As many return to the office, new security challenges emerge. The need for Red Team assessments is emphasized to close digital and physical gaps. A warning from the FCC highlights the Green Mirage scam, where fraudsters target vulnerable homeowners. Meanwhile, a Reddit user shares their experience with a suspicious Airbnb listing, revealing the importance of vigilance in online transactions. Lastly, a listener's alert about a phishing scam illustrates the growing threat posed by deceptive crypto communication.
The return to office emphasizes the need for ongoing security training to combat both physical and digital vulnerabilities effectively.
Scammers exploit financial desperation through tactics like impersonating mortgage lenders and advancing sophisticated schemes in various rental platforms.
Deep dives
Physical Security Awareness in the Office
Returning to the office after a long period of remote work has highlighted the importance of physical security awareness among employees. Many people, having been away for so long, are feeling 'rusty' when it comes to corporate etiquette, including basics like badging in and recognizing phishing attempts. Red teaming exercises, which simulate real-world attacks to expose vulnerabilities, are emphasizing that physical security is as crucial as digital security. Companies that prioritize ongoing security training foster an environment where employees feel empowered to enforce security protocols without compromise.
The Green Mirage Scam
A scam group named Green Mirage is targeting individuals in financial distress by impersonating mortgage lenders during a vulnerable time. These scammers exploit personal information about the individual's mortgage, leading them to believe they are communicating with a legitimate source capable of helping them. Victims of this scam are manipulated into providing money to these impersonators, often without realizing they are falling for a fraud until foreclosure proceedings begin. This alarming tactic highlights the troubling intersection of desperation and criminal exploitation in the realm of financial services.
Risks of Scams in the Airbnb Market
Airbnb hosts are increasingly falling victim to scams ranging from inquiries from suspicious accounts to communication attempts urging them to move discussions off the platform. One specific scenario involves a would-be tenant creating rapport and asking for videos of the property, which can then be misused to create fraudulent listings for unsuspecting renters. The potential for overpayment schemes also looms, where scammers send excessive funds under false pretenses only to later request refunds. This multifaceted approach of scams in the rental space illustrates the need for vigilance and adherence to platform policies.
Crypto Phishing Scams Targeting Users
Recent crypto scams have capitalized on users' fears of security breaches, urging them to update their seed phrases through unsolicited means. These scams often manifest as emails or messages claiming critical vulnerabilities that demand immediate action from users. By presenting fake recovery phrases and transactions, scammers aim to redirect users' actual funds into wallets controlled by the fraudsters. This tactic reinforces the importance of scrutiny and skepticism regarding any unsolicited communications concerning financial information, particularly in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies.
On Hacking Humans, Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), are once again sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines to help our audience become aware of what is out there. This week Maria has the story on how the return to office life brings unique security challenges, highlighting the need for Red Team assessments to uncover and address physical and digital vulnerabilities, empowering organizations to proactively enhance workplace security and protect against evolving threats. Joe's story comes from the FCC's warning about a scam dubbed "Green Mirage," where fraudsters impersonate mortgage lenders, spoof caller IDs, and use social engineering to trick financially vulnerable homeowners into sending payments via unconventional methods, often only discovered when foreclosure proceedings begin. Last but not least, Dave's story is on how a Reddit user shared their cautious experiment with a suspected Airbnb scam involving a new account requesting to move to WhatsApp, agreeing to unusually high rental rates, and engaging in rapport-building tactics, with red flags pointing to potential financial fraud or phishing attempts. Our catch of the day comes from listener William, who spotted a phishing scam disguised as a security alert about a compromised crypto wallet, featuring an unsolicited QR code and a generic warning that targets even non-crypto users.