Welcome back to the Profiling Evil newsletter, The BOLO (Be On the Lookout)—where we’re all about arming you with knowledge to stay ahead of the curve, dodge scams, and protect your loved ones. At Profiling Evil, we’re on a mission to inform, educate, and yes, even entertain as we tackle some of today’s most pressing safety issues. Ready to dive in? Let’s go! And hey, don’t forget to hit that subscribe button over on YouTube for even more tips, stories, and updates!
💡 2025: New Tech, Same Old Tricks—With a Twist
A new year doesn’t mean scammers are taking a vacation. Quite the opposite—they’re doubling down on creativity, leveraging AI tools and exploiting human vulnerabilities. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) reports a jaw-dropping $1.03 trillion lost to scams in 2024 alone. Ouch.
Whether it’s AI-powered phishing schemes, deepfake videos, or fake romance profiles, the one thing scammers have in common is their relentless drive to part you from your money and personal info. So, let’s break down the scams to watch for in 2025 and—more importantly—how you can dodge their traps. And by the way, this is AI’s impression of my workday!
🤖 AI-Powered Scams: The Rise of the Machines
If you thought AI was just for helping you write essays or make cute cat videos, think again. Scammers are using generative AI to craft more convincing phishing emails, create deepfake videos, and even mimic voices. Here’s what that looks like:
- Phishing & Smishing: AI-written messages that are so natural, they can fool even the most cautious.
- Deepfake Mayhem: Scammers impersonate loved ones or CEOs in videos to demand money or sell fake investments.
- Cloned Voices: Imagine getting a voicemail from your boss—or worse, your grandma—asking for urgent help. Turns out, it’s a scammer with a cloned voice. Creepy, right?
🚨 Pro Tip: If someone’s message feels off, pause. Verify directly. Call the sender using a trusted number.
💔 Imposter Scams: Wolves in Disguise
From fake government agents to “accidental” wrong-number texts, imposter scams remain a staple. The twist? Scammers are moving away from phone calls and sliding into your inbox or texts.
📱 2025 Trend Alert: Emails and text messages are now the scammer’s favorite tools. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports these methods are steadily replacing phone calls as the go-to way to hook victims.
🚨 Pro Tip: Always verify emails and texts by contacting companies directly. And don’t engage with “accidental” messages—your politeness could make you a target.
🕵️♂️ Romance, Sextortion & Online Love Gone Wrong
Romance scams aren’t new, but AI is giving them an unsettling upgrade. Scammers create hyper-realistic profiles, deepfake video calls, and cloned voices to fool victims. Even more disturbing, sextortion scams are targeting teens and young adults.
💔 2025 Danger Zone: Scammers trick victims into sharing explicit photos, then demand money—or else. Often, it all goes down in less than an hour.
🚨 Pro Tip: Talk to your kids about online safety. Create a family password for emergencies and remind them that real friends never demand private content.
💰 Cryptocurrency & Investment Scams: Too Good to Be True
Crypto prices may rise, but so do crypto scams. From fake giveaways to “exclusive investment opportunities,” scammers are luring victims into sending money—or their login details.
🚨 Pro Tip: Always research investment opportunities. If someone guarantees quick riches or uses high-pressure tactics, run the other way.
📦 Online Purchase Scams: The E-Commerce Trap
Ever snagged a deal that was too good to be true? Scammers count on it. Fake online stores and social media ads are scamming buyers left and right.
🚨 Pro Tip: Use credit cards for online purchases—they’re easier to dispute if things go south. And remember: if the deal looks too good, it probably is.
🔒 How to Stay Safe in 2025
Whether it’s robocalls, QR code scams, or SIM-swapping attacks, the basic rules of scam prevention still hold true:
- Think Before You Click: Don’t open unknown links or attachments.
- Verify Contacts: Never share personal or financial info unless you’re 100% sure of the source.
- Use Stronger Passwords: And enable multifactor authentication—ideally not SMS-based.
- Stay Skeptical: Trust, but verify. Always.
✨ Help Spread the Word
The more we know, the safer we are. So here’s your mission:
- Sign up for one of our Channel Memberships on YouTube.
- Share Profiling Evil with friends, family, and your social circles. Every conversation helps keep someone safe.
- Stay informed. Knowledge is power, and at Profiling Evil, we’re here to give you plenty of both.
Thanks for reading The BOLO! Stay sharp out there, friends. And remember—scammers may be clever, but we’re smarter together. 💪
Until next time,
Mike at Profiling Evil
Profiling Evil, LLC 
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