Easy Prey

Many people have gone or plan to go somewhere to seek deeper connection and enlightenment. But what are the dangers to be conscious of before taking such a trip? Today's guest is Caroline Slaughter. Caroline is a filmmaker and global voiceover talent. Most recently, she was supervising producer on Racket: Inside the Gold Club which is ranked as one of 2020's top true crime podcasts. Caroline's multifaceted experience in the entertainment industry has prepared her for the role of curating auditory stories to provoke, impact, and entertain. She is the host of the popular Astray Podcast where she investigates those who pay the ultimate cost in search for spiritual awakening.

• [1:00] - Caroline shares how and why she started her Astray podcast.
• [2:41] - There's an idea that this happens in India, but Caroline points out that people seek out enlightenment all over the world.
• [4:00] - During a difficult time, Caroline chose to go to Bali. She was prepared but a lot of people don't go in with a plan.
• [6:18] - There seems to be a draw to Asian countries for this and Caroline suggests some reasons why.
• [7:19] - Caroline briefly tells the story of a guest on Astray Podcast who had a breakdown while on his journey and would have disappeared without his parents.
• [8:50] - The biggest problem is that many people who fall victim to scams and traps are looking outside themselves for answers.
• [10:22] - Caroline did some research on some of the reasons that could have caused psychotic breakdowns through drugs.
• [11:31] - Some who experience a psychotic break while on this quest for enlightenment, feel that it was meant to happen for their experience.
• [12:50] - People want a fast track to spirituality and it can be addictive.
• [14:40] - Mental illness plays a role in the need for a fast track to spirituality.
• [15:37] - Caroline defines and explains India Syndrome.
• [17:02] - Caroline tells the story of The Beatles seeking enlightenment and a theory surrounding John Lennon never leaving the place of trauma.
• [18:44] - India Syndrome can put you in a very fragile state if you don't go prepared.
• [19:52] - We tend to let our guard down because of the authority the spiritual guides hold over us.
• [21:32] - You have to trust your inner guidance especially when you look outside yourself for guidance.
• [22:40] - It is tricky to vet the guides in other countries. It is easier to do in the United States; to find others who have worked with them.
• [23:55] - This industry is massive and brings in billions of dollars a year.
• [24:32] - Caroline explains why she thinks the industry needs to be regulated.
• [25:44] - Going with a buddy is key and bouncing ideas and plans off of friends is important to keep up the voice of reason.
• [27:42] - Don't make major decisions when experiencing grief or trauma.
• [29:01] - We give away our own power when we hit rock bottom.
• [30:45] - There are tragic stories that Caroline shares through Astray of people who have vanished or been killed.
• [32:17] - The problem is not India Syndrome, it is "Seeker Syndrome."
• [33:26] - What do you sacrifice for the risks you take?
• [35:18] - When seeing those traveling in a new country, there are those who will prey on someone new and unfamiliar.

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Education can help people to be prepared without paranoia, but how do you teach safety without causing fear? There are specific things to be aware of in an extraordinary situation like an active shooter that can fundamentally change the outcome.

Today's guest is Dr. Kathleen Kiernan. Dr. Kiernan is the founder and CEO of Kiernan Group Holdings, Chair of Emeritus and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, and an adjunct faculty member of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. As a 29-year veteran of Federal Law Enforcement, Dr. Kiernan serves as a subject matter expert in strategic thinking, strategy development, and facilitating critical incident management exercises for senior leaders across government and private sector organizations. She is the founder of Preparedness Without Paranoia which provides an opportunity to use a lifetime of service and earned experience at the extremes of human behavior to help others invest in their own security and preparedness. When they teach skills early, they can last a lifetime and can literally save lives.

• [1:21] - Dr. Kiernan has spent her entire life in or supporting law enforcement. Her experience has given her understanding of human behavior.
• [3:04] - Dr. Kiernan recommends the book called The Safety Trap by Spencer Coursen and shares a story from it to illustrate how children are not prepared by their parents.
• [4:39] - There's not one single event that interested Dr. Kiernan about preparedness, but rather her multitude of experiences in law enforcement.
• [7:03] - Regarding an active shooter situation, there is a series of actions to take.
• [8:18] - Preparedness Without Paranoia educates children on these actions they can take in a way that is developmentally appropriate.
• [9:18] - Civics is not a class taught anymore. Preparedness Without Paranoia uses current and recent events to educate.
• [10:33] - The program is written by parents and educators for parents and educators of primary school aged children.
• [11:58] - Dr. Kiernan's program teaches a preparedness mindset that applies to many different types of events.
• [13:01] - You are responsible for your own security.
• [14:20] - Communication is the first major teaching point for children in Preparedness Without Paranoia.
• [15:41] - Although active shooters are statistically rare but devastating, there are more common events in domestic violence and abuse that children learn to communicate about.
• [17:19] - To build trust with kids is to be part of their adventure. What are they into?
• [19:32] - Dr. Kiernan and Chris discuss preparedness kits and checklists and getting kids involved.
• [22:10] - Have the discussions of why each item goes into the preparedness kit and introduce the idea of going to a shelter in times of natural disasters.
• [24:06] - Dr. Kiernan shares a realization she made that preparedness can be simple.
• [27:30] - One of the most common and vexing to teach about is human and sex trafficking.
• [28:54] - Using the example of an Olympic athlete who spoke up about sexual abuse as a child. Communication is key.
• [30:27] - Some of the educational resources on Preparedness Without Paranoia's website surround good decision making and thanking community heroes.
• [31:20] - Preparedness Without Paranoia runs on donations. All donations go directly to resource production. You can contribute HERE.
• [32:22] - In addition to donations, Preparedness Without Paranoia is in need of authors and illustrators.
• [33:18] - All resources are free and available on the website.

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We often make the assumption that if something is the biggest or the oldest, it should be trusted or it wouldn't have grown so large. But when it comes to cryptocurrency, this may not always be true.

Today's guest is Aaron Lammer. Aaron is the founder of Treats Media which produces original podcasts and work for clients. Original works include the critically-acclaimed mini-series Exit Scams and multiple seasons of Stoner and CoinTalk. Aaron is also the co-founder of Longform.com and host of the Longform Podcast.

• [1:16] - If you've heard about a large amount of cryptocurrency being lost, you have heard about hacking. But Aaron shares how it could be a false narrative.
• [2:56] - There's not as much risk when internally stealing cryptocurrency.
• [4:04] - Aaron tells the story of Quadriga and its founder, Gerald Cotton.
• [5:03] - The estimated amount of cryptocurrency lost in 2018 was $250 million. But that money scales up over time.
• [6:21] - The people who were brought in to help with this case found a lot of things using the only clues they had: financial records.
• [7:36] - People who knew Gerald Cotton were convinced by him. Bitcoin also appeared more trustworthy than newer companies.
• [8:39] - Why do people trust the company that has been around the longest?
• [9:40] - Aaron explains how Cotton simulated fake volume.
• [11:05] - There is a lot of discrepancy on Cotton's death, but regardless, Aaron explains how his fraud and Ponzi Scheme played out.
• [12:58] - When the exchange started to crash, Cotton likely feared being found out.
• [14:20] - For a long time, there was a lot of smoke and mirrors surrounding where the actual money was.
• [15:30] - There is an unaccounted for amount of money missing from the money taken by Cotton which has created doubt that he is deceased.
• [17:02] - Chris and Aaron discuss common themes in Ponzi Schemes.
• [19:24] - Just in the last week since recording this episode, there have been huge drops in cryptocurrency exchange. Aaron believes two of them are exit scams.
• [20:37] - Aaron shares a recent report about Afri-crypt and how he is suspicious of the figures.
• [22:19] - Often in Ponzi Schemes, there are inflated daily or monthly returns.
• [25:32] - The common theme is "otherworldly returns" that leads people down the path of falling victim to an exit scam.
• [26:47] - What is a safe way to invest in cryptocurrency exchange?
• [28:02] - There is a difference between "guaranteed" returns and returns over time.
• [30:20] - There is an issue with panic in cryptocurrency exchange.
• [31:58] - Aaron recommends going with larger companies regarding cryptocurrency and lists some red flags to look for.
• [33:27] - Any setting where it is obviously easy for someone to run away with tons of money is problematic.
• [34:39] - If you have a lot of investment in crypto, tell your partner and family how to access it in a will.
• [36:10] - Be careful and don't put all your eggs in one basket. If something happens to one wallet, it isn't catastrophic.
• [36:57] - Cryptocurrency is not necessary to invest in. It is risky.

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What does it look like to be resilient? Many of us have lost our edge after a year in our homes and many have become unprepared to handle the unexpected. Listen on to find out about five pillars of resilience from our guest's book Raise Your Resiliency.

Today's guest is Kris Coleman. Kris has served with the CIA conducting threat and vulnerability assessments and for the FBI as a special agent. He is also an author and the founder and CEO of Red Five Security, which provides state of the art security and protective intelligence services.

What are you prepared for and what can you do to be more resilient in any scenario?

• [0:54] - Kris shares his background and the many paths he has taken on his career which includes everything from minor security to protecting against terrorists.
• [2:44] - When Kris was hired by a private family to redo their entire security platform, he realized what Red Five should be.
• [4:31] - There are some misconceptions regarding what Kris does with Red Five Security.
• [6:24] - Some affluent families that Kris works with are very public facing and some never leave the house. Kris explains the spectrum his clients are on.
• [8:10] - "The more you can stay off the radar, the better off you're going to be."
• [9:18] - Kris takes a look at a client's digital footprint and looks at some things that can be done to help keep below the radar.
• [10:01] - Kris shares common sense tips for security. For high profile clients, this can get tricky.
• [11:37] - Under stress, fine motor skills are hard to execute.
• [12:44] - Chris shares an experience about being in a different country and they did not have ambulances.
• [13:56] - Even when clients travel to another state within the US, it is crucial for Kris's team to know the environment they're headed to.
• [15:38] - Even the best neighborhoods can easily turn into a dangerous place.
• [16:37] - Chris illustrates this with a news story of a private party being misunderstood as a huge organized event. Even something seemingly harmless can turn.
• [17:58] - Kris shares a story about an extremely successful businessman feeling completely helpless.
• [19:26] - We need individual resiliency on a national scale. This need created Resiliency for Executives and Leaders (REAL).
• [20:41] - Once Kris has worked with executives and leaders, they have a whole new sense of confidence.
• [21:56] - REAL isn't just for the wealthy. This program teaches people skills needed to be prepared for anything, especially natural disasters and storms.
• [24:11] - For business owners, is your business ready for anything? Kris shares that his company had a plan for a pandemic prior to Covid-19.
• [25:00] - Kris is the author of Raise Your Resiliency. He planned on writing a book about security, but Covid changed his direction.
• [25:56] - The three units that need to survive and thrive are the individual, the family, and the business.
• [26:31] - The Five Pillars of Resilience are: awareness, mindset, fitness, skills, and relationship.
• [27:54] - Regarding mindset, when it comes to resilience, you need to have a positive, growth, and survival mindset.
• [28:53] - Kris gives examples of a catastrophic mindset that many people had during the pandemic. Mindset and awareness are a choice.
• [29:24] - Fitness applies to physical, mental, and emotional strength in the three units (individual, family, and business).
• [30:14] - Kris lists many skills that a lot of people are not ready for, specifically now after a year of being stuck at home.
• [31:13] - The fifth pillar is relationships. This applies to your neighbors and community and not just your immediate family.
• [34:37] - In a lot of cases, things can be problematic for people in just a couple of hours due to lack of planning and preparedness.
• [37:40] - Things may sometimes feel redundant when preparing for anything.
• [38:33] - Your geographical location makes a difference in the type of things you need to prepare for. Take a risk assessment of your environment.
• [40:23] - Make the situation work for you when preparing for different events. Look at the likelihood of things to prepare for.
• [41:25] - Kris shares how the risk of civil unrest is higher in certain parts of the country over others.
• [43:03] - Prepare for an emergency and if something doesn't happen, practice using it and restock it. Cycle the emergency food and supplies every few months.

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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If you've ever had the feeling that someone is eavesdropping on your calls, reading your messages or emails, and even knows where you've been going, you just might be right. Abusers often utilize stalkerware to control and manipulate their targets. Being educated on what it is, how it got there, how to clean it off your devices, and where to go for help can make a world of difference.

Today's guest is Eva Galperin. Eva is the Director of Cybersecurity at The Electronic Frontier Foundation. She has worked in security and IT in Silicon Valley and earned degrees in Political Science and International Relations. She has applied the combination of her poli-sci and technical backgrounds to everything including organizing EFF's TOR relay challenge to writing privacy and security training manuals. Those include Surveillance Self-Defense and The Digital First Aid Kit.

• [1:21] - On her way to law school, Eva began working for Electronic Frontier Foundation and decided not to leave. She has worked in nearly every department.
• [2:22] - Having worked in tech since a teen, Eva had a lot of experience with stalkerware. But she shares the reason why she was driven to research it further.
• [4:02] - Through her own research and trials, Eva found that anti-virus apps did not protect against stalkerware.
• [5:21] - Eva explains how abusers could react to stalkerware being removed from a device and leaves the decision up to the survivor on how and when to remove it.
• [6:30] - There are companies that are now paying more attention to stalkerware. Eva explains that this is a good thing, but also believes that it is because there has been an increase in the use of stalkerware.
• [7:24] - The most recent report of stalkerware being detected by antivirus programs indicates a range of 60-95% as compared to only 10% a few years ago.
• [8:33] - In cases of domestic abuse, an abuser has physical access to a device and can install stalkerware without the survivor even knowing.
• [10:10] - Spouses and partners having access to each other's devices and knowing passwords is very common in modern relationships.
• [11:22] - Eva recommends stalkerware detection apps for Android and Apple.
• [13:01] - Chris and Eva discuss Windows and Mac OS stalkerware.
• [14:32] - What is the difference between account compromise and device compromise? Eva says the more common problem is account compromise.
• [16:01] - Eva recommends different and long passwords for each account you have as well as having two factor authorization turned on. She explains how this works.
• [18:09] - Eva's advice for consumers is to meet them where they are.
• [19:13] - You should go into your account settings and look for the page that lists devices and IP addresses that have logged into your account if you feel something is going on.
• [21:32] - Personal trackers that are meant for people to keep track of their belongings are essentially a gift to stalkers.
• [23:11] - Regarding personal trackers, Eva shares that she has gotten some pushback on the abuse of these tools.
• [24:32] - Software that allows you to do this without notifying the user so that they do not know that they are being watched is in and of itself abusive.
• [26:01] - It is sad to see when people who have been abused feel that the only way they can take back power is to abuse as well.
• [27:33] - Resetting to factory settings for most forms of device compromise is sufficient but you also need to change your account passwords and disable iCloud backups.
• [28:51] - Eva loves open source for personal use, but as a general rule she doesn't recommend it due to her security background.
• [29:52] - If your cameras are compromised, covering the camera is a viable security measure. Covering microphones is trickier.
• [30:43] - Chris and Eva discuss hackers hacking webcams, using blackmail photos, and sextortion emails.
• [33:01] - Sometimes the extortion emails can confuse people severely enough to believe the scam.
• [34:26] - Evan recommends the NNEDV and Operation Safe Escape for those looking for support.
• [36:17] - The U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233

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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If you've ever felt the pressure to buy something because the website said there were just two left at that price or that the sale was ending soon, you've experienced just two of the many techniques using neuroscience to advertise online.

Today's guest is Roger Dooley. Roger is an author and international speaker. His books include Friction, one of the Best Business Books of 2019, and Brainfluence now in 11 languages. He writes the popular Neuromarketing Blog and Brainy Marketing at Forbes.com. He co-founded College Confidential, the leading college-bound website.

• [1:02] - Roger's background began in engineering but he found his way into marketing.
• [2:32] - Neuromarketing is using the understanding of how our brains work to market better. Roger describes it in more detail as well.
• [3:47] - One of the major techniques using psychology in marketing is scarcity.
• [5:27] - Another technique is to use social proof. Roger uses travel sites as an example.
• [6:16] - Many large companies, specifically travel sites and hotels, hire psychologists for the purpose of marketing.
• [7:50] - There's nothing wrong with using scarcity in marketing, but Roger and Chris discuss those who do not use this technique ethically.
• [10:03] - Chris shares a personal story of a sales job where his ethical selling and integrity created return customers.
• [14:04] - The first step in recognizing the legitimacy of scarcity techniques is to be aware that they exist.
• [14:27] - Roger discusses another technique called reciprocity.
• [15:47] - Always evaluate the legitimacy of product reviews.
• [16:33] - Authority is another technique used. Roger explains how the psychology behind this works.
• [17:50] - Through Covid, the authority technique was seen often.
• [19:30] - One area that Roger has been recently focused on is the area of friction. How does this work in the sales field? Amazon has been using it for a long time.
• [21:33] - Roger shares a story about how LinkedIn used the friction technique.
• [23:40] - Even news sites use the startup friction technique to gather subscribers.
• [25:18] - How do vendors use more friction to retain subscribers or customers?
• [28:10] - The return process can also be sketchy, but in the case of Amazon, making this process easy has created reciprocal trust.
• [33:07] - There are many rebate offers that can be abused that were very popularly used in the past. Roger explains how that worked and that it isn't used as often anymore.
• [36:20] - When you express the same deal to someone as a loss or a gain, the loss looms bigger than the gain. Deals like this prey on loss aversion.
• [37:54] - There was some research done about random higher prices put onto specific items.
• [39:14] - Decoy marketing is very popular recently because of the surge in subscription services.
• [42:03] - Another form of decoy marketing is when there's a better product offered at the same price of the lesser product.
• [42:52] - Always look for things that might be manipulative.
• [44:02] - Everyone is impacted by these techniques differently. Price sensitivity, urgency, and fear of missing out are traits that are affected differently.
• [45:12] - AI is used to better control personalized/customized offers. Roger explains the pros and cons.
• [47:28] - Generally speaking, engagement on video content is great. When AI suggested videos are accurate, things are great, but engagement can actually be weaponized.
• [49:18] - What happens when there's too much engagement?
• [51:51] - Adding friction in the right places can be a good thing for businesses.

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When you hear the word "hacker," you envision someone breaking into a computer, but did you know that people can be hacked? The manipulation and persuasion of people can lead to someone gaining physical access to a location or even data being leaked.

Today's guest is Jenny Radcliffe. Jenny is the founder and director of Human Factor Security and is commonly known as the People Hacker. She's a world-renowned social engineer hired to bypass security systems through a no-tech mixture of psychology, con-artistry, cunning, and guile. Jenny is also a podcaster, keynote speaker, talk show host, and panel chair.

• [0:58] - Jenny explains social engineering as no-tech hacking and how she became known as the People Hacker.
• [2:32] - Chris shares how a pen tester recently made a mistake and Jenny describes some of the mistakes she has made on that job.
• [3:56] - Laughing at previous mistakes, Jenny shares a memorable experience where she almost got caught in the act.
• [5:55] - In her experience, it is better to use psychology over breaking into a physical location.
• [7:01] - Jenny shares a story about breaking into a museum as the first time she felt drawn to this lifestyle and years later it was an industry she could work for.
• [10:30] - After a physical engagement and success in gathering the objects or data needed for the job, Jenny describes her adrenaline and celebration.
• [13:05] - Physical entry can seem very theatrical as we've all seen in action movies like James Bond. But ideally, Jenny says that evidence someone was there should not be left behind.
• [14:57] - Jenny sometimes leaves business cards in locations after she breaks into them and takes photos that she has saved.
• [16:50] - There is an element of social engineering with pen testing.
• [17:45] - Apparent authority is one of the top strategies used in social engineering. Jenny explains how Covid has made this even easier to dupe someone.
• [19:40] - Criminals and social engineers capitalize on fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
• [20:47] - During pen testing, a no-blame culture is crucial. Otherwise, people won't report in times of actual penetration.
• [22:12] - Even if you don't think you are being scammed, you should always tell someone the second you are told to keep quiet about something.
• [23:27] - Chris and Jenny discuss ransomware. In some cases, there is not an organization with a business model.
• [25:01] - There have recently been a lot of high-profile ransomware hacks.
• [26:17] - You have to try to remove the emotion for the victim so that payment is not made. It's horrible but if the money is paid, they'll come back.
• [28:55] - How are these large companies getting hacked? How are hackers getting through?
• [29:36] - Have all the tech security in place but be aware that one person could still make a mistake.
• [30:54] - The reason the cyber security industry is so huge is because, despite our best efforts, mistakes happen.
• [32:07] - You can't guarantee avoidance as long as humans are involved. With proper training and the right amount of suspicion, all we can do is hope everyone will remember to report anything unusual.
• [34:18] - In a compliance-minded organization, something as simple as a sign that says not to do something, they don't question it.
• [36:49] - Jenny shares a story of being caught and them not ever saying anything that she was seen.
• [39:23] - "This is not my problem." Chris and Jenny chat about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and how some of the scenes apply to her job.
• [41:39] - Cyber security is something that defines how good a business is these days.
• [42:27] - When asked about things that go wrong during physical pen tests, Jenny says there are so many experiences that she tries to give a different answer to everyone who asks.
• [45:19] - Jenny shares the most boring physical pen test she experienced.
• [48:11] - Usually something goes wrong, so when something goes absolutely to plan, it is surprising for Jenny.
• [49:12] - Jenny shares the 4 things to do to stay safe. What are her red flags?

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Standard sales scripts can make some people sound shady or pushy, but techniques of influence and persuasion are supposed to produce different results. How can you tell the difference between something shady or legitimate?

Today's guest is Paul Ross. Paul is an author, speaker, trainer, master hypnotist, and master practitioner of neuro linguistic programming. For over 30 years, Paul has been featured in leading media outlets including BBC, CNN, NBC, Rolling Stone, and more. His speeches and trainings have motivated tens of thousands of people to discover their power to design their own results through the power of persuasion and language.

• [1:00] - Paul introduces himself and a little about his book, Subtle Words That Sell.
• [2:21] - When asked about the worst sales techniques out there, Paul explains that the worst ones are the ones that can be identified.
• [3:07] - Sales tactics have had to change due to constant distractions.
• [4:31] - Paul explains what he teaches clients and students and although it sounds "crazy," creating a state of trust and focus is crucial.
• [6:20] - Selling isn't all about service. Paul emphasizes the power of suggestion.
• [7:50] - Paul shares how different media outlets use a variety of manipulated imagery to support their platform.
• [9:12] - Following your gut is advised when on the consumer end of things and the selling side.
• [10:11] - Even in the world of dating, there are so many suggestions on social media, movies, and music that suggest how people should behave.
• [12:43] - Paul encourages everyone to invest in themselves and explains the value of having coaches and mentors.
• [14:18] - Paul poses a question that illustrates the power of persuasion in sales.
• [15:13] - There is a missing element in self-improvement that Paul explains with examples.
• [18:47] - People tend to view new experiences through an old lens especially if possible rejection is involved.
• [19:43] - The brain can't tell the difference between what you dwell on and what you rehearse.
• [21:30] - Sometimes what we think is a discipline problem, it's actually a bad learning strategy.
• [24:10] - Paul emphasizes that his model is his creation and is constantly evolving.
• [25:41] - Paul teaches certain questions on what you could have done differently. We are trained by our culture to look for our errors, but the key is to look for the things you've done right first.
• [26:34] - The three C's are Compassion, Courage, and Clarity.
• [27:54] - "Persistence is a myth." - Paul Ross
• [29:00] - What if you persist with your mistakes?
• [31:23] - Paul offers two free courses with the purchase of his book if purchased through this link.

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Child exploitation is an incredibly sensitive and difficult topic. It is vital to understand what resources are available to help the victims find healing.

Today's guest is Dr. Deaneè Johnson. Dr. Johnson has been a key player in advancing the victim services field at the federal, state, and local levels for over twenty years. As an OVC Fellow, she has assisted with collaborating with the DOJ to identify a range of child exploitation programs available nationwide, illuminating the best practices. She was most recently the chief program officer at the National Center for Victims of Crime before building her own consulting business Ascent Connection and Consulting Solutions. She also serves on the National Steering Committee for the Vision 21 Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth, the Advisory Board for Preparedness Without Paranoia, and the Charles County Board of Education Safety in Maryland.

If you know or suspect child exploitation, sexual abuse, or any other kind of child victimization, contact the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. If you are looking for more resources as a victim of past child abuse, call Victim Connect at (855) 484-2846.

Show Notes:

• [1:39] - Dr. Johnson began her interest in this field of child exploitation in 1999 as a volunteer mentor. During her undergrad courses, she was focused on child abuse.
• [2:27] - After Dr. Johnson received her degree in Criminal Justice, she started her Master's in Counseling. She counseled adolescent youth that were victim of sexual abuse.
• [3:15] - Through her experience in counseling, Dr. Johnson felt that something was stirred inside her and she no longer felt that counseling was the direction she should take.
• [4:13] - Deaneè was given the opportunity to build a forensic interviewing program in a rural community in Texas. She got her masters and transferred her focus to forensic interviewing but still didn't understand her drive.
• [5:19] - She put all her energy and education towards the children who were victimized sexually.
• [6:28] - Throughout her experiences, Deaneè had a memory pop up and realized that she did not have memories from her childhood other than images from photos. She had been a victim of sexual abuse.
• [7:49] - Deaneè decided to go for her doctorate in Child Development with the drive to apply it to child victimization.
• [9:13] - Any child can be a victim. No statistic is going to be solid because it is such an unreported crime.
• [10:34] - 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before their 18th birthday.
• [11:03] - There is no specific population or demographic that has higher rates of victimization than others.
• [12:00] - There are ways to minimize the likelihood of child exploitation but Dr. Johnson does not like to use the word prevention.
• [13:23] - Dr. Johnson is a chairperson on the Advisory Board of Preparedness Without Paranoia. She explains the education they provide.
• [14:55] - We're really uncomfortable talking about sex with kids in general and now add on talking about unwanted sex. That discomfort will show to our kids.
• [16:00] - If a child goes to their parents with a disclosure, we want to make sure the child knows that what they have to say is important and that keeps communication open.
• [17:27] - Believe the child who discloses. Whether or not the child is telling the truth is not the job of the parent at that moment. The job is to listen to your child and be there for them.
• [18:30] - If a child has been victimized once, it increases their likelihood of being victimized again. They need to have someone they can talk to about it.
• [19:50] - There are two different types of disclosures: active and non-active or accidental.
• [21:49] - Disclosure will vary child by child.
• [23:14] - Victimization from a family member that the child loves may not be something they think is inappropriate.
• [25:11] - Dr. Johnson defines grooming and examples of what this could look like. Grooming is a slow process and creates a false sense of trust.
• [26:38] - Grooming usually ends with threats if children disclose. It is a vicious cycle that continues with the kids feeling isolated and ashamed.
• [27:57] - The process of isolating a child or adolescent looks different in each situation and relationship. Dr. Johnson describes a story of an experience with a teenager she worked with.
• [30:01] - If you feel that there is something going on with a child you know, seeking help depends on the state you live in. Find out if you need to go to Child Protective Services and/or law enforcement.
• [32:09] - Dr. Johnson shares the contact information for the National Child Abuse Hotline and what they will assist with.
• [33:41] - She also shares the contact information for Victim Connect which is a resource for those who have been victimized in their own childhood.
• [34:19] - Many rape crisis centers offer counseling free of charge. Dr. Johnson shares other ways to get resources for healing in tribal communities.
• [36:41] - Dr. Johnson defines polyvictimization and how the cycle of abuse continues without intervention.
• [38:39] - There is a trajectory of polyvictimization that all starts with the early onset to exposure to violence, trauma, or childhood adversity.
• [40:36] - There is a higher likelihood that unaddressed trauma creates an adverse response. When you have individuals who do not have trauma addressed, their ability to cope and make good decisions decreases.
• [41:51] - The saying "hurt people will hurt people," is somewhat true but not in every situation. Dr. Johnson describes it as unaddressed trauma and not the victimization itself that causes someone to hurt others.

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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Amazon is a huge enterprise that makes billions of dollars every year and grew 84% in 2020. Some scammers have capitalized on its success and have found ways to deceive Amazon's customers for their own gain.

Today's guest is Shaahin Cheyene. Shaahin is an award-winning entrepreneur, investor, speaker, podcaster, writer, and filmmaker currently based in Los Angeles, California. He is the CEO and chairman of Accelerated Intelligence which is an Amazon marketing and advertising agency. He shares his passion for Amazon in his course Amazon Mastery and is also a featured mentor at the Founder Institute. Shaahin has been highlighted in many publications including Newsweek, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and The New York Post.

Show Notes:

• [1:10] - Shaahin began in physical products while he was 16 years old. By the time he was 18, the company he was working with hit $1 billion.
• [2:17] - Shaahin explains the importance of distribution and compares it to the film industry.
• [3:59] - During the pandemic, Amazon increased revenue. Every time a company is "crushing it," the scammers come out with something new.
• [4:58] - One of the interesting things about the Amazon platform is that anybody can sell on Amazon. Shaahin explains how the "buy box" works.
• [6:17] - Because any third party seller can sell on Amazon, some sellers will sell counterfeit or similar products to what is actually listed thinking that buyers won't care.
• [8:01] - If it is under $10, most consumers will not return it and although they received an inferior product than they thought they would get, the third party seller still earns the revenue.
• [8:28] - Shaahin always recommends reading reviews on a product before buying and explains that it is about more than reading what people think of it.
• [9:54] - Outside buying from brick and mortar stores or from recognizable name brands online, Shaahin also advises to Google the name of the seller.
• [10:46] - One of the great things about Amazon is their return policy. Amazon will take any product back 99% of the time. You should always return something that does not meet expectations so Amazon gets the feedback.
• [11:40] - Chris shares an experience in which he bought a product that stopped working a year later and when talking to customer service discovered that the serial number did not match their company.
• [12:53] - Shaahin explains one of the Amazon buying hacks that can save buyers money.
• [14:02] - As a consumer, price is a big factor. You want to try to buy when you can from Amazon themselves for that return policy and register for your warranty immediately on high ticket items.
• [14:57] - Sometimes Amazon will refund you your money for your return without even requiring you to send the product back.
• [15:12] - Unfortunately there are a lot of savvy scammers that are onto scamming third party sellers. Shaahin describes what they do.
• [16:29] - If your return rate exceeds the amount of money Amazon will make, they will fire you as a customer.
• [17:22] - Shaahin explains how a refund on a product for one of his clients wound up at his house with a fake returned product inside the box.
• [19:11] - Chris and Shaahin agree that if a customer's problem was fixed, they are more likely to not only buy again but to spread the word of a great experience than simply a satisfied customer.
• [20:00] - Shaahin's company changed the smoking industry. He explains how a buyer with extended warranties was trying to scam the company. Shaahin flipped the issue into an opportunity.
• [22:57] - There's a high cost to low price.
• [23:51] - The terms of service on Amazon says that you cannot do anything to solicit reviews for your products. In the early days, people would leave fake reviews.
• [25:21] - Over time, Amazon has installed super sophisticated security measures to clamp down on this issue.
• [26:37] - Shaahin explains how third party sellers can get reviews.
• [28:29] - There are a lot of companies that will sell consumers discounted products in exchange for honest reviews. This can be done through discount clubs.
• [30:26] - The problem in these online marketplaces is that unless everyone follows every single rule, sellers will need to do what others are doing in order to build a business.
• [32:11] - There's so little incentive to leave organic reviews. Shaahin explains that a lot of the reviews are likely from resellers.
• [33:36] - Chris explains how he was able to do some digging to find out how a specific scam works.
• [36:03] - Shaahin and Chris discuss criminal activity and how people are out there who willingly take advantage of others and a lot have the mentality of people vs. corporations.
• [38:36] - Shaahin was recently featured on the cover of a magazine and he shares the story of the interview.
• [43:49] - There are scammers who claim to help you start your business on Amazon but can't follow through. Shaahin offers an Amazon course where he hand picks his students and has a 100% success rate.
• [44:50] - eCommerce is a form of real estate and investing in it can create a stream of residual income.
• [47:01] - The difference between Shaahin's course and Mastermind group and the courses of others is that Shaahin makes his money on Amazon. Other course creators are making their money on the course themselves.
• [49:46] - You can trace success trajectory and their past just by searching it nowadays. If you are unsure about the claims of a course creator or an Amazon seller, do some research on Google.

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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