Maria Varmazis, host of N2K's T-Minus, joins the conversation with insights on a recent fraud campaign targeting iPhone users in India. The discussion pivots to a community initiative combating scam calls for the elderly, followed by chilling tales of psychic scammers and online sextortion schemes from Nigeria. Maria also highlights the impact of smishing tactics related to postal services. The hosts delve into the pressing need for vigilance against such digital threats and the importance of open communication about online safety.
The No Numbers Project effectively aids older adults in avoiding scams by promoting awareness through accessible resources like refrigerator magnets.
Gina Russell's psychic fraud highlights the psychological manipulation inherent in scams, demonstrating their devastating impact on victims and families.
Deep dives
The Impact of the No Numbers Project
A new initiative called the No Numbers Project aims to protect older adults from scams, especially in communities with many seniors. This project distributes refrigerator magnets that encourage recipients to avoid sharing sensitive information such as bank account numbers and social security numbers. The project has garnered positive feedback, particularly from listeners who noted its effectiveness in spreading awareness among vulnerable populations. Such creative outreach can significantly aid in reducing the risks of financial exploitation for older individuals.
Elaborate Psychic Scam Case
A significant scam case involving Gina Russell, who posed as a psychic, highlights the psychological manipulation often seen in these schemes. Over a decade, she convinced her victim, Holly Nadelle, that her family was in danger unless large sums of money were paid. Russell's extortion escalated, resulting in Holly being forced into sex work and leading to embezzlement by her lover, which totaled over $4.2 million. The scheme ultimately unraveled, leading to multiple arrests, illustrating the devastating effects of such elaborate scams on individuals and families.
Smishing Scams Targeting Indian Postal Customers
A rise in smishing scams has been reported concerning India Post, the country's postal service, targeting iPhone users through deceptive text messages. These messages falsely claim that a package awaits pickup, prompting recipients to click on malicious URLs that mirror the legitimate postal website. Researchers noted that a significant number of these fraudulent domains were registered rapidly, indicating a well-orchestrated attack. This situation underlines the ongoing threat of smishing and the need for vigilance against these types of cyber scams.
Sextortion Scams Affecting Young Men
Sextortion scams have emerged as a serious issue, particularly affecting young men on social media platforms, leading to tragic consequences. The ongoing prevalence of these scams has raised alarms, prompting companies like Meta to crack down on hundreds of accounts involved in perpetrating such schemes. However, the challenges remain in how these platforms handle reporting and prevention consistently and effectively. The painful reality is that many young victims are led to extreme actions, emphasizing the vital need for continued awareness and support for those affected.
This week we celebrate 300 episodes! Maria Varmazis host of the N2K daily space show, T-Minus, joins Dave and Joe and shares a PSA on the CrowdStrike outage. Her story focuses on the Olympics, as this was the first week the Olympics started, and she shares about a recent fraud campaign that is targeting iPhone users in India, posing as India Post through smishing attacks. Our hosts discuss some follow up, from listener Brie, who writes in to share how one police force is helping folks stay safe from scam callers. They also share a story from listener Mark, who writes in about his 77-year-old mom's Facebook account being hacked, and she was tricked into downloading an app and opening her banking app while on a fake customer service call. Dave's story is on Gina Russell, who posed as a psychic and led an elaborate extortion scheme with her family, coercing victims into giving them millions of dollars under threats of harm. Joe has the story of social media giant Meta saying sextortion scams are increasing, with criminals from Nigeria often targeting adult men in the U.S.. Our catch of the day comes from an anonymous listener, who shared a post they found on the social media platform "Shared," about a scammer getting messed with.
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