
Hacking Humans
Spiritual healers or master con artists?
Oct 24, 2024
Maria Varmazis, host of N2K's T-Minus, dives into the dark world of cybercrime. She reveals how the Telekopye scam toolkit is now targeting popular booking sites like Airbnb and Booking.com. The conversation shifts to the chilling 'blessing scam,' where fraudsters masquerade as spiritual healers to exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly older Chinese women. Additionally, Varmazis discusses new FTC rules aimed at simplifying subscription cancellations, emphasizing the need for consumer protection against such pervasive scams.
35:35
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast emphasizes the alarming rise of specialized scams, such as the 'blessing scam', exploiting emotional connections to defraud vulnerable communities, particularly older Chinese women.
- It also highlights a significant consumer protection development where the FTC has mandated easier subscription cancellations to enhance transparency and reduce hidden fees.
Deep dives
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Preparation
The importance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is highlighted, with a focus on the resources available to IT professionals. A new 2024 resource kit has been released by KnowBefore, featuring the award-winning show 'The Inside Man', designed to help organizations create effective and engaging cybersecurity awareness campaigns. The kit aims to assist companies in transforming their employees into proactive cyber defenders by providing various tools and content that make learning about cybersecurity more exciting. This initiative underscores the necessity of ongoing education and vigilance in the face of increasing cyber threats.
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