Easy Prey Podcast By Chris Parker cover art

Easy Prey

Easy Prey

By: Chris Parker
Listen for free

Chris Parker, the founder of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, interviews guests and tells real-life stories about topics to open your eyes to the danger and traps lurking in the real world, ranging from online scams and frauds to everyday situations where people are trying to take advantage of you—for their gain and your loss. Our goal is to educate and equip you, so you learn how to spot the warning signs of trouble, take quick action, and lower the risk of becoming a victim. Biographies & Memoirs Politics & Government True Crime
Episodes
  • You Are Traceable with OSINT

    You Are Traceable with OSINT
    Dec 17 2025
    Publicly available data can paint a much clearer picture of our lives than most of us realize, and this episode takes a deeper look at how those tiny digital breadcrumbs like photos, records, searches, even the background of a Zoom call can be pieced together to reveal far more than we ever intended. To help break this down, I'm joined by Cynthia Hetherington, Founder and CEO of The Hetherington Group, a longtime leader in open-source intelligence. She also founded Osmosis, the global association and conference for OSINT professionals, and she oversees OSINT Academy, where her team trains investigators, analysts, and practitioners from all experience levels. Cynthia shares how she started her career as a librarian who loved solving information puzzles and eventually became one of the earliest people applying internet research to real investigative work. She talks about the first wave of cybercrime in the 1990s, how she supported law enforcement before the web was even mainstream, and why publicly accessible data today is more powerful and more revealing than ever. We get into how OSINT actually works in practice, from identifying a location based on a sweatshirt logo to examining background objects in video calls. She also explains why the U.S. has fewer privacy protections than many assume, and how property records, social media posts, and online datasets combine to expose surprising amounts of personal information. We also explore the growing role of AI in intelligence work. Cynthia breaks down how tools like ChatGPT can accelerate analysis but also produce hallucinations that investigators must rigorously verify, especially when the stakes are legal or security-related. She walks through common vulnerabilities people overlook, the low-hanging fruit you can remove online, and why your online exposure often comes from the people living in your home. Cynthia closes by offering practical advice to protect your digital footprint and resources for anyone curious about learning OSINT themselves. This is a fascinating look at how much of your life is already visible, and what you can do to safeguard the parts you'd rather keep private. Show Notes: [01:17] Cynthia Hetherington, Founder & CEO of The Hetherington Group is here to discuss OSINT or Open-Source Intelligence.[02:40] Early cyber investigators began turning to her for help long before online research tools became mainstream.[03:39] Founding The Hetherington Group marks her transition from librarian to private investigator.[04:22] Digital vulnerability takes center stage as online data becomes widely accessible and increasingly revealing.[05:22] We get a clear breakdown of what OSINT actually is and what counts as "publicly available information."[06:40] A simple trash bin in a photo becomes a lesson in how quickly locations can be narrowed down.[08:03] Cynthia shares the sweatshirt example to show how a tiny image detail can identify a school and possibly a city.[09:32] Background clues seen during COVID video calls demonstrate how unintentional information leaks became routine.[11:12] A news segment with visible passwords highlights how everyday desk clutter can expose sensitive data.[12:14] She describes old threat-assessment techniques that relied on family photos and subtle personal cues.[13:32] Cynthia analyzes the balance and lighting of a Zoom backdrop, pointing out what investigators look for.[15:12] Virtual and real backgrounds each reveal different signals about a person's environment.[16:02] Reflections on screens become unexpected sources of intelligence as she notices objects outside the camera frame.[16:37] Concerns grow around how easily someone can be profiled using only public information.[17:13] Google emerges as the fastest tool for building a quick, surface-level profile of almost anyone.[18:32] Social media takes priority in search results and becomes a major driver of self-exposed data.[19:40] Cynthia compares AI tools to the early internet, describing how transformative they feel for investigators.[20:58] A poisoning case from the early '90s demonstrates how online expert communities solved problems before search engines existed.[22:40] She recalls using early listservs to reach forensic experts long before modern digital research tools were available.[23:44] Smarter prompts become essential as AI changes how OSINT professionals gather reliable information.[24:55] Cynthia introduces her C.R.A.W.L. method and explains how it mirrors the traditional intelligence lifecycle.[26:12] Hallucinations from AI responses reinforce the need for human review and verification.[27:48] We learn why repeatable processes are crucial for building trustworthy intelligence outputs.[29:05] Elegant-sounding AI answers illustrate the danger of unverified assumptions.[30:40] An outdated email-header technique becomes a reminder of how quickly OSINT methods evolve.[32:12] Managed attribution—hiding your digital identity—is explained along with when...
    Show more Show less
    56 mins
  • Anyone Could Walk In

    Anyone Could Walk In
    Dec 10 2025

    Sometimes we forget how much trust we place in the little things around us like a lock on a door or a badge on someone's shirt. We see those symbols and assume everything behind them is safe, but it doesn't always work that way. A person with enough confidence, or the right story, can slip through places we think are locked down tight, and most of us never notice it's happening.

    My guest today is Deviant Ollam, and he's one of the rare people who gets invited to break into buildings on purpose. He talks about how he fell into this unusual line of work, the odd moments that shaped his career, and why understanding human behavior matters just as much as understanding locks or alarms. Listening to him describe these situations, where he's walking through offices, popping doors, or blending in with repair crews, makes you realize how blind we can be to our own surroundings.

    We also get into the practical side of things: the mistakes companies make, the small fixes that go a long way, and why teaching employees to slow down and ask a few extra questions can make all the difference. It's an eye-opening conversation, especially if you've ever assumed your workplace is more secure than it really is.

    Show Notes:
    • [03:24] Deviant shares how early adventures, abandoned buildings, and curiosity about locks pulled him toward physical security.
    • [06:20] A story about a law firm reveals how an office "secure" door was bypassed instantly, exposing major hardware flaws.
    • [09:16] Discussion shifts to how the locksmith and safe technician community reacted to his public teaching and how that's changed over time.
    • [13:28] The topic turns to security theater and the gap between feeling safe and actually being protected.
    • [16:18] An explanation of symbolic locks versus real security products highlights how easily people mix up the two.
    • [19:11] Conversation moves into the lack of clear U.S. lock standards and why European systems make things easier for consumers.
    • [21:51] Layered security comes into focus, emphasizing that the goal is to delay and deter rather than stop every possible attack.
    • [24:35] Monitoring tools, overlooked windows, and forgotten blind spots show how attackers often choose the easiest entry point.
    • [27:38] We look at the politics of penetration tests and why coordinating with building management is essential.
    • [31:28] Escalation testing illustrates how long suspicious behavior can go unnoticed inside an organization.
    • [34:34] The need for simple, obvious reporting channels becomes clear when employees aren't sure who to alert.
    • [37:00] A breakdown of common cover stories shows why attackers lean on confidence and industry jargon.
    • [39:50] Urgency and pressure tactics surface as key components of social engineering and why "polite paranoia" helps.
    • [41:14] A viral prank underscores how easily an unverified person can be escorted into restricted areas.

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

    Links and Resources:
    • Podcast Web Page
    • Facebook Page
    • whatismyipaddress.com
    • Easy Prey on Instagram
    • Easy Prey on Twitter
    • Easy Prey on LinkedIn
    • Easy Prey on YouTube
    • Easy Prey on Pinterest
    • Deviant Ollam
    • Deviant Ollam - You Tube
    • Deviant Ollam - Instagram
    • Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide
    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • The Scam You Never See Coming

    The Scam You Never See Coming
    Dec 3 2025
    Fraud today doesn't feel anything like it used to. It's not just about somebody skimming a credit card at a gas pump or stealing a check out of the mail. It has gotten personal, messy, emotional. Scammers are building relationships, earning trust, and studying the little details of our lives so they can strike when we're tired, distracted, or dealing with something big. And honestly, most people have no idea how far it's gone. My guest, Ian Mitchell, has spent more than 25 years fighting fraud around the world and leading teams in the financial sector. He's the founder of The Knoble, a nonprofit bringing banks and industry leaders together to protect vulnerable people from scams, human trafficking, and exploitation. Ian has seen the evolution of fraud firsthand, from the old-school days of stolen cards to the organized global crime networks using technology, AI, and human manipulation to scale at a pace we've never experienced before. What stood out to me is Ian's belief that the strongest defense doesn't start with fancy tools or tighter security. It starts at home. Real conversations with our kids about safety online. Checking in on aging parents. Talking openly with people we trust so scammers can't isolate us and break us down. It's serious work, but Ian is hopeful. He believes there are far more good people than bad, and when we look out for each other, we're a lot harder to exploit. Show Notes: [00:58] Ian unexpectedly shifted from music and modeling into the world of fraud prevention.[01:19] Founding The Knoble and building a global network to fight human crimes and protect vulnerable populations.[01:49] A look at Follow the Money, the documentary project raising awareness about exploitation and financial crime.[02:19] Why Ian believes crimes of exploitation have moved directly into our homes and daily lives.[03:08] The early moment when Ian uncovered a major fraud ring while working at an internet company.[06:44] How canceling $300,000 in fraudulent orders changed the direction of his career.[08:11] Reflections on the "wild west" early days of online fraud and security.[11:01] How fraud evolved from stolen cards into emotional manipulation and trust-based scams.[12:49] The post-COVID surge in scams and the shift toward targeting individuals instead of systems.[14:03] Why fighting fraud today requires global coordination and an army of trained professionals.[16:38] Scammers coaching victims to distrust banks, friends, and even family members.[17:05] The longest romance-style scam Ian has seen — an eight-year manipulation before money was ever requested.[18:25] Discussion on timing, trust, and why even smart people can be caught off guard.[22:05] Ian shares his own experience dealing with identity theft and the complexity of proving it wasn't him.[23:22] AI and big data transforming broad scam attempts into precise, personalized attacks.[25:31] The alarming rise of sextortion schemes targeting kids ages 13–16 and why awareness is critical.[26:40] The urgent need for uncomfortable safety conversations within families.[28:09] Why Ian believes the first line of defense isn't technology — it's communication at home.[29:30] The emotional impact on scam victims: shame, isolation, and loss of confidence in judgment.[31:13] How AI can be used for good and why the industry must move quickly to fight back.[40:40] Three essential conversations families should start having right now.[41:21] Protecting children through parental controls, boundaries, and digital safety.[42:42] Encouraging open dialogue with aging parents about financial protection and autonomy.[44:19] Finding balance: staying vigilant without living in fear.[47:57] A hopeful reminder that there are far more good people than bad — and collective action matters.[48:30] Where to find Ian, learn more about The Knoble, and connect with his work. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web PageFacebook Pagewhatismyipaddress.comEasy Prey on InstagramEasy Prey on TwitterEasy Prey on LinkedInEasy Prey on YouTubeEasy Prey on PinterestThe KnobleIan Mitchell - LinkedIn
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
No reviews yet