The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe 402: Coffee with Mom—The Bad Grammar Scammer with Peggy Rowe
Aug 29, 2024
Peggy Rowe, a three-time NY Times bestselling author, shares her hilarious run-ins with scammers and blackmailers. She recounts a particularly outrageous email scam, showcasing her family's humor in the face of absurdity. The conversation dives into the complexities of online scams, revealing the emotional vulnerabilities they exploit. With playful anecdotes about quirky pets and family dynamics, Peggy and the hosts offer a delightful mix of laughter and insight into today's deceptive digital landscape.
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Rowe Family Extortion Email
- Peggy Rowe received a threatening email claiming to have her husband's real password and video of him on adult sites.
- The scammer demanded $400 in Bitcoin and tried to extort them despite obvious inaccuracies about the victim's habits.
Scale Enables Ridiculous Scams
- Mike Rowe observed scams succeed because they hit vulnerable people at scale.
- Automated replies and bots amplify reach, making even absurd scams profitable.
Adopt Profound Online Skepticism
- Default to deep skepticism when contacted online and never assume authenticity.
- Treat unsolicited links or phone numbers as suspect and verify through official channels.