Hacking Humans – "Cold weather, hot scams."

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: N2K Networks (Dave Bittner, Joe Kerrigan, Maria Varmazes)
Theme: Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cybercrime.

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the surge of social engineering scams that target people during current events and vulnerable periods, such as massive cell service outages, popular prescription drug demand, and harsh winter weather. The hosts discuss real-life scam examples—including heartbreaking losses and rare happy endings—and highlight techniques, warning signs, and protective steps listeners should know.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Verizon Outage Scam

[01:12 – 03:01]

• Joe Kerrigan shares how scammers capitalized on a recent major Verizon outage.
• Modus Operandi: Scammers sent texts/emails disguised as Verizon, offering fake outage-related account credits.
• Phishing angle: Victims are lured to malicious landing pages to enter login credentials or personal info.
• Risk: Once scammers gain account access, potential for identity theft or financial fraud.
• Quote:

  "These guys know that Verizon had an outage last week and... they're issuing credits to customers. So that's what the scam is based on." – Joe Kerrigan [01:42]

• Hosts joke about how it would be preferable if scammers paid off mortgages, highlighting the danger in a light-hearted way.

2. The Redemption of Jeanette Voss: Tech Support Scam Follow-Up

[03:01 – 10:52]

• Story:

  • In 2021, 67-year-old Jeanette Voss lost nearly $950,000 (her life savings) after a tech support scam convinced her to protect her "compromised" Social Security number by moving her retirement into cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scammers.
  • She faced an additional tax burden on her withdrawals, compounding her hardship.
  • Spent 4+ years living on Social Security, cutting every expense possible, even unplugging appliances to save pennies.

• Happy Ending:

  • Christmas Eve 2025: She discovered $1,333,000 deposited back—investigators (including the Secret Service) recovered funds after tracking the cryptocurrency and busting the scammer ring.
  • Quote:

    "She was one of 20-plus victims... that got her money back... Ms. Voss says that overnight her life has changed." – Joe Kerrigan [08:30]

• Emotional Note:

  • She bought peanuts for squirrels that kept her company during tough times.
  • Still struggles with trust but is more vigilant now.

• Security Lessons:

  • Anyone can be scammed, the emotional toll can last years, and it's critical to educate others about realistic warning signs.
  • Maria:

    "People don't actually know [what being hacked looks like]—they think of Hollywood depictions... there's not going to be a siren." [11:28]

  • Joe:

    "If the attacker is good... you won't notice that anything is going on." [11:39]

• Advice:

  • Use hardware-based two-factor authentication.
  • Remember: Real hacks are often invisible and don't involve attention-grabbing popups or sirens.

3. GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Scams

[17:43 – 28:22]

• Dave Bittner spotlights the sharp rise in scams for popular (and expensive) weight loss drugs like Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists.

• How the Scam Works:

  • Ads (especially on social media like Facebook) promise discounted miracle drugs.
  • Victims fill out pre-screening forms, submit insurance info, and pay large "fees" (over $500) that turn out to be for junk services (e.g., "club membership") and never receive the drug.
  • Others receive counterfeit or placebo pills.

• Quote:

  "The $500 fee...was just for the opportunity to spend more money. And of course, they'd agreed to all this in the eula." – Dave [22:03]

• Advice/Warning:

  • Only work with legitimate providers (preferably via your doctor or a reputable medical spa).
  • Be skeptical of unsolicited offers, social media ads, and "too good to be true" deals.
  • "The only control you have over a drug is whether or not it goes into your body or not. Once you put that drug in your body, you're in for the ride." – Joe quoting a former professor [25:37]

• Risks:

  • Identity theft, wasted money, and health dangers from counterfeit drugs.

4. Winter Utility Bill/Heat Shut-Off & Refund Scams

[29:50 – 36:51]

• Maria Varmazes highlights classic cold-weather scams preying on fears of heat being shut off during brutal cold snaps.

• Main scam types:

  1. Immediate Shut-Off Threat:
     • Scammer calls/texts/visits demanding immediate payment (crypto, gift cards, etc.) or threatens to disconnect heat.
     • Leans on urgency and panic.
  2. Fake Refund Offer:
     • Scammer claims the victim overpaid and a refund is owed—asks for bank details or Social Security number.
     • Falsely "proves" legitimacy by reciting public routing numbers.

• Key Points:

  • It's often illegal for utilities to shut off heat during the coldest months; real shut-offs come with substantial written warning.
  • Utilities NEVER demand payment by crypto or gift cards, and genuine utility workers rarely do "surprise" home visits.
  • If in doubt: Hang up/close door and call the number listed on your bill.

• Quote:

  "There is no reality to your heat being shut off within minutes. But of course, if someone's at your door, that's a very scary thing." – Maria [31:35]

• Public safety:

  • Report scams to your utility and the FTC; many utilities will issue warnings to help protect the community.
  • Programs exist to protect vulnerable customers from heat shut-off; those struggling should seek out legitimate assistance.

5. Catch of the Day: Police Chief Impersonation Text

[37:39 – 43:12]

• A Reddit user shares a text they received, supposedly from "Chief of Police Stephen Cox" threatening imminent arrest if the recipient doesn't call back within 5–10 minutes.
• Tactics:
  • Uses real chief’s name (publicly searchable), real recipient address from prior data breach, and urgency/intimidation.
  • Poor grammar, excessive capitalization, and odd threats ("proceed with moving forward").
• Deconstruction:
  • Police or law enforcement never text warnings of imminent arrest; would never demand an immediate call.
  • Artificial time pressure ("reply in 5–10 minutes") is a classic scam hallmark.
  • Joe observes:

    "The chief of police is never going to personally message you... If the cops are ever gonna come to get you, they are not going to warn you about it." [41:36 / 42:04]

Memorable Banter

• Maria: "Doesn't matter if you're on the can. You better text me back right now." [42:18]
• Joe: "If this was me, I think I'd respond, 'You'll never take me alive, copper!'" [42:40]

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• "These guys know that Verizon had an outage last week and they're issuing credits...so that's what the scam is based on." – Joe Kerrigan [01:42]

• "She wound up giving them close to million $950,000...This was her life savings." – Joe Kerrigan [04:09]

• "In her golden years, largely became confined to her small house at the end of a dead end street." – Quoting the article on Jeanette Voss [07:19]

• "Overnight her life has changed. So good job, Secret Service. Thank you for getting this money back. That's awesome." – Joe Kerrigan [08:30]

• "People don't actually know [what being hacked looks like]—they think of Hollywood depictions...there's not going to be a siren." – Maria Varmazes [11:28]

• "If the attacker is good...you won't notice that anything is going on." – Joe Kerrigan [11:39]

• "The $500 fee...was just for the opportunity to spend more money." – Dave Bittner [22:03]

• "The only control you have over a drug is whether or not it goes into your body or not. Once you put that drug in your body, you're in for the ride." – Joe Kerrigan [25:37]

• "There is no reality to your heat being shut off within minutes. But...if someone's at your door, that's a very scary thing." – Maria Varmazes [31:35]

• "The chief of police is never going to personally message you...If the cops are ever gonna come to get you, they are not going to warn you about it." – Joe Kerrigan [41:36/42:04]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:47 – 01:02: Opening banter / Follow-up
• 01:12 – 03:01: Verizon Outage Scam
• 03:01 – 10:52: Jeanette Voss tech support scam & recovery
• 10:52 – 16:32: Technical discussion—how hacks really look and how to respond
• 17:43 – 28:22: GLP-1 weight loss drug scams
• 29:50 – 36:51: Utility shut-off and refund scams
• 37:39 – 43:12: Catch of the Day — Fake Police Chief Impersonation scam

Actionable Takeaways

• Always verify unexpected offers, warnings, or threats by contacting companies or authorities via official, previously known channels.
• Be wary of urgency, especially when paired with threats or promises of money.
• Don't trust unsolicited door-to-door visits, calls, or emails requesting sensitive info or payments.
• Remember that major companies, government agencies, or law enforcement won't use texts or pressure for instant responses.
• If it seems "too good to be true" or elicits panic, pause and consult a trusted source.

Episode Tone

Friendly, conversational, supportive, a mix of practical advice, real-world anecdotes, and tech-savvy explanations—with a dose of levity.

Useful for listeners seeking:

• Awareness of current scams exploiting outages, medical fads, and seasonal threats.
• Advice on detecting and resisting social engineering—including technical tips and emotional/psychological support.
• Encouragement to report scams, help others, and practice skepticism and vigilance.

(Summary excludes advertisements, intros/outros, and focuses exclusively on main content.)