Red flags ahead.

Key takeaways

Always verify unexpected communications, especially if they involve urgent requests for money or personal information—'Shields Up' approach applies.
Manufacturers generally do not brick routers at end of support; support simply ceases, but hardware continues to function unless intentionally disabled.
Local knowledge, such as pronunciation of place names, can help identify and expose scam attempts.
Be cautious when approached by someone claiming to be from your bank or trusted institution; always verify through official channels.
Scammers are increasingly using personalized data obtained from social media and breaches to craft convincing, targeted schemes.
Avoid sending money based solely on online or phone communications; confirm requests via independent, trusted channels.

Summary

Debunking Router End-of-Support Myths and Manufacturer Practices

The hosts discuss misconceptions about router support lifecycle, prompted by a listener correction. The common belief that manufacturers like NetGear brick routers at end of support is challenged, with the clarification that support simply stops, but hardware remains operational unless intentionally disabled. The discussion also covers a recent incident where Australian government routers were bricked after a program ended, which may have caused some confusion about manufacturer practices. The hosts recommend using open-source firmware like OpenWRT for longer-term security updates and emphasize the importance of timely replacement for enhanced security.

Local Knowledge as an Indicator of Scam Authenticity

Maria shares a story about a jury duty scam where the scammer's mispronunciation of local place names betrayed their unfamiliarity with the area, revealing them as an outsider and thus, a scammer. The discussion illustrates how local knowledge—such as the correct pronunciation of place names—can help identify scams, as scammers often rely on generic scripts that lack local nuances. This highlights the value of regional insider knowledge as a simple yet effective verification tool.

Scam Risks and Personal Experiences from a Journalist

Joe recounts an incident involving a CBS journalist who nearly fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam while investigating fraud. The scam involved a caller claiming to be from the bank’s fraud department, with insider details that convinced him of its authenticity. The story underscores that anyone can be targeted and that scammers are increasingly using personalized information obtained through social media and data breaches to craft convincing schemes. It advocates for cautious verification — such as calling back through official channels — to prevent financial loss.

Philosophy of Caution in Unexpected Communications

Dave introduces a metaphor from Star Trek—'Shields Up'—which advises maintaining a cautious posture when faced with unexpected or unverified communications like calls or emails. The approach emphasizes slowing down, gathering information, and maintaining control rather than rushing to act, as many scams succeed through pressure tactics compelling victims to act prematurely. This philosophy encourages listeners to verify before reacting.

Catch of the Day – Scammer Asking for Forgiveness and Money

William’s submission features an exaggerated scam email from someone claiming to be a repentant internet fraudster on the brink of death, seeking forgiveness and offering to distribute his wealth. The email’s poor grammar, lack of punctuation, and over-the-top story make it an obvious scam. The discussion highlights the common theme of such scam emails asking for upfront fees under false pretenses, with no real chance of any payout.

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 as Joe corrects the record on router end-of-support after a listener points out that manufacturers like Netgear don't intentionally disable routers when support ends, and we also share a listener-submitted business email compromise case that highlights the importance of independently verifying payment requests. Maria covers how scammers can accidentally reveal themselves by mispronouncing local place names, turning a convincing jury duty scam into an obvious fake. Joe shares how a veteran CBS News journalist who regularly reports on scams nearly fell victim to an elaborate bank impersonation scheme, showing that anyone can be targeted. Dave reflects on a listener's "Unknown Situation. Shields Up." philosophy, encouraging people to slow down and verify unexpected communications before taking action. Our Catch of the Day is on an over-the-top scam email from a self-proclaimed internet fraudster claiming to be giving away millions in a last-minute bid for forgiveness.

Resources and links to stories:

Anne Arundel County woman spots jury duty phone scam after caller mispronounces local names

A CBS journalist who covers scams rushed to his bank to withdraw money after nearly falling for an imposter scam

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