This community is for everyone, including us, to come and learn. Please share your thoughts on how you identify social engineering.

From my community to yours @Tracy Stephenson The internet is now the world’s biggest marketplace — and the biggest hunting ground for confidence tricksters. These scams don’t rely on hacking skills… they rely on psychology. They work because they exploit trust, fear, urgency, loneliness, greed, hope, or curiosity. Here are 10 of the most common confidence tricks doing the rounds right now — the ones everyday Australians are falling for every single day: 1. The “Trusted Brand” Impersonation Scammers clone the websites of banks, Australia Post, Telstra, ATO, MyGov, or Netflix to “verify details” or “fix an account issue.” Red flag: Urgent login request + perfect-looking fake site. 2. The “Package Delivery” Text Trap A message claiming a parcel can’t be delivered until you pay a small fee or update details. Red flag: Random tracking numbers, weird links, or unfamiliar courier companies. 3. Investment & Crypto Impersonator Schemes Fake brokers, “experts,” or AI-generated influencers promising guaranteed returns. Red flag: Screenshots of fake profits + pushy personal account managers. 4. Romance Scams & Emotional Grooming Long-term manipulation where someone builds trust, then suddenly needs money for an “emergency.” Red flag: They’re perfect… until they need funds. 5. Fake Online Stores Beautiful websites selling products at unreal prices — but nothing ever arrives. Red flag: No ABN, no physical address, no returns page, limited payment methods. 6. Job Opportunity & Work-From-Home Traps High-pay, low-effort jobs that require “training fees” or collecting/forwarding goods. Red flag: Payment before employment. 7. Social Media “Friend in Trouble” Hack A hacked account messages you urgently asking for help or money. Red flag: It feels out of character or rushed. 8. Fake Tech Support Pop-Ups A warning screen saying your device is infected and telling you to call a number. Red flag: Alarming language + random pop-ups that take over the screen.

This morning I have been going through my skool notifications and messages and it occurred to me that I haven’t really posted anything about what motivated me to start a skool community and why I have joined this community. So here it is … My motivation didn’t come from a single spark — it came from a few long-running forces converging: 1. Years working the frontline of security and safety I have spent a lot of time as a Security Officer & Safety Representative in NT/WA environments. I have witnessed and experienced firsthand how ordinary people including myself have been caught off-guard by preventable risks — violence, theft, scams, unsafe homes, poor situational awareness. That built a conviction: that everyday families need practical tools, not theory. 2. A belief that preparation turns fear into confidence My philosophy — observation, detection, reporting and deterrence = preparedness, layered protection — has shaped my mission. I want to help ordinary households apply the same simple principles used in professional security: perimeter→exterior→interior→core, colour-coded responses, ThinkSafe-ActSafe-HomeSafe. In other words, don’t panic — prepare. 3. A gap in the Australian family-safety space The public messaging I have encountered was scattered: a bit of police advice here, a pamphlet there, some online-safety tips thrown in. You didn’t see a unified system that: - spoke to regular homes - covered home safety, home security, and online safety together - gave step-by-step room-by-room action plans That gap has pushed me into creating a full publishing line. 4. A personal drive to leave a legacy This is emotional, not commercial. I want my work to: - prevent loss of life - stop innocent people becoming victims - help families protect children, elders, and finances - be something that I can look back on with pride That sense of legacy sits underneath everything — particularly now that I’m in my 60s. 5. A desire to teach and train, not just observe

Your reputation online will be defined by your actions and how well you deliver on your promises. Integrity isn’t just a value—it’s the cornerstone of success in every aspect of life. If you want to learn more be sure to check out the classroom tab. Bill Pipke explains how trust, authenticity, and dignity and more can be measured and strengthened to help us become better leaders and better people. “Trust is the currency of integrity.” Want to explore the Six Pillars of Integrity? Check out Bill Pipke’s course or his book, Integrity: The Best Foundation! https://learnonlinesecurity.com/blog/integrity-the-key-to-business-and-life-and-security