Hacking Humans
Scammers Are Recruiting.
AI Summary
The episode spotlights a surge in social engineering threats, beginning with a conference scam warning and a retired federal investigator's "Scammer Psychological Kill Chain" framework for detecting attacks. It highlights a 1,000% rise in job scams targeting desperate job seekers, and details a $4 million forex Ponzi scheme that duped 20 investors before the perpetrators were sentenced. Listener-submitted alerts, such as a fake Amazon recall notice, underscore the ongoing need for vigilance against evolving scams.
Episode Description
While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Hacking Humans
This week, our hosts Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of the T-Minus Space Daily show) are sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with a scam warning from Michal, who is sharing the latest conference scam. Dave's got the story of a retired federal investigator who mapped out the “Scammer Psychological Kill Chain” and shared rules to help you spot and break it. Maria has the story of job scams surging over 1,000% in 2025, as scammers exploit a slowing labor market and desperate jobseekers with fake offers, texts, and bogus recruiter schemes. Joe follows the story on a $4 million forex scam where two men promised safe, high returns but instead ran a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 20 investors before landing in federal prison. Our catch of the day comes from listener Shannon who writes in to share a message from "Amazon" about a recall notice.
Resources and links to stories:
Job Scams Surge 1,000% As Americans Struggle to Find Work
Forex Account: What It Means and How It Works
Ex-NYPD Cop Gets 36 Months In $4M Forex Scam That Duped 20 Investors: Feds
Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
Show Notes
While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Hacking Humans
This week, our hosts Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of the T-Minus Space Daily show) are sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with a scam warning from Michal, who is sharing the latest conference scam. Dave's got the story of a retired federal investigator who mapped out the “Scammer Psychological Kill Chain” and shared rules to help you spot and break it. Maria has the story of job scams surging over 1,000% in 2025, as scammers exploit a slowing labor market and desperate jobseekers with fake offers, texts, and bogus recruiter schemes. Joe follows the story on a $4 million forex scam where two men promised safe, high returns but instead ran a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 20 investors before landing in federal prison. Our catch of the day comes from listener Shannon who writes in to share a message from "Amazon" about a recall notice.
Resources and links to stories:
Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
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