Graduation day grifts

Key takeaways

Scammers often go to great lengths, such as staging property showings or staging fake official notices, to prolong their scams and maximize profit.
Young adults and recent graduates are particularly vulnerable to scams related to student loans, fake jobs, and rental listings due to their limited experience and the high-pressure environment.
Despite billions of scam calls and texts being blocked annually, fraud continues due to technological limitations and lack of strict accountability among telecom providers.
Android is introducing new security features like call verification with bank databases, app access controls, and enhanced device lock options to help users guard against scams and protect privacy.
Always be skeptical of urgent messages about legal or financial issues, verify through official channels, and avoid clicking suspicious links to protect yourself from scams.

Summary

Follow-Up on Rental Scams and Social Engineering Insights

The hosts discuss a listener's follow-up on Joe's earlier story about rental scams. It is explained that scammers may go to extraordinary lengths, such as obtaining lock box codes and staging property showings, not necessarily for an immediate gain but to sustain a scam that steals rent over several months before the real owners notice. This highlights the scammer's motivation for ongoing income rather than quick theft. The hosts also share personal stories related to squatting and land transactions, emphasizing the complexity and human element involved in these scams.

Scam Risks for Recent College Graduates and Young Adults

Maria summarizes common scams targeting recent graduates and young adults, including student loan relief scams, fake job offers, and rental listing frauds. These scams exploit the excitement and inexperience of young people entering the real world, with scammers asking for upfront fees, personal information, or deposits. She emphasizes the common tactics of high-pressure communication and the importance of verifying information through official channels. The discussion underscores that young adults are not immune to scams and should remain cautious, seeking advice from more experienced individuals when in doubt.

Government and Industry Efforts to Combat Robocalls and Spam Texts

Joe reports on Congress and the joint economic committee's scrutiny of telecom companies regarding the persistent flood of scam calls and texts. Despite billions of calls being blocked annually, scams continue to reach consumers due to limitations in current technology and accountability. He notes that billions of scam calls are still slipping through, and telecoms often see blocking as a profit opportunity rather than a consumer safety priority. The discussion includes recent legislation efforts, the use of apps like RoboKiller, and the potential impacts of proposed laws on burner phones and identity verification.

Android’s Upcoming Security Features to Combat Scams and Raise Privacy Standards

Dave highlights upcoming Android features aimed at enhancing security, especially against banking scams. These include: a database of legitimate banking numbers for incoming call verification; stricter controls over apps accessing accessibility settings to prevent misuse; improved device lock options using biometrics; and the phasing out of older 2G networks to prevent stealthy interception. These advancements aim to reduce scam success rates, improve user trust, and set a precedent for other platforms to follow.

Catch of the Day – Fake Traffic Violation Scam Scam

The hosts review a scam email warning about an alleged California traffic violation, which is clearly fake. The scam uses official-sounding language, a misleading domain (.help), and a Moroccan phone number with a US-like area code to create credibility. The discussion stresses the importance of skepticism with such messages, avoiding clicking on links, and recognizing common scam indicators like urgent language and suspicious sender details.

Show notes

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 Joe’s rental scam story, as listener Ben suggests the scammers may go the extra mile because they could keep collecting rent for months before anyone realizes the property was never theirs to rent out. Also, another listener writes in with some “Chook Psychology 101." Maria’s story is on scammers targeting recent college graduates with fake student loan relief offers, job scams, and rental listings designed to steal personal information, deposits, and money through high-pressure tactics. Joe’s story is on Congress pressuring major telecom companies to do more to stop the flood of scam calls and texts still reaching Americans despite billions already being blocked every year. Dave’s story is on Android 17 adding new protections aimed at stopping banking scams, including stronger privacy controls and defenses against malicious calls during sensitive actions. Our Catch of the Day is on a text scam where scammers use scare tactics by sending fake messages about court dates and legal trouble.

Resources and links to stories:

BBB warns of scams targeting new graduates

Congressional committee asks telecoms to do more to prevent scams as losses surge

Android 17 to expand banking scam call and privacy protections

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.