In this episode of the Miami PI Chronicles podcast, host Francois McKinnon of McKinnon Investigative Group sits down with Marc Hurwitz, former CIA operative and president of Crossroads Investigations, to explore the growing threat of online scams. They focus on romance scams, where fraudsters manipulate victims emotionally through dating apps, often moving conversations to platforms like WhatsApp to avoid detection. Red flags include refusals to meet in person or video chat, and requests for money under false pretenses. Hurwitz emphasizes the importance of tracing phone numbers, verifying identities, and never sending money to someone you haven't met face-to-face.

The conversation also covers tech support scams, phishing attacks, fake e-commerce sites, and fraudulent real estate listings, particularly targeting elderly and international victims. Hurwitz warns against paying with cryptocurrency due to its untraceable nature and suggests safeguarding against fraud by using two-factor authentication, avoiding shared passwords, and reporting incidents to authorities like the FBI, FTC, and IRS. Both investigators share real-world cases, reinforcing the urgent need for public awareness and caution in today’s digital landscape.