Romance scammers have apparently discovered astrology… and Taurus is their secret weapon. In episode 449 of “Smashing Security”, we take a look inside an actual romance-fraud handbook – complete with scripts, personality “types”, corporate jargon, and a seven-day plan to get victims from hello to hand over the crypto. Then Lesley “hacks4pancakes” Carhart delivers a…
Category: Romance baiting
Global Security News, Law & order, malware, Meta, Podcast, Romance baiting, Smashing Security, Star Wars, vulnerability, WhatsApp
Smashing Security podcast #419: Star Wars, the CIA, and a WhatsApp malware mirage
Why is a cute Star Wars fan website now redirecting to the CIA? How come Cambodia has become the world’s hotspot for scam call centres? And can a WhatsApp image really drain your bank account with a single download, or is it just a load of hacker hokum? All this and much more is discussed…
Global Security News, HP, Law & order, malvertising, malware, Myanmar, Podcast, printer, Romance baiting, Scam, technical support scam
Smashing Security podcast #407: HP’s hold music, and human trafficking
Journey with us to Myanmar’s shadowy scam factories, where trafficked workers are forced to run romance-baiting and fake tech support scams, and find out why a company’s mandatory hold time for tech support could lead to innocent users having their computers compromised. All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the “Smashing…
Global Security News, Guest blog, Law & order, Myanmar, Romance baiting, Scam, Thailand
Thailand cuts power and internet to areas of Myanmar to disrupt scam gangs
Well, this is a different approach to the scam problem… The government of Thailand has cut the power supply to areas near its border with Myanmar that are known to host brutal scam compounds. These heavily-guarded fraud factories house armies of people, coerced into defrauding innocent people through bogus investment and romance-baiting scams. Read more…
AI, deepfake, Global Security News, Guest blog, Romance baiting, Scam
No, Brad Pitt isn’t in love with you
No, Brad Pitt isn’t in love with you. A French woman was duped into believing a hospitalised Brad Pitt had fallen in love with her. The scammers even faked a “breaking news” report announcing the revelation of Brad’s new love… Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.
CryptoCurrency, Global Security News, Guest blog, Romance baiting, Scam
Pastor’s “dream” crypto scheme alleged to be a multi-million dollar scam
Imagine trusting your pastor with your savings, only to find out he’s running a crypto scam. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.
Global Security News, Guest blog, Romance baiting
It’s time to stop calling it “pig butchering”
Online romance and investment scams are painful enough without its victims being described as “pigs.” Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.