any of the profit and are kept in horrible conditions. The only ones who are involved that are not held against their will and making money are the people running the scam ring.

[@adamkostowicz7289]

I was waiting for my medication from the VA through the USPS and it was taking longer than usual. I get a text saying it’s the USPS and the address on my package wasn’t complete and I needed to pay 50 cents to have it resent. Boom they had my damn card number and someone tried using 900$ on some luxury online store in New York. I only had 500 left so then they charged 300. I live check to check sadly but I have a live in mother in law, 2 kids and sister in law I take care of . Luckily I had all the bills paid and food and supplies. People think that it’s a victimless crime but I had to wait a few days as the charge was pending to that store…what if I hadn’t had my bills paid….bills don’t care about your money issues

[@CamJames]

sorry you had to go through that, it's horrible and absolutely not victimless

[@adamkostowicz7289]

It’s okay I just let the VA know because I got the same text again when I was waiting on meds again so somehow someone is being notified about when packages from the USPS are coming im

[@Madjas00]

The answer really is "Media Literacy". We are at a time where we are being mentally manipulated whether it's legitimate or not on a daily basis and it's important that people be educated on the importance of being able to spot a scam or dishonesty.

[@CamJames]

agreed, great point. my goal is to increase literacy period, even the literal kind

[@viceroybolt3518]

If I had to add any one thing... NEVER EVER EVER TRUST A FREE OR FOUND USB STICK.

[@CamJames]

absolutely

[@MRiriFan]

FYI don't keep your social security card in your wallet. It literally says on the card that you should not keep it in your wallet.

[@marccoppejans1046]

I am a 70 year old guy from the Netherlands loving your shows.

[@CamJames]

thank you for being here!

[@scottbuck1572]

I really appreciate how you talk about the structure: like so many people think "I would never fall for a scam" because they think it's an isolated incident, not multiple organization exploiting the mindset of social media and the people on it. Amazing work!!!!!!! :)

[@CamJames]

never underestimate 'em!

[@zolavib1187]

Nah I've been alive 40 years scams are all the same just different platforms if you know the mindset of a scammer you will never get scammed so long as you keep your guard up. The tech might change but the scammers mind is still a scammer. The only one you could fall for is a voice over of someone you know. That's difficult. And we all know about that one so you should be prepared n

[@PTPAUL-ry7jc]

The 1st step to getting scammed is thinking it would never happen to you! You have no defenses because you don't think you need to be protected from anything. That's an easy target! Then the cycle of shame begins because you thought that you were too smart to be tricked in this way, so you keep it to yourself. That puts the greater community at risk because they may not have awareness of that particular scam. Sometimes we have to be reminded about they ways we risk our private and personally identifiable information.

[@eliasstewart8389]

I used to work at a credit union and can’t tell you how many people in my generation (Gen Z) would fall for check scams. Most of them were strapped for cash and trying to make ends meet. Thanks for bringing more awareness to this. Scammers are the scum of the earth.

[@CamJames]

damn, that sucks to hear.

[@johnchedsey1306]

That nearly happened to a friend last year who was desperate for a job. This guy strung her along for awhile and ultimately "emailed" a check to her to deposit using her mobile app. It finally dawned on her it wasn't real money so she ultimately didn't lose anything except some time, but it pissed me off that they were targeting people desperate for work and income.

[@ClivesEnglishCorner]

This channel is gonna be YUGE. The quality, the delivery, the information, everything is TOP NOTCH.

[@CamJames]

aye thank you so much. one dope ass viewer at a time.

[@highbread817]

I love this channel man, it's a hidden gem. Cam is a really good presenter

[@kellybaker6353]

Gen. X here. When I went to school for my undergrad, they were using our social security numbers as our student ID’s. Yes, really. Three years in that changed, but the damage was done. I’ve been notified in the past of data breaches that might contain my personal information from that university and at least one former health insurance company. Do yourselves a favor and freeze your credit. You’ll have to temporarily unfreeze it when someone needs to do a credit check if you are buying a car, but it guarantees a roadblock for any scammer that tries to get a loan in your name.

[@CamJames]

damn, i didn't know that was ever a thing. wow

[@wen6519]

Wait you can do that?!

[@mariedevan]

How do you freeze your credit?

[@Tribow]

Im someone who's super good at keeping my personal info pretty unknown, but college messed me up one day. I needed to by the graduation gown and the site we were told to buy from had a data breach. Boom, credit card stolen. From there they found their way to my identity and now my name + personal info was easy pickings. I'm worried for the younger generations since I see so many people with their real name, selfies, phone numbers, and address on their public profiles and I don't know if they understand just how much of a target that puts on their backs. Your online identity should be separate from your real one.

[@CamJames]

i agree 100%, that separation is becoming much more crucial these days. the internet simply can't be trusted, it's younger and less secure than we like to think.

[@Greebs]

You heard of the $6,400 stimmy going around and how people are missing out on it? Me neither cause it’s a damn scam mint KZbin allows ads like them to exist

[@CamJames]

it'd be nice if they stopped those, i agree

[@ExaltedWarrior]

7:40 Leave your Social Security Card at home kids. Only bring it with you when it's absolutely necessary.

[@CamJames]

🎯

[@jamiemorrissey8801]

Thank you for including captions that aren't auto generated - it's very appreciated.

[@CamJames]

you're very welcome, y'all are worth it

[@JustinDoesntLookAt]

IT guy here. Awareness is half the battle. I blame Apple for the complete tech illiteracy of the younger generations lol

[@CamJames]

awareness is the first goal, always. advanced ppl like you know most of this but many don't

[@Epok317]

It only took 45 seconds to convince me to subscribe. I've been scammed. I thought I was too smart to be scammed. I played myself.

[@CamJames]

too late, you're in it now

[@JulieAndersonvideos]

Genxer here, almost fell off the couch when I heard Genx haha. Somebody sees us! That segment on the senior getting scammed was good to show. My Mom is vigilant about scams and helping her friends avoid them. Elderly women outliving their husbands, they grew up in such a different time, they're trusting of most people. Thank you for creating more awareness around these scams with some solid advice. The shame that comes from being scammed keep many victims silent and protect the scammer. Looking forward to part 2!

[@CamJames]

i see y'all! gotta respect those that set the table for us. Shoutout to your Mom 🫶🏾

[@sdotcire2574]

I'm an '88er and the first thing I remember when thinking about the early internet was everyone calling it the "information super highway"! And I'm just in chatrooms like.. A/S/L

[@CamJames]

lmaoo the memories!

[@lasskinn474]

a lot of these are 90s scams, but, back then there were a lot less people to fall for the scams. like some elderly people they didn't have internet banking to get scammed their passwords for. some of these worked just on paper letters. browser and information was what the internet was sold to public to, like with you know microsoft encarta but bigger. 90s pron sites were such scams always trying to get your credit cards, if you were an enterprising kid you could just get generators to make random invalid cc's that passed the crc check. edit: friggin peeps from .it coming to every chatroom asking for cyber/asl

[@kamjohnson6877]

I work at a retail and tech store, we are actually trained to see when someones getting scammed, someone coming in buying hella apple gift cards every few days, youre getting scammed and we have to tell you. And yes ive had to tell people they were getting scammed

[@CamJames]

doing the lord's work fam

[@MirrorSurfer]

That voice imitation is some scary ish. If my sibling called me talkin' bout some "They locked me up for drifting at the Wal-Mart and taking out the hotdog cart." I'd be hard pressed not to believe it. The only reason I'd probably be skeptical is cuse they got caught.

[@zachalmighty7104]

Happened to an older aunt of mine who was going through Alzheimer's at least 5 years ago now, She was called in the afternoon and told I was in a car accident in Utah hit someone, and was in jail/ needed bail, luckily when she got worked up she called my grandmother and figured everything out, but she was close to sending money, and said they used my voice. Was the weirdest thing, don't wish it on anyone.

[@NewJohariClassic]

@@zachalmighty7104 That reminds me of something I saw on the news where the daughter who was studying out of state was allegedly kidnapped and held for ransom. The mother said the voice sounded just like her so she believed it. Later they found out AI technology was used and don't know who it was. I think her number was spoofed so they couldn't trace it back. I wonder if that happened to you or if it was someone that knows you personally and could imitate your voice.

[@tcbobb1613]

​@@zachalmighty7104 same thing happened to my grandpa in 2020. He actually drove to an his bank to get more money out of his account. The bank teller stop him because was asking for over 2k I believe.

[@tcbobb1613]

I think he gave the scammer like a couple hundred dollars.

[@zachalmighty7104]

@@NewJohariClassic yes it was something similar, but back when this stuff was in its infancy, they probably couldn't Ai you're exact voice like they can now, most likely someone imitating what they thought I might sound like.

[@e66iu]

Cameron = Romance. I can never un-learn this information.

[@CamJames]

haha i learned it as a teen and been holding onto that ever since

[@madisonsveen9396]

I really appreciate this video. I work at a library and one of our regulars when through almost that exact romance scam. I didn't realize until working with her how organized it really is. There were 2 separate Catfishers messaging her working together, corroborating each other's stories. And it sucks that these scammers target those at their most lonely and vulnerable. Thanks for taking the time to cover this, and for being understanding of the woman here who fell for it. And for being open about your own experience

[@CamJames]

thank you for the perspective. it can happen to anyone in a period of vulnerability, they're extremely patient

[@xelefonte]

I think what I like most about Cam James is that not only does he read many of the comments but he also regularly hearts people’s comments as seen with this video. There are so many KZbinrs who feel that reading and hearting comments will make them feel unimportant…that part of content creating is to only create and not consume any feedback…that reading comments is for irrelevant people. I hate that notion. If anything, it shows you appreciate your subscribers and it will make them more dedicated to your channel. Can James does this better than any KZbinr I’ve seen.

[@CamJames]

wow, didn't know ppl were paying that much attention lol. i just appreciate that y'all are the ones who allow me to do this. I've spent over a decade making art without very many fans, so every single person here matters to me.

[@adomagala1]

That lead up and transition into the ad spot was flawless! I usually skip baked in ads, but watched this one cause it flows so nicely.

[@CamJames]

the fact that you're excited about a transition into an ad means i did a great job lol. Aura is seriously dope, I encourage y'all to try the trial out at least

[@TheBlackScatPack]

Finally, KZbin recommends me an actual useful video. I will definitely tune in for part two. I’m 35 and I’ve started to tune out of social media but at the same time I do like to watch KZbin to stay on game about the latest scams and “plays” people try to run.

[@CamJames]

see you next time fam ☀️

[@matthewsmith2362]

This dude makes good content

[@Ehh.....]

Most scams happen to gullible people but most gullible people don't think that they're gullible.

[@herschelsmith6581]

Facts

[@CamJames]

that's the key, people who think they can't be scammed are hit every day.

[@figo007tv]

Nah, That's bullshit.

[@Emancipatriot]

Most scams happen to people that were socially engineered. Less to do with how gullable they are

[@NicoDa1]

Nothing to do with gullible, maybe for basic scams like get rich quick. Some scams are complex and if you don’t do your own investigation it might seem real.

[@Educatedunhousedperson]

THINKING YOU ARE IMMUNE TO SCAMS IS THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING SCAMMED. NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO GETTING SCAMMED.

[@CamJames]

🎯🎯

[@DrAnarchy69]

I was almost a victim of romance scam. Ultimately what made me sure it was fake was when this person wanted me to pay for thousands of dollars of shipping. That was immediately when I finally realized that this seems like a money laundering scheme. I came INCREDIBLY close to being completely romance scammed in a horrible way 😟

[@CamJames]

that's the thing, a lot of us have come close even if we don't wanna admit it. they're everywhere.

[@sarimsalman2698]

Unrelated question, but what is your pfp? Is this some sort of Anarcho Communist org?

[@teaharris]

A scammer used a fake version of my deceased mom's Instagram to try and get money out of me. And they literally used my high school senior photo and mocked me for my mom dying because I didn't give them money. These scammers are ruthless.

[@staticfanatic]

hey cam, the interstitial music volume is so much better now. thanks for taking my past comments to heart. great video.

[@CamJames]

i listen to y'all and value your input. thank you for watching!

[@diwaalejandrogalvez796]

Your production is WAY WAY above than what your subscribers should be. SUPER high-end production here.

[@CamJames]

i appreciate that!

[@MrTaco6]

old people be picking up the phone these days and an AI voice clone of their dead son tells them to buy $1500 of Amazon gift cards at CVS and he'll come back to life

[@KMO325]

First, I’m just happy to see a commentary KZbinr who is my age and not 6 years younger or older than me (seriously, for a minute I thought nobody of my age group made KZbin videos and it was just Zoomers and Gen Xers). I nearly got caught in a malware hostage prepaid card scam. I was saved simply by the fact that I kept scratching the pins off those cards they asked for and someone got to me in time to let me know what was happening. This was in the early 2010s when I was still in college and crypto had not blown-up yet. I’m always worried about the elders in my family and the call-center scams. Good job on this vid as always man.

[@CamJames]

we exist! glad you got saved early, it's scary out here

[@zachalmighty7104]

I shit you not after watching this video, I got online and was talking with a close friend, he works at a bank, saved an older guy from being fleeced for 5k unfortunately he had already taken out 10k earlier in the day, and no one caught it. Tell your family members who may be vulnerable to this stuff, you never know when it might happen to you or your family.

[@MasDingos]

I typically skip the enthusiastic polemics of random YT'ers, but appreciate alliteration so watched the deep dive$ Digital Deception. And then the rest of your content waiting for part 2. Authentic, well researched, and nicely produced. First channel I've subbed in ages.

[@CamJames]

what a dope compliment. thank you for taking a chance on me. I'll keep bringing my best

[@Entrejai]

Making your shirt matching the color of the background is excellent bro😂 You smart ass hell

[@NMS-Eudaimon]

Your content just keeps getting better. I haven't had to deal with any of this but I truly appreciate the compassion you showed for those who've been scammed. I get so sick of folks acting like getting taken in is a major personality flaw

[@CamJames]

thank you sincerely. i had a choice to make when i started this series, and i chose to be empathetic.

[@macabrew]

If you're a 90s baby and played Runescape you're unscammable, you already know all the tricks..

[@dabomb1111]

I work in IT and its sometimes a struggle to get these points across to our users. The examples you used were great. I especially appreciated the bits about emotional vulnerability and how it can play a major role in someone making a really obvious mistake in judgement. Thanks Cam, great video.

[@CamJames]

we're all just trying our best.

[@golfknut777]

You just showed up in my recommended feed, you have a great delivery style and great comic timing. Subbed, keep up the good work dude.

[@CamJames]

yessir! thanks for watching

[@_Solmega]

I appreciate the compassion you show people that have been scammed. I feel horribly when I hear about them because I know that for each scam, there is one more person that loses faith in human beings. I don't understand totally ragging on people that are already down and probably feeling dumb af.

[@CamJames]

i always do, because I've been them and i understand desperation as well as deception.

[@_Solmega]

@@CamJames That approach will take your channel far! Love the content

[@CM_CALI]

That nokia is an artifact and a relic 😂

[@Talented3003]

Right lol. But I miss the build quality of them old phones tho. U can drop them b!tches a thousand times and the only real issue u had to deal with was the printed numbers rubbing off over time

[@CamJames]

belongs in the Smithsonian

[@Talented3003]

Right lol. And I miss the build quality of them old phones too. I could drop them a thousand times and the only thing you'd have to worry about is the printed numbers rubbing off over time

[@CM_CALI]

@@CamJames I have an inkling it already is...I'll check it out! 👍🏾

[@CM_CALI]

@@Talented3003 I drowned mine in oj college '04....I will NEVER forget that day on the yard. I criiiieeeddd 😆😄

[@Morristown337]

I am a millenial born in the 80s and I very much remember the internet rollout. It was also the rollout of affordable home pc computers. Windows 95 and AOL dial up internet are what changed the game. I remember this very well and I am NOT gen x.

[@CamJames]

congrats? i remember it too but i wasn't an adult, so that perception is different.

[@BlackJoePesci]

96 kid and I learned my lesson early. I've been scammed twice in my preteen/teens using the internet and ever since then I've been skeptical of everything whether it's on the internet or not. Losing that money early on in my life taught me to second guess most things even if it's certain, part of the reason why I don't gamble in general. That romance name rearrangement was flagrant 😂.

[@justinreynolds3411]

This needs to be shown to folks in retirement centers. It is disgusting how they are taken advantage of all the time.

[@CamJames]

all the time, it's sad to hear about

[@deartic1025]

CamJames upload lets go

[@CamJames]

let's gooo

[@nonesocruel]

Getting off FB / social in 2016 best choice of my life. The amount of thirst, king and queens and scammers and fakeass is unreal

[@CamJames]

it's a cesspool

[@AuntBA]

Your videos need to be added to an educational curriculum for young adults 💯 Everyone I show your videos to absorbs them. Your content is engaging and sparks really great conversations. Also I love the sweater!

[@CamJames]

yo thank you! that'd be a dream, i want my legacy to be the impact i make on the next generations behind me.

[@mrhobbeys]

I help people with cleanup on the cybersecurity side as my main job. It’s devastating for many people and often the most embarrassing experience for them.

[@monicarathbun5433]

Yess 1990 babies who are interested in educating people on online scams. I love it! Definitely subbed for this one. I look forward to seeing more of your content

[@CamJames]

ayee thank you!

[@MrRLYWhite]

I used to major in cyber security and this is a great video. Only thing I want to add to this is people really need to work on their password game. Stop using your personal information and obvious ideas. You need to think of weird out there patterns that nobody would be able to trace to your accounts and all your passwords need to be different and go for the 2-factor authentication (2FA). This is getting more important every day with the new technology being developed to crack passwords.

[@CamJames]

i think most people fall victim to that one. having to look up your passwords every time is annoying, but i will say the tools that store them on your devices are helpful in that regard. Aura does it

[@Emancipatriot]

Most places let you use multiple words so I made all my passwords just random words I can remember with some numbers and characters mixed in

[@tcbobb1613]

​@@Emancipatriotjust use an password generator even if it's online. The most important thing is to use a different password for every single website/app. Because if one website gets hacked you are not 100% hacked as well. Since you do not share same password across all of your accounts.

[@averyeml]

I’ve gotten pretty good at picking chunks of words from random bits of my life every year or so to cobble into a password that makes sense to me, but looks fairly like gibberish to anyone else. Without giving much away, one was the first three letters from each of the five website URLs I opened up when I got to work every morning that year, another was part of the fandom name for a movie I like combined with part of the animal mascot of the school I worked at, stuff like that. Haven’t had an issue yet

[@benosick8542]

All these romance scammers are making it tough for us who actually do work on oil rigs or ships.

[@CamJames]

lol absolutely

[@jeffstaples347]

Thanks for your work man. Recent subscriber and I'm really glad you put the empathy and 'what to do' in your documentaries. Thanks for what you do.

[@QueenOfPessimism]

Maaaan scammers used to get me all the time with the employment scams. The ones where they would get your info from indeed and pose as an employer and offer some office/stay at home position for way more than it actually is. They use real businesses too. I was desperate and needed money and job and fell for them everytime. I finally stopped falling for it but it took a while. Desperation and high emotions can make anyone a victim. Even the most tech savvy folks :/.

[@CamJames]

exactly. all it requires is that you make one mistake. having to be so aware all the time isn't fun but it's our reality

[@siethomas4046]

Love your content..I came across your channel a few weeks ago and the first video I watched was about the lottery. You talk about controversial yet real issues and your sense of humor is similar to mine. I have written down pieces of similar information but I don’t have the courage to post videos about it yet. Moreover, I love the soliloquy. So keep going!

[@CamJames]

thank you for sharing this, it means a lot. you got this, feel free to hit me for advice on IG anytime.

[@illye6000]

I accidentally watched pt 4 first but now I’m back to watch the whole thing from the beginning.

[@notsla7315]

Just found and listened to all the deep dives while at work and a new video pops up right when i finish. Great stuff

[@CamJames]

aye, welcome to the fam. hope you enjoy this one, and trust me: watching will triple your pleasure

[@JoyfulOne468]

I binged your content this weekend. You're a blessing!! Keep up the good work.

[@CamJames]

that's really dope, thanks for watching. i will!

[@winn3337]

Props to you for being this consistent with these vids whilst still working full time. Love the vids

[@CamJames]

thank you for seeing the work. I'm tired sometimes

[@ryanthompson1009]

Just found your channel. You are my new favorite KZbinr. I’m about to binge watch all your stuff. Amazing content bro🔥🔥🔥

[@CamJames]

man. this is incredible to hear. glad it's appealing for you and i'll keep delivering

[@lazygardens]

To prevent or minimize the risk of the voice mimics, have a "safe word" or phrase to act as an ID check.

[@CamJames]

top-notch advice

[@abiola33]

You doing some good good work here. Love from the UK, and from a Londoner who looks after social media in gov finance who has written about scams and debt help etc. How you talk about things is super clear and digestible!! #Subbed

[@CamJames]

awesome to hear that you think so, that's the goal 🥳

[@scottbuck1572]

Oh yeah!!!!! I have been waiting all day :)

[@CamJames]

glad to deliver fam, looking forward to your feedback!

[@LukãoRZN]

i don't know how i found your channel honestly, but, it's the greatest one I've stumbled upon this year, very informative and we'll produced man, keep it up with the good work 💪

[@i3p973]

I see a Wire fan when I see “My Name Is My Name.” Also it’s sad that COVID was a golden age for a lot of these scammers due to the world moving more online and the wealth gap only getting larger.

[@CamJames]

greatest show ever made. and it definitely was a golden age, the numbers are crazy

[@ynmonroe]

To add, if it's never happened to you before and is unexpected, be wary. As in, you're contacted by someone you didn't expect to have your number or a "big company" you didn't contact first. An out of the blue email, call, or text message. Even DMs. If they aren't your normal contact, why are you theirs? Lastly, even if it sounds like someone you know, why not contact them using whatever method you usually communicate with the on? Or even have a mutual acquaintance reach out to that person for you?

[@saikog.]

My grandpop got scammed when someone tried to use my voice, telling him that i was in jail and not to tell my parents. Thankfully he was talked out of sending money, but this is madness. I've also noticed some bot calls that wait for you to speak before hanging up, so i think there might be correlation

[@CamJames]

yeah now that you mention it, that's a great point. Wow.

[@Jennn]

Thank you for teaching others about these things! I think you did a really good job of telling it in a way that won't overwhelm the folks that need to hear this message the most.

[@CamJames]

really glad to hear that. they're my target

[@ditzyspell_]

i’m studying cybersecurity right now, this is some good information. i’m gonna use this video and the sources in the description for future assignments.

[@jungjaehyuns]

your mention of linkedin reminded me of the vague fear i have of somebody stealing my info through a fake job on indeed 😭 fantastic video as always!

[@CamJames]

it's definitely a thing unfortunately lol

[@jaymerritt411]

My friend got a call last week from a young woman crying and saying "dad i need your help" I sprung up and asked was it his teen daughter because it sounded just like her. He kept asking whats wrong what happened. Suddenly a man got on the phone panicking saying his daughter got in a car accident. My friend kept asking what her name was and the guy just kept talking over it. I immediately knew it was a scam. He asked him again and the guy said " i dont know she looks like shes in her 20s". The average person would ask her name and would have relayed the info immediately, especially if shes coherent. Once my friend told the guy his daughter was not an adult, he apologized and hung up...on to the next sucka. I told him he info got into the hands of a scammer database and he needs to be careful. The following week i literally witnessed him clicking on a link in an email about a bitcoin payment to him! He had no knowledge of why but literally clicked on the link😂😂 I couldn't believe him and had to educate him further on what to look for. Mind you, he's only 31. We need more info like this video out on scamming. Thank you Cam James for this

[@CamJames]

no doubt! glad this helps. the depths ppl will go to don't surprise me at this point but it still sucks to hear.

[@jaymerritt411]

@CamJames Yes! The desperation is crazy! Thank u Cam for the PSA😊

[@Pavkah]

My mother has fallen victim to scam sites and I did it once buying an ebook (that they never emailed) but thankfully got a refund after reporting them multiple times. It was more egregious because it was from a KZbin ad!! Glad KZbin is out here protecting us lol

[@CamJames]

lol i think KZbin tries their best, it's a big job. so many new scams pop up weekly

[@sovcitwatch]

I got scammed at 16. It's how I got my first bank account. Luckily between the time i got the "job offer" and the time i opened the account they stopped responding.

[@CamJames]

very lucky indeed.

[@ShakiraJonay]

Very informative video! Its crazy out here. especially in ATL smh (Nice sweater btw)

[@CamJames]

thank you! it definitely is

[@americanindeon]

Freeze your credit. It's a kill switch for most big financial scams.

[@americanindeon]

Oh and freeze you kids credit too! No joke!

[@ljaaraica3372]

Emotion is a key thing to this. I am susceptible loneliness with small friend group and a few acquaintances, but also do not trust anyone. I worked in banking, insurance and healthcare and have seen all types of scams, I remember the paypal scams in the early 2000s and the loan scams in the late 2000s. I am like the dude Jake Gyllenhaal in the bubble movie from the 90's, untrust worthy of the world. My late dad always told me trust nobody son, only your parents and people you know.

[@CamJames]

super key. My pops told me the same

[@squirrelsauce8525]

I have never left a youtube comment before, but your effort and the quality of your videos are just so amazing. I know you will make it big one day with content like this and hope I can say I was an early sub when you hit 1 million. Keep up the good work and make more videos for me to binge.

[@CamJames]

I'm honored, thank you for the support and i def will

[@Kalaloo]

Where were you when I was teaching a class on all this? Just kidding, this is great work, thank you for making a video about it.

[@ironarcana970]

Been loving this series, man. Always looking forward to more!

[@CamJames]

glad to hear it, more is exactly what's on the way

[@tigerlike7472]

Literally what you explained about your break up is how I got scammed. It was baaaaad.

[@CamJames]

that level of depression isn't easy to explain

[@tigerlike7472]

@@CamJames sincerely. That's why I give grace to a lot of people who get preyed upon. Glad you're making content to educate people. It matters a lot!

[@camelbusbananawomp4603]

big fan of this deep dive series of yours

[@CamJames]

thank you!

[@plastikpixelz4178]

Wake up babe new Cam dropped

[@OnyanaRosa]

A great way to keep from falling for the emotional scam is to have a secret code word that you and your loved ones agree upon to use in the time of need or trouble.

[@CamJames]

absolutely, great tip. added to my pinned comment a little while ago

[@OnyanaRosa]

@@CamJames ohh I see! 🙂

[@iamjustkiwi]

This channel is definitely going places, videos are just the right length, very dense with info and presented in a way anyone can understand and we need a lot more like this nowadays. Keep up the great work!

[@CamJames]

you got a deal bro 👨🏾‍💻

[@upfront864]

man scams are rapid, and as an indie artist, they come so fast and from everywhere

[@CamJames]

all angles

[@cetriyasArtnComicsChannel]

the bad jobs is what got me. when they got to wanting my account is when I know this was up. I've locked my credit and have all notifications on (plus I already have my ID stolen from a bad landlord or whom ever they use for 'background checks) so the IRS and my banks already have my accounts on watch. and can I say, those fake USPS texts are annoying!!

[@akosua8779]

In Canada it's The CANADA POST scam text always claiming I got a package on hold, like first of all I have to sign up for notifications with the tracking number for packages. The mail courier will never text unless you yourself have signed up for each and every package. Those messages are soo infuriating

[@faonisahuman7033]

Thank you for spreading awareness about this for real. I've had scams way too close to home and keep getting employment scam texts. It's hard because it's predatory, especially to people who are needing these jobs

[@CamJames]

no doubt, been there smh

[@jennzifur]

Congratulations! I think the last time I was here a few weeks ago, you were around 10k in subs or something. You earned it, young man! ✌🏾🏆

[@CamJames]

it's been crazy to see. thank you!

[@JeremyStrickling]

Showin’ up for the algorithm. As promised.

[@gojosatoru__]

do you know whats crazy? younger gen z is so tech illiterate is crazy. i help at my moms k-12 (she runs the k-8) and the fact i have to tell these kids how to navigate files is crazy. these kids grew up with ipads in their hands, but if you asked them to do anything that isn’t obviously labeled then they can’t do it. you tell them find the documents folder and they couldn’t do it. young gen z will be the next to get scammed terribly. now i’m older gen z and can confidently remember wishing i had a facebook or myspace, favoriting on youtube etc etc. i’m still older than most all these social media sites and i wanted a blackberry for the LONGESTTTT.

[@CamJames]

it's a good point that our generation doesn't often think about...some of these kids are doomed

[@MartyMcNasty]

I have definitely half fallen for an employment scam lol they catch you with your ass out on these job sites