Objection! That's a scam.

Key takeaways

International cooperation and targeted efforts can significantly reduce online scams and human trafficking, as seen in the Philippines and China.
While AI-powered scam detection tools like WhatsApp's new feature show promise, they are not foolproof and rely on user opt-in, with limitations that scammers can exploit.
Scammers employ elaborate, high-pressure tactics, leveraging AI, fake identities, spyware, and psychological manipulation to steal large sums, exemplified by the Florida jury-duty scam.
Seasonal periods, such as back-to-school, are prime times for scams due to increased online shopping, package deliveries, and test-related fraud, requiring heightened vigilance.
Traditional forms of fraud, such as check forging, continue to be exploitable, with simple techniques like leaving a line after the payee's name enabling forgeries.

Summary

Efforts to Combat Online Crime and Scams Overseas

The podcast begins with Michelle providing an update on the Philippines' collaboration with the UN to crack down on organized online fraud centers, specifically the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogun). These efforts have already resulted in significant improvements, with almost 6,000 individuals liberated from human trafficking in just one operation. Michelle also mentions declining cybercrimes in China, suggesting international efforts with a focus on human trafficking can be effective and have a tangible social impact.

WhatsApp’s New Scam Detection Feature

Joe discusses WhatsApp's rollout of an optional, on-device machine learning feature designed to flag potential scam messages. The tool analyzes conversations reported by users without sending message content back to Meta, thereby preserving privacy and end-to-end encryption. However, concerns about the manual enablement of the feature and its limitations—such as only checking messages from non-contacts—are addressed. The discussion emphasizes that while helpful, such tools are not foolproof and could be gamed by scammers.

Elaborate Jury-Duty Scam with Cryptocurrency Payments

Michelle recounts a detailed and sophisticated scam where a Florida woman was on the phone for over ten hours, convinced by scammers posing as law enforcement that she owed money via fake bail payments. They used fake identities, AI-generated local accents, and spyware-loaded refurbished phones. The scammers manipulated her, obtained over $25,000 in total, and convinced her repeatedly to pay through various means, including cryptocurrency. The story highlights how scammers exploit fear, misinformation, and AI to create convincing, high-pressure schemes that are difficult to detect.

Back-to-School Scams and AI-Generated Deception

Michelle warns about increasing scams targeting parents and students during the back-to-school season. These include fake websites, phishing attempts, and deceptive advertisements—often AI-generated to look authentic. She advises vigilance when shopping online, especially regarding URLs, reviews, and deals that seem too good to be true. The segment also discusses package scams, fake test prep offers, and impersonation attempts related to standardized tests, emphasizing that scammers exploit the season’s heightened activity to steal money or personal data.

Check Writing Fraud and Remnant Checks Scam

Joe shares a reader story where a mailed check was altered to include a different payee’s name, then forged and cashed. His advice includes always filling out the entire check line and crossing out any excess space, which can prevent such scams. The discussion underscores that despite digital banking advances, check fraud still persists as a vulnerability, especially when forgers fabricate or modify checks using simple methods.

Show notes

This week, while Dave is out, hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Maria and Joe are joined by friend of the show ⁠Michele Kellerman⁠. We start with some follow-up from Michele on efforts in the Philippines to crack down on online fraud centers and the ongoing fight against scam operations. Joe explores WhatsApp's new on-device scam detection feature and whether it can actually spot suspicious conversations without compromising privacy. Michele covers an elaborate jury-duty scam that kept a Florida woman on the phone for more than 10 hours, using fake law enforcement, cryptocurrency payments, and stolen personal information to steal more than $25,000. Maria looks at a new wave of back-to-school scams using fake websites, phishing attempts, and AI-generated content to target parents and students. Our Catch of the Day comes from Ami, who discovered that even paying by check isn't foolproof after a mailed check was intercepted, altered, and cashed by someone else.

Resources and links to stories:

Scam no more: how the Philippines is cracking down on online fraud centres with UN support

WhatsApp rolls out new feature that flags potential scam messages

PA man loses nearly $400K after online chess game leads to Cryptocurrency scam

The ‘Jury Duty’ Scam That Cost This Family $25,000

New York back-to-school scams: Fake websites, AI ads and phishing texts to watch for

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