Rob Leathern

VP Product, Security & Privacy at Google

Rob Leathern is an accomplished professional with a strong background in product management, advertising, consumer behavior, and market research.

He has held key roles at major tech companies like Google and Facebook, focusing on privacy, security, and business integrity in advertising products.

Rob has a diverse educational background, including studying at Dartmouth College and the University of Cape Town, with specialization in CFA.

He has founded and been part of various organizations, demonstrating his expertise in networked markets, online marketing, technology, and user-centric analysis.

Rob's past experiences include being a CEO, VP of Product, and Senior Director of Product Management at prominent companies, showcasing his versatile skill set.

His specialties span from financial analysis and mobile applications to media buying, growth hacking, and lead generation.

Rob Leathern's contributions to the tech and advertising industry have been recognized through awards and acquisitions, making him a valued professional in the field.

Highlights

Dec 12 · twitter

Rob’s Ecommerce holiday scam avoidance tips:

Research the seller thoroughly: Search for the company's website independently. Review their Facebook page's "Page Transparency" section to see when it was created, whether it's changed names, and where it's managed from. A page that's only a few months old or managed from a different country than claimed should raise red flags.

Example of the page transparency Meta provides - a couple 🚩 below.

Check advertising history across platforms: Review both Meta's Ad Library (https://t.co/ZRhzULB5jO) and Google's Ads Transparency Center (https://t.co/eUJLXCUBdY). Look for how long they've been running ads, what other products they advertise, & if messaging is consistent. Check if their ads appear in multiple countries or if they switch product categories. watch for patterns that might indicate a scam - eg running lots of ads in a short time or changing names.
Look for realistic pricing and claims: If deals seem too good to be true (like 90% off luxury brands) or make outrageous claims, they probably are scams. Compare prices across multiple legitimate retailers to gauge what's reasonable.
Examine shipping and return policies: Look for detailed, clearly written policies with realistic timeframes. Be wary of sellers who only provide vague shipping estimates or have restrictive return policies.
Use secure payment methods: Only use protected payment methods like credit cards or PayPal that offer buyer protection. Be extremely wary of requests for payment through wire transfers, gift cards, Zelle, or cryptocurrency. Never send money directly to someone's personal account.
Document everything: Take screenshots of ads, product descriptions, prices, and promises made. Save all email communications and order confirmations. This documentation is crucial if you need to dispute charges or file complaints later.
Conduct thorough Google searches: Search both the merchant name and website address, watching for subtle misspellings that scammers use (like "Niike" or "Amazzon"). Check consumer complaint websites like Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Ripoff Report. Search "[Company Name] scam" and "[Company Name] reviews" to find customer experiences. Scammers often use names very similar to legitimate businesses.