Hacking Humans Podcast Summary – “The New Weapon in Text Scams”

Podcast: Hacking Humans (N2K Networks)
Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Maria Varmazis (guest host) & Joe Kerrigan
Theme: Social engineering, the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, and the surprising new (and old) techniques used to scam individuals via text.

Episode Overview

This episode explores how social engineering scams have evolved, including two major stories of recent cybercrime prosecutions, the emergence of a new text scam weapon (the SMS “blaster”), and a harrowing reminder of human trafficking abuses tied to scam operations in Southeast Asia. Maria and Joe mix serious cybersecurity news with humor, practical advice, and the clear message: stay suspicious, stay safe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Feedback: Accident Report Scam

[00:48–04:51]

Story:

• Listener Daniel shares an experience after a car accident in Texas: he received a suspicious call and text about obtaining his accident report.
• The scammer referenced accurate vehicle info and accident details (likely scraped from public records), then texted a link to a “scam website” offering to “help start a claim.”
• Daniel noticed red flags: urgency, scripted conversation, generic web info, and a request to follow online links.

Insights & Warnings:

• Accident reports are public in Texas and scammers exploit this to orchestrate phishing.
• Legitimate insurance processes never require third-party intermediaries or urgent out-of-the-blue texts.
• “Never talk to anyone who's not your insurance or law enforcement or the Department of Transportation…” — Maria Varmazis [04:32]
• Confirmed: Fredericksburg police warned about this precise scam in 2024.

2. Text Scams Run from Prison (The “Expert Witness” Ruse)

Story 1 – Joe Kerrigan
[05:58–11:20]

Story:

• Multi-state investigation uncovered a Georgia prison text scam ring run by inmates using cell phones flown in by drone.
• Inmates spoofed numbers of law enforcement, texting victims that they’d failed to appear as expert witnesses and threatening them with arrest unless they paid a “cash bond.”
• One Minnesota victim was scammed out of $16,000.

Commentary:

• “Victims were told they had failed to appear at a trial to testify as an expert and would be arrested if they didn't post a cash bond.” — Joe Kerrigan [07:52]
• Scammers used detailed, plausible-sounding pretexts—tailored for professionals—but relied on creating urgency and confusion.
• The ringleaders received longer federal prison sentences and restitution orders, which the hosts celebrate as a rare bit of “good news.”

3. Romance Scams & Major Federal Prosecutions

Story 2 – Joe Kerrigan
[12:02–16:00]

Story:

• Cincinnati man Richard Egamin used fake dating profiles/photos, lured dozens into sending him over $2 million for bogus “medical emergencies” and similar ruses.
• Indicted on eleven charges, ultimately pled guilty to money laundering ($32,000 transaction) and faces 41 months in federal prison.

Insights:

• Romance and dating scams can be shockingly lucrative (one operator, $2M+), and victims often wired or deposited money directly.
• “The federal government charges you with a crime, they're pretty sure they can convict you. They don't waste their time on trials that they can't convict.” — Joe Kerrigan [14:44]

Memorable moment:

• Extended jokes about online dating profile heights and the surprisingly robust genetics (height) of both hosts’ families.

4. Human Trafficking and the Dark Side of Scam Centers

Story 1 – Maria Varmazis
[18:59–21:59]

Story:

• Reuters investigative piece “Scammed into Scamming”—focuses on human trafficking in Southeast Asia: people kidnapped or tricked into working in scam compounds serving criminal enterprises, mainly in lawless Myanmar/Thailand border areas.
• Victims are forced to operate scam call centers under threat of violence.

Insights:

• The scale and brutality of “scam factories” are little-known in the West, but entail true slavery.
• “What's going on here is not human trafficking. This is just slavery.” — Joe Kerrigan [21:17]
• Raising awareness can encourage advocacy and wider understanding.

5. NEW: SMS Blaster Devices—Text Scams' Latest Weapon

Story 2 – Maria Varmazis
[21:59–31:54]

Story:

• “SMS blasters” are portable, often backpack-sized devices that impersonate cell towers.
• Criminals use them to capture all mobile phones in a given range (e.g., 1 km), downgrade their connection to insecure 2G, then bulk-send phishing SMS texts—bypassing carrier-level anti-spam protections.
• Example: 100,000 scam texts sent in one hour in Bangkok.

Key Technical Insights:

• Phones automatically “seek” any available signal, so the device can force even an unsuspecting phone into a 2G connection.
• No standard carrier protections apply; users might not notice any connection change.
• “Boots on the ground” + old techniques make this a new frontline in phishing.

Defensive Advice:

• Don’t trust suspicious SMS links; always verify directly with companies.
• Disabling 2G connectivity (if possible) may help, but might not be practical for everyone.
• Android’s “advanced protection” feature prevents 2G connections, but this comes as an all-or-nothing toggle (many other security safeguards are included).
• “Always treat links and SMS in text messages as suspicious.” — Maria Varmazis [31:31]

Notable Quotes:

• “The blaster will capture phones on a fake 4G signal... then force the phones to downgrade to 2G signal, which is a much older version.” — Maria Varmazis [23:35]
• “Law enforcement officials in London say they have so far seized seven SMS blasters...” [26:43]

6. Catch of the Day: “Official” Legal Threat Letter Scam

[32:11–38:18]

Segment:

• Reddit user shares a physical letter mailed to them, threatening legal action and wage garnishment for an unspecified debt, from “Goldberg and Cohen Legal Group.”
• No creditor named, but lots of intimidating legal jargon.

Takeaways:

• This scam crops up regularly, with flashy, expensive-seeming mailings but always generic—never naming what you owe or to whom.
• The Fair Debt Collections Act requires transparency: name of creditor must be included.
• “There is no Goldberg and Cohen Legal Group. This does not exist. A cursory Google will reveal that pretty quickly.” — Maria Varmazis [35:58]
• If you receive such a letter, report it to law enforcement, but otherwise ignore.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 04:32 | Maria | “Never talk to anyone who's not your insurance or law enforcement or the department of transportation because there could be all sorts of nasty reasons why someone else is trying to talk to you about an accident.” | | 07:52 | Joe | “Victims were told they had failed to appear at a trial to testify as an expert and would be arrested if they didn't post a cash bond.” | | 14:44 | Joe | “The federal government charges you with a crime, they're pretty sure they can convict you. They don't waste their time on trials that they can't convict.” | | 21:17 | Joe | “What's going on here is not human trafficking. This is just slavery.” | | 23:35 | Maria | “The blaster will capture phones on a fake 4G signal... then force the phones to downgrade to 2G signal, which is a much older version.” | | 31:31 | Maria | “Always treat links and SMS in text messages as suspicious.” | | 35:58 | Maria | “There is no Goldberg and Cohen Legal Group. This does not exist. A cursory Google will reveal that pretty quickly.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Listener Scam Feedback (Accident Report scam): 00:48–04:51
• Text Scams Run from Prison: 05:58–11:20
• Romance/Dating App Scam (Federal Conviction): 12:02–16:00
• Human Trafficking/Scam Labor “Scammed into Scamming” (Reuters): 18:59–21:59
• SMS Blaster Technology & Scam Texts: 21:59–31:54
• Catch of the Day: Fake Legal Threat Letter: 32:11–38:18

Tone & Style

• Conversational, witty, and sometimes self-deprecating (“We’re doing our best Dave impression…”).
• Blends serious warnings with humor (“Take up knitting or something”; “That’s a rut row for sure if the feds are going after you”).
• Hosts share personal anecdotes and keep the advice practical and jargon-free.

Summary Takeaways

• Scammers are exploiting very recent, real-world events with alarming speed and detail.
• Prison-based texting scams can operate for years; tech (like drones for contraband) aids criminals.
• The SMS “blaster” is a dangerous evolution, circumventing carrier defenses—be extra careful with all unsolicited texts, especially those bearing links.
• Old-school tactics (intimidating mail) are still alive and effective for some targets.
• Slavery masquerading as “human trafficking” is a growing concern in global scam syndicates.
• Vigilance, skepticism, and directly verifying with real institutions/companies continue to be your best defenses.

This episode mixes chilling scam revelations with practical safety tips and a dose of levity—a must-listen for anyone working to keep themselves or their organization safe from social engineering and text-based scams.