Some scams are so convincing, they’re almost impossible to spot. With phishing emails that look like they’re from your bank, deep fake videos that mimic real people, and AI-generated messages that feel personal, it’s getting harder to know what’s real and what’s a trap.

In this episode, I sit down with Gabrielle Hempel, a security operations specialist at Exabeam and a current law student at Purdue University. Gabrielle brings a sharp perspective shaped by years in cybersecurity, a master’s in cybersecurity and global affairs from NYU, and hands-on experience navigating everything from vulnerability management to executive risk consulting. She even wrote her graduate thesis on critical infrastructure security.

We talk about the new era of digital deception, why younger people are actually falling for scams more often, and how criminals are using AI and current events to build trust and bypass defenses. Gabrielle shares practical advice, personal stories, and a fresh way to think about digital safety that could help you spot the next scam before it costs you.

• [01:09] Gabrielle has held quite a few jobs in cybersecurity. She's currently the Security Operations Strategist at Exabeam.
• [01:40] She's involved with anything to do with the internal security operation.
• [02:04] She majored in psychology and neuroscience. Working in Pharma and with medical devices led her to the path of cybersecurity.
• [04:34] We learn about an incident that she was involved in. Her parents were attempting to file their taxes with TurboTax, but they were flagged as already filing. This led to a lot of shenanigans with the IRS.
• [06:29] Most everyone has been a victim to some type of fraud or scam.
• [07:20] Our information is out there. It's more about staying vigilant and keeping an eye on things.
• [08:05] A lot of the current scams are blending with the cybercrime ecosystem.
• [09:17] AI has made it easier for people to craft more convincing phishing emails.
• [12:51] Are modern phishing emails getting through the spam filters more often?
• [15:48] How it's not retirees being the people most frequently caught in scams.
• [16:42] Why 20 to 29 year-olds frequently fall for scams. It could be because of their comfort with technology.
• [21:12] Better education surrounding threats might be a good idea for young people.
• [22:47] As scammers get more information about us, targeting will be easier.
• [24:32] Big trends are voice cloning and deep fakes.
• [27:51] Scams around shipping fees and tariffs are skyrocketing.
• [29:15] Advice includes adopting zero trust with communication.
• [33:10] If you're not expecting it. It's potentially suspect.
• [34:45] Best practices include doing your due diligence, and if you feel like something may not be legitimate go around and check.

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

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Technology is a double-edged sword. It can empower us, connect us, and solve problems, but it can also be used to exploit, manipulate, and harm. When it comes to protecting children online, that line gets especially thin. Digital forensics, AI-powered image classification, and global law enforcement collaboration are now essential tools for keeping families safe in a world that moves faster than most of us can keep up.

Debbie Garner knows this world intimately. She’s a retired Special Agent in charge with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and former commander of the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. For years she led efforts to track down online predators and bring justice to survivors. These days she’s working in the private sector, serving on the boards of Raven and Revere Technologies, pushing for smarter tech solutions and stronger training to support those still on the front lines.

In this episode we talk about the growing problem of online child exploitation, the reality of underfunded cybercrime units and the ways technology is being used to fight back. Whether you’re a parent, an educator or just someone who cares about kids online, you need to hear this.

• [00:58] Debbie shares her law enforcement background over 30 years. She even worked undercover buying crack!
• [02:19] She spent the last 8 years of her career as the Supervisor Special Agent in charge of GBI's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.
• [02:45] Now that she's retired from law enforcement, she works in the private sector with technology companies.
• [05:36] It's become her passion, even in retirement, to help those who are victims of exploitation.
• [07:09] Most children are victimized by someone they know. There's also plenty of predators online.
• [08:55] There are multiple organizations that work on child exploitation investigations.
• [10:53] People in law enforcement do tend to prioritize these types of crimes.
• [12:12] We talk about how the investigations begin.
• [13:53] Cases have increased from 2400 tips a year to over 30,000.
• [15:17] There's never enough technology to keep up with the increase.
• [16:41] RAVEN is a lobbying group to request additional funding from Congress.
• [18:33] With over 30,000 tips last year Georgia made over 450 arrests.
• [22:13] There's now technology that will help find CSAM on phones. There are also some amazing investigations on the dark web.
• [25:15] OSINT is helping investigate and it's a collaborative community.
• [27:55] Channels to report exploitation. Start with the platform, then National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and law enforcement.
• [31:34] Don't put images on the internet. Websites like Take It Down can help with images of underage people and Take It Down can help adults.
• [33:43] Always mention if the person is underage when you make a report.
• [34:10] Talk to your kids and start early with age appropriate conversations about CSAM.

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

• Podcast Web Page
• Facebook Page
• whatismyipaddress.com
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• Debbie@Hexordia.com
• The Innocent Justice Foundation
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• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• StopNCII.org
• Take It Down