As online scams continue to surge—especially during the holidays—award-winning broadcaster Mark Alyn sits down with Jeff Lunglhofer, Chief Information Security Officer at Coinbase, for a timely and eye-opening conversation about how consumers can better protect themselves in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. The interview shines a spotlight on the alarming rise of fraud tied to cryptocurrency, social media, and online marketplaces, and introduces a unique public awareness effort designed to fight back: the Tech Against Scams Coalition’s Scamberry Pie Pop-Up.
Lunghofer explains how scammers are becoming more sophisticated and emotionally manipulative, often preying on urgency, secrecy, and false promises of “too-good-to-be-true” profits. He breaks down the most common red flags that consumers should never ignore—from requests for money and pressure to move conversations off platforms, to fake investment opportunities that promise guaranteed returns. The message is clear: vigilance and education are now essential survival tools in the digital world.
A major focus of the conversation is Coinbase’s role within the Tech Against Scams Coalition, which also includes major platforms like Meta and Match Group. Lunglhofer discusses how cross-industry collaboration is critical to disrupting scam networks that move fluidly across social platforms, dating apps, and financial services. Through real-time machine learning and 24/7 monitoring, Coinbase is working to flag suspicious activity, risky tokens, and potential scam behavior before it reaches consumers.
Perhaps most compelling is Lunglhofer’s broader message about shared responsibility. While companies are ramping up defenses with advanced technology and trust-and-safety systems, consumers themselves must stay informed and alert. The Scamberry Pie Pop-Up campaign, using humor and holiday spirit to spark serious conversations, reflects a fresh, approachable way to drive public engagement around cybersecurity.
With decades of experience in financial security—including his previous leadership role as CISO at BNY Mellon—Lunglhofer brings both technical authority and real-world perspective to the discussion. His insights offer practical guidance for staying safer online at a time when digital threats are growing faster than ever.
#ScamAwareness #CyberSecurity #OnlineSafety #CryptoSecurity #HolidayScams #TechAgainstScams #Coinbase #DigitalFraud #ConsumerProtection #MarkAlyn
Listen to Jeff and Mark here: