Cognitive Heists series #7: The Trojan Gift
Mon Sep 29 2025
Hey folks! It's been a few weeks, but now the gift is here. :) It's the 7th installment of the "Cognitive Heists" series. This one is titled, "The Trojan Gift." 🎁
Not all traps look like traps. Some arrive with a bow on top.
The Trojan Horse is the oldest example. But today, the gift often looks like a free service. No charge, no strings… except the ones you don’t see.
Because the real price isn’t money. It’s privacy.
-- It’s data.
-- It’s you.
In this issue of Cognitive Heists, we explore:
🔹 How “free” has always been one of the most effective disguises in the con artist’s playbook
🔹 Folklore warnings about cursed gifts that crumble into ash
🔹 Why reciprocity, curiosity, and flattery make us drag danger through our own gates
🔹 And how modern Trojan Gifts hide in inboxes, QR codes, cloud apps, and “free” platforms
The cost of convenience is rarely written on the tag.
Enjoy!
Next up: The Double Agent—where the betrayal sits across the table, smiling like a friend.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Hey folks! It's been a few weeks, but now the gift is here. :) It's the 7th installment of the "Cognitive Heists" series. This one is titled, "The Trojan Gift." 🎁 Not all traps look like traps. Some arrive with a bow on top. The Trojan Horse is the oldest example. But today, the gift often looks like a free service. No charge, no strings… except the ones you don’t see. Because the real price isn’t money. It’s privacy. -- It’s data. -- It’s you. In this issue of Cognitive Heists, we explore: 🔹 How “free” has always been one of the most effective disguises in the con artist’s playbook 🔹 Folklore warnings about cursed gifts that crumble into ash 🔹 Why reciprocity, curiosity, and flattery make us drag danger through our own gates 🔹 And how modern Trojan Gifts hide in inboxes, QR codes, cloud apps, and “free” platforms The cost of convenience is rarely written on the tag. Enjoy! Next up: The Double Agent—where the betrayal sits across the table, smiling like a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices