Maria Varmazis, the dynamic host of N2K's daily space show T-Minus, shares a shocking tale of a South Carolina couple who unwittingly became victims of land fraud. They discovered their property in Concord, Massachusetts, had been sold without their knowledge, with a new home now under construction. The discussion also covers the rising threat of e-commerce scams, highlighting the triagulation method which tricks buyers into unwittingly funding fraudsters' purchases. Insights into security measures against such scams add a crucial layer to the conversation.
Fraudulent impersonation led to a South Carolina couple's property being sold without their knowledge, resulting in legal action and an FBI investigation.
Triangulation scams exploit e-commerce platforms, where criminals create fake listings to defraud buyers using stolen payment information, emphasizing the importance of cautious online purchasing.
Deep dives
Cybersecurity Awareness Resource Kit
A new comprehensive resource kit for Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been released to assist IT professionals. This kit includes content and assets designed to enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness campaigns. It features award-winning programming and engaging content that aims to transform employees into vigilant cyber defenders. By utilizing this kit, organizations can create a more exciting and impactful awareness initiative while equipping their workforce with necessary cybersecurity knowledge.
Fake Celebrity Investment Scams
Recent scams have been reported involving fraudsters posing as celebrity figures, notably Brad Pitt, to defraud victims out of large sums of money. In one case, women in Spain were tricked via a fan site into believing they were in contact with Pitt regarding investment opportunities, leading to all three losing nearly $400,000. These criminals conducted thorough psychological profiling to exploit vulnerable individuals who had been experiencing emotional hardships. Law enforcement has successfully apprehended five suspects connected to these scams while recovering a fraction of the stolen funds.
Triangulation Scams Explained
Triangulation scams involve criminals exploiting online marketplaces to defraud unsuspecting victims. A case described a consumer noticing an unauthorized charge for a stain remover product they had not purchased, only to find that the scammer had ordered the item with the victim's stolen credit card. The scammer had created a price undercutting scheme on Amazon, purchasing the product directly from the manufacturer while using a stolen payment method. This type of scam highlights the need for buyers to be cautious about deals that seem too good to be true and to verify the legitimacy of sellers.
House Selling Scam Shock
A shocking scam has emerged involving a couple whose property in Massachusetts was sold without their knowledge, leading to new construction on their land. The scammers impersonated the owners, completing legal documentation through fraudulent means, including forged signatures and falsified identification. This elaborate scheme took advantage of a virtual landscape where transactions are increasingly conducted online, often without in-person verification. The rightful owners are currently suing all parties involved to reclaim their property, which has seen the destruction of trees and the introduction of an unauthorized home.
Maria Varmazis, host of N2K's daily space show T-Minus, joins Dave and Joe to share the story of a South Carolina couple, and how they were devastated to discover their vacant land in Concord, Massachusetts was fraudulently sold by thieves who posed as them, with the new owners already building a home on the property, prompting a lawsuit and an FBI investigation.
Our hosts share some follow-up on two intriguing listener contributions. John blocks Google ads using NextDNS, which catches ad wrappers unless manually disabled. Georgi from Japan describes a new Visa card with no visible number or CVV.
Dave's story is on triangulation fraud, a scam on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, where a fraudster lures buyers with fake listings for popular products at enticingly low prices, then uses stolen payment information to purchase the legitimate product from a seller, ultimately leaving the buyer unaware until debt collection notices arrive. Meanwhile, Joe has two stories this week. Police arrested five individuals in connection with a fake Brad Pitt scam that defrauded two women of $362,000. He also explores insights from the 2024 Global State of Authentication survey in a Q&A with Yubico VP Derek Hanson, who discusses the future of passkeys. Our catch of the day shares some royal secrets you won't want to miss.