Maria Varmazis, host of N2K's T-Minus, delves into the chilling "Hello pervert" sextortion scam that employs threats and personal imagery to manipulate victims. The discussion highlights how bakery owner Loria Stern fell prey to a counterfeit check scam, illustrating the vulnerabilities small businesses face. They also expose scammers exploiting grieving families with fake funeral live streams on Facebook. Listeners learn about the recently reported YubiKey vulnerabilities and the importance of vigilance against evolving scams.
The podcast discusses the alarming rise of sextortion scams that leverage personal information and threats to manipulate victims into compliance.
A bakery owner's experience with a counterfeit check scam illustrates the need for businesses to rigorously verify payment authenticity to avoid financial loss.
Deep dives
Phishing Protection Advances
A new phishing protection product has been introduced that is designed to enhance email security by blocking and removing dangerous phishing emails before they reach users. This advancement is crucial for organizations seeking to stay ahead of malicious actors, emphasizing the increasing sophistication of phishing attacks. The product’s effectiveness lies in its ability to proactively identify and eliminate threats that may bypass traditional filters, providing an extra layer of defense. This improvement showcases the ongoing battle between security measures and cybercriminal tactics in the digital landscape.
Counterfeit Check Scams
A bakery owner became a victim of a counterfeit check scam when she received an order for a large quantity of cupcakes accompanied by a fake check. Despite initial reassurances from her bank regarding their deposit, the check was ultimately determined to be fraudulent, leading to a significant financial loss for her. This scam highlights the critical importance of verifying the authenticity of checks, especially when someone requests a refund after the check has cleared. Educational efforts need to focus on awareness of these tactics to prevent similar experiences for others.
Exploitation of Funeral Live Streams
Scammers have begun targeting individuals through fake funeral live streams on social media platforms, preying on the vulnerability of those grieving. These scams usually appear shortly after someone posts about the loss of a loved one, offering a link to a supposed live stream while also soliciting donations. Victims may inadvertently share sensitive information when attempting to access the stream or donate, unknowingly fueling the scammers’ operations. Awareness is vital so that individuals understand to only trust links and donation requests from verified funeral service providers.
New Google Maps Sextortion Scheme
A new sextortion scam has emerged, where criminals leverage Google Maps imagery to intimidate victims by using their physical addresses alongside threats of personal exposure. These scams typically include accurate information about the victim’s residence, making the threats seem credible and alarming. Victims may find themselves under immense stress, fearing for their safety and the privacy of their families, which can lead to hasty decisions under pressure. Highlighting this scam encourages individuals to remain vigilant and to report such communications rather than succumbing to fear-driven actions.
Maria Varmazis, host of N2K's daily space show T-Minus, joins Dave and Joe to share the story on the "Hello pervert" sextortion scam, where scammers now use threats of Pegasus spyware and photos of victims' homes to intensify their demands. We have quite a bit of follow-up today. Scott from Australia shared how self-service checkouts now display scam warnings when purchasing gift cards to prevent fraud. Jim highlighted a vulnerability in YubiKey encryption libraries that allows key cloning with an oscilloscope, while a former US Marshal reminded us that Zelle is marketed specifically for transfers between friends and family. Joe's story is on Loria Stern, a small bakery owner who fell victim to a counterfeit check scam after receiving a $7,500 payment for a large cupcake order that was later halved, resulting in her bank withdrawing the funds. Dave's story follows the scams targeting grieving individuals on Facebook, where cybercriminals use fake funeral live stream links or donation requests to steal money and credit card details. Our catch of the day comes from listener Anne, who shares a phishing email sent to a friend. The email emphasized the importance of thorough testing in the software development lifecycle and came with a suspicious PDF attachment, likely containing a malicious link. Anne hopes the campaign has zero success.