Podcast Summary: Hacking Humans – "It’s All Glitter, No Gold"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Hacking Humans
• Host/Author: N2K Networks
• Description: Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cybercrime.
• Episode: It’s All Glitter, No Gold
• Release Date: July 17, 2025

1. Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

The episode begins with the hosts Dave Buettner, Joe Kerrigan, and Maria Vermazes sharing personal stories and playful interactions. Maria recounts her attempt to create a "honey pot" by posting about seeking baseball tickets on Facebook to attract scammers. Despite her efforts, the scammer response was minimal:

[01:03] Maria Vermazes: "I tried as hard as I could to get these scammers to come out of the woodwork, and they did not."

This segment is peppered with light-hearted banter, including Maria describing a clever Rickroll orchestrated by her son:

[02:17] Maria Vermazes: "But he got me again with it."

The hosts also delve into amusing discussions about vanity license plates and the challenges of obtaining personalized tags, highlighting the subtle vulnerabilities in everyday scenarios.

2. Celebrity Impersonation Scams

A significant portion of the episode focuses on a disturbing trend of impersonating celebrities to conduct large-scale scams. Maria references an article from the Hollywood Reporter by Rebecca Keegan, which details a case involving the impersonation of famous actors like Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner:

[11:53] Maria Vermazes: "The headline of this is this is not Keanu Inside the Billion Dollar Celebrity Impersonation Bitcoin Scam."

Maria explains how a 73-year-old woman named Margaret was deceived into making substantial Bitcoin deposits believing she was interacting with Kevin Costner. The discussion highlights the emotional and financial toll on both the victims and the celebrities whose likenesses are exploited:

[13:15] Dave Buettner: "I mean, they’re human beings. Can you imagine a scam being done in your name that, you know, you obviously don’t want to happen, and they’re just besmirching your good name."

Further, the hosts discuss legislative efforts such as the proposed "No Fakes Act," which seeks to protect artists' likenesses from unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes. They debate its effectiveness and potential scope:

[15:31] Maria Vermazes: "But this also has applications in this case here, where people who are famous are getting impersonated."

3. FTC’s Cancel Subscription Rule Blocked

Dave Buettner expresses frustration over the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) blocking the "Click to Cancel" rule, which aimed to simplify the process of canceling subscriptions. Originally set to take effect on July 14, the rule was vacated by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals due to procedural deficiencies:

[21:14] Dave Buettner: "The new click to cancel rule from the FTC, which was meant to make cancelling subscriptions as easy as signing up, has been blocked by a federal appeal court just days before it was set to take effect."

The hosts discuss the implications for consumers, emphasizing how the lack of such regulations perpetuates the ease with which companies can enroll consumers in unwanted subscriptions:

[22:11] Joe Kerrigan: "It really is a burden, Joe. It is."

They explore potential workarounds, such as using temporary credit card numbers, but acknowledge that these solutions are cumbersome and not user-friendly:

[23:19] Maria Vermazes: "If you have a credit card that will let you make like token credit card numbers, like temporary credit card numbers to sign up for something, do that."

4. Scams Using License Plate Information

The episode delves into a new scam method involving the use of personalized license plate information. Joe Kerrigan shares a Reddit scam post where a scammer sends a threatening message accompanied by an image of the victim’s car with an accurate license plate:

[30:25] Joe Kerrigan: "The image is of a car. In this case, it's a Kia, and it's parked in front of a sign that says triple X Girls Strip Club xxx."

The hosts analyze how easily accessible license plate data can be exploited by scammers to create convincing and personalized threats:

[31:24] Joe Kerrigan: "They're using license plate data, which is readily accessible, and any of us can go out and buy very cheaply a database of license plates."

Maria suggests practical measures to protect oneself, such as restricting Facebook friend requests to friends of friends:

[20:59] Maria Vermazes: "I think I have my Facebook so locked down that I don't think anybody can send a friend request unless they're a friend of a friend."

5. Catch of the Day: Diamond and Gold Scam

Maria introduces the "Catch of the Day," highlighting an email scam that promises the claimant ownership of vast quantities of diamonds and gold. The scam email is crafted in Arabic and attempts to entice the recipient with the allure of wealth:

[39:44] Joe Kerrigan: "It says, hello and good morning. My name is Ms. Lia. Please I will like you to help me claim and invest 30 kg of diamonds and 600 kg of pure gold..."

The hosts engage in a lighthearted debate about the actual value of the proposed scam's offerings, utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT to assess the plausibility:

[41:03] Dave Buettner: "Oh, that's going to depend on the day, wouldn't it?"

Using ChatGPT, Joe reveals that 30 kg of gem-quality diamonds could be valued at approximately $750 million, vastly surpassing the value of 600 kg of gold:

[42:42] Maria Vermazes: "I was wrong again."

This segment underscores the manipulative tactics scammers use, combining impressive figures with personalized threats to coerce victims into compliance.

6. Additional Anecdotes and Personal Stories

Throughout the episode, the hosts intersperse technical discussions with personal anecdotes, adding a relatable and human element to the conversation. Stories about defective cars, neighborhood experiences, and family interactions provide a humorous backdrop to the serious topics of scams and cybersecurity.

For instance, Dave shares his experiences with his damaged Toyota Corolla and the challenges of maintaining a clean vehicle:

[38:59] Dave Buettner: "I had a Corolla. All right, well, we will not have a link to that in the show notes because there's no link to be had."

These personal stories serve to illustrate the everyday vulnerabilities and the importance of being vigilant against social engineering tactics.

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reiterating the importance of awareness and proactive measures in combating social engineering and cyber scams. They emphasize the need for continued legislative efforts and personal diligence to protect against evolving threats.

[45:27] Joe Kerrigan: "Thanks for listening."

The hosts encourage listeners to participate in their annual audience survey and stay tuned for future episodes that delve deeper into the intricacies of human-based cyber exploitation.

Notable Quotes:

• Maria Vermazes [01:03]: "I tried as hard as I could to get these scammers to come out of the woodwork, and they did not."
• Dave Buettner [13:15]: "I mean, they’re human beings. Can you imagine a scam being done in your name that, you know, you obviously don’t want to happen, and they’re just besmirching your good name."
• Maria Vermazes [22:12]: "Maria, it's your turn. What do you got for us this week?"
• Joe Kerrigan [42:53]: "Seeing this could work with somebody, right. The message is vague. It says, it would be a shame if it was sent to you know who."
• Dave Buettner [21:14]: "The new click to cancel rule from the FTC, which was meant to make cancelling subscriptions as easy as signing up, has been blocked by a federal appeal court just days before it was set to take effect."

Conclusion:

In "It's All Glitter, No Gold," Hacking Humans provides a compelling exploration of the latest strategies in social engineering and cyber scams. Through engaging discussions, personal stories, and expert analysis, the hosts shed light on the intricate ways scammers exploit trust and technology. The episode serves as both an informative and entertaining guide for listeners looking to understand and defend against the evolving landscape of cybercrime.