I’m a retired FBI agent – here are five things I would NEVER do

Retired FBI agent Steve Lazarus shared his essential top tips for staying safe
He suggests avoiding cryptocurrency, smart devices and at-home DNA tests
Steve was an FBI Agent and US Air Force veteran sharing his knowledge online

A retired FBI agent has revealed the five things he would never do after working with some of the most dangerous minds in America.

Steve Lazarus is a retired FBI Agent and US Air Force veteran who is now using his skills to help protect people at home.

In a recent series of videos, Steve took viewers through the five things he would avoid at home to keep his family safe – and some of them may surprise you.

Listing cryptocurrency, smart devices and at-home DNA tests as some of the top things he would avoid, the expert shared why some innocuous items could be potentially dangerous for you and your loved ones.

Steve Lazarus is a retired FBI Agent and US Air Force veteran who is now using his skills to help protect people at home

In a recent series of videos, Steve took viewers through the five things he would avoid at home to keep his family safe – and some of them may surprise you

Cryptocurrency

Steve started off by warning people about cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.

‘Bottom of it looks like a Ponzi scheme to me,’ Steve said in one of the TikTok series, which in total has been viewed over 7.2 million times.

Steve explained that crypto has ‘zero tangible value.’

If you enjoy topics around the FBI, I just released a new book called Call Me Sonny. 📕 It’s a FBI thriller and out now! The book is based off of real events in my FBI Career! Tap the link in the bio to learn more. #authorsoftiktok #authorsrecommendation #authorswriting #authorspromotingtheirbooks #authorsofbooktok #authorstoread #authorswritingprocess #bestpsychologicalbookthrillers #darkpsychologicalthrillerbooks #howtomakeathrillerbookinteresting #suspensefulbooks #suspense #thriller #booksoftiktok #bookstoread #books #bookworm

‘It has what we call a ‘wide entrance in a very narrow exit,” he explained. ‘Meaning it is easy to buy but tough to sell – especially during a panic.’

He added it is a ‘playground’ for scam artists, listing Sam Bankman-Freed as an example.

‘Worst yet in the NFT market, you pay obscene amounts of money for art you can’t touch, houses you can’t live in, and land that doesn’t exist,’ he continued.

Smart devices

Next, Steve warned people about using smart home devices like a Google Home or Alexa – calling them ‘a creepy stalker’ that lives inside your house.

‘Think for a second about the most intimate and private conversations you have and ask yourself, do you really want a stranger listening in?’ he asked his followers, listing hackers as a likely threat to these devices.

‘Hackers make their livelihood by breaking into devices like your phone, your computer, and even these voice-activated assistants,’ he explained.

Top five things I wouldn’t do as a retired FBI agent, part 3. 📹 Follow for part four! #retiredfbiagent #retiredagent #fbi #author

Steve pointed out that people use it to set up their security systems, unlock their cars, and even transfer money between accounts.

‘Just imagine what kind of problems [a hacker] could cause,’ Steve warned followers.

‘For my money, I’m gonna sacrifice a bit of convenience in order to preserve my privacy, my safety, and my security,’ he said.

At-home DNA tests

Although the at-home DNA kits are wildly popular, Steve said they come with their own set of potential problems.

‘For me, [DNA kits are] a hard no. And if you wanted the reason in one word, it’s privacy,’ he explained.

He used a 2019 court case in Florida where a detective obtained a court order that allowed him to search of over a million records in a DNA database looking for a subject.

‘While we’re on the subject of misuse, do you really think a health insurance company wouldn’t want a copy of your DNA when they’re deciding whether or not to grant you coverage,’ he asked. ‘Or to allow you to get a treatment for an existing or a preexisting condition?’

He pointed out that even if you are happy with the company, there’s always the possibility they’ll be hacked or taken over by another firm.

‘What if they get taken over by another company that doesn’t share their moral or their ethical views?’ Steve said.

‘I understand some people might want this to find their birth parents or some other legitimate reason, but for my money, 23 And Me, it’s not for me,’ he declared.

No unsupervised internet for kids

Steve warned parents that giving underage kids unlimited access to the internet can be incredibly dangerous.

‘A 12-year-old with a cell phone is nothing more than a target for an online predator who knows how to get kids to do things they shouldn’t be doing,’ Steve explained in the clip.

If you enjoy topics are the FBI, i just released a new book called Call Me Sonny. 📕 Its a FBI thriller and out now! Visit the link in bio via IG. My IG is on my TT profile! #fbiagents #fbitiktok #fbibooks #booktok #authorsoftiktok #authorsofbooktok #thrillseekers #suspense

He went on to explain that ‘tech savvy creeps’ can gain access to children through online gaming apps or direct messages on social media.

Steve explained that kids don’t have privacy rights on their phones, saying you need a parental control app.

‘You need to know your children’s pins and your passwords, and you need to make “no notice inspections” of their phone, [as a] condition for them keeping that phone,’ he urged.

Never confuse American rights overseas

Steve reminded American travelers to be careful overseas – saying that some people forget that their rights in the US do not transfer to different countries.

‘[I would never] confuse my rights as an American with my responsibility to obey the law when I’m a guest in a foreign land,’ Steve told his followers.

‘As I speak, there are Americans locked up all around the world because they thought if it was okay to do it here, it must be okay to do it there,’ he said.

Top five things I wouldn’t do as a retired FBI agent, part 3. 📹 Follow for part five! retiredfbiagent retiredagent fbi author

Steve reminded those traveling that the first amendment does not apply on foreign soil.

‘Bottom line, know before you go,’ he urged viewers.

‘Don’t assume that your United States citizenship is going to get you out of a jam, because it’s not.’

Source: Read Full Article