Hacking Humans
Recent Episodes
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow-up after a listener wrote in to share their love of X Japan, joking that the show should spend less time talking about chickens and more time celebrating one of Japan’s most legendary metal bands. Joe covers how millions of compromised consumer devices are fueling massive residential proxy networks that cybercriminals and nation-state actors use to disguise malicious activity online. Dave looks at a ransomware campaign using fake INTERPOL emails to pressure victims into opening malicious attachments and infecting their systems. Maria explores whether AI-powered operating systems could one day become our first line of defense against scams by detecting social engineering attacks before users ever fall for them—and what new risks that future could bring. Our catch of the day is on an unsolicited Telegram message that quickly turns into an entertaining romance scam encounter.
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow-up on an editorial examining whether AI could signal the beginning of the end for traditional social engineering, as attackers increasingly target AI systems instead of people. Dave's got the story on an FBI warning that crypto scammers are using cash couriers to collect money from victims and bypass banking safeguards. Maria's got the story on AI-powered impersonators posing as members of the rock band Sons of Legion to scam fans through fake relationships and fraudulent requests for money. Joe's got two stories: one on HSBC Australia facing a proposed $246 million penalty over alleged scam protection failures, and another on two Michigan gold scam busts that prevented victims from losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our catch of the day is a reflection on a past interaction where the author initially held out hope someone might reappear, but ultimately accepts they’re gone and shares the story in hindsight, including their own strongly emotional reaction at the time.
TranscriptNever gonna give you up, never gonna take this call.
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. This week, we have follow up on a listener-submitted trick for diverting unwanted calls to a different number, including the famous Rickroll hotline, along with a discussion about whether Joe should launch a podcast dedicated entirely to the trials and tribulations of raising backyard chickens. Maria has the story of a journalist who infiltrated a sophisticated North Korean hiring scam that uses fake job interviews, real freelance recruiters, and malware-laced coding tests to steal passwords and cryptocurrency. Dave’s got a viral gas station scam warning involving screws placed in fuel pumps, and why investigators found no evidence that the alleged scheme is actually happening. Joe’s first story is on a new Maryland law that gives banks and credit unions the authority to temporarily pause suspicious transactions in an effort to better protect customers from fraud and financial exploitation. On this week's Catch of the Day, a scammer serves up a blood-curdling tale involving "Dr. Prince Andrew" and a very questionable beverage choice.
TranscriptThis week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. This week's follow-up stories involve a puppy scam, a memorable road trip, fresh eggs, chickens, and an unexpected rat encounter. Joe examines two cases highlighting the real-world financial impact of fraud, including a vendor payment scam that cost a Maine town nearly $190,000 and a report on growing state-level fraud losses. Maria discusses a highly targeted espionage campaign that maintained access to a stock exchange executive's Outlook account, while quietly exfiltrating sensitive information. Dave explores how criminals are using AI-generated deepfakes of executives to convince employees to authorize fraudulent payments. Our Catch of the Day comes from listener Piet-Auke Boekema, who uncovered a LinkedIn scammer offering to sell cybersecurity certifications without requiring the exams.
TranscriptHearing Is no longer believing.
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. They’re also joined by special guest Kieran Human, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer at ThreatLocker . Dave’s story is on an FBI warning that the Silent Ransom Group is escalating its extortion tactics by combining phishing and fake IT support calls with in-person visits, where attackers may physically enter offices to plug malicious devices into company computers. Joe’s story is on a listener-submitted case from Australia where attackers used a phishing email to silently install legitimate remote-access software, hijack a dental practice’s email system, and launch a large-scale phishing campaign that bypassed many traditional security controls. Maria’s story is on a California mother who lost $5,000 after scammers used what appeared to be her daughter’s voice in a fake kidnapping call, highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered voice cloning scams. Our Catch of the Day comes from a text scam that took an unexpected turn when the recipient fired back with a response the scammer definitely wasn't prepared for.
