What the Hack?

Latest Episodes:

Episode 132: Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark Hates Scammers More than We Do Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Ever wonder why facial recognition is so accurate? Well, one reason is the shocking amount of personal data it needs (think: all the world’s snapshots), and that’s why Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark is taking aim at the industry behind that technology.

We also review Charity’s top scams to watch for this year, and other topics near and dear to our own scam-hating hearts.

“What the Hack with Adam Levin” is available wherever you get your podcasts. If you like it, consider rating us on your favorite podcast service or writing a review. It really helps people find the show.

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Episode 131: Marjorie Bloom Reveals a $661,000 Tech Support Scam Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Retired attorney Marjorie Bloom was minding her own business online when a tech support scam redirected her straight to cybercrime hell. Hear how she lost more than $600,000 in this harrowing tale of a scam turducken.

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Episode 130: David Maimon Introduces Us to a Fresh New Hell Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Criminologist David Maimon is in the business of finding out what we should be scared of.

Just when you thought analog bill paying was safe, we learned that check scams are on the rise. And you guessed it: Because artificial intelligence and digital tools are making them way too easy.

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Episode 129: Adam Rings in the New Year by Sharing Some “Scaring is Caring” Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

From a pig butchering scam that cost $450,000 to a real estate scam that almost cost a whole lot more, 2023 kept us guessing. With stories sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, and always informative, we’re celebrating the New Year with a look back at some of our favorite moments from the past twelve months.

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Episode 128: Daniel Simons Reveals Why We’ll All Be Fooled Again Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to scams, we usually focus on the How rather than the Why. This week, we spoke to psychologist Dan Simons, co-author of Nobody’s Fool to find out why we’re all much easier marks than we like to think.

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Episode 127: Donna Hayes Sheds Her Shame Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Many romance scams are smash-and-grab operations, but some scammers play the long game. Author, actress, life coach and cabaret singer Donna Hayes met her dream man online, but after a seemingly perfect courtship and almost $200K in cash changing hands, she discovered the truth.

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Episode 126: Adam Almost Loses 4 Million Dollars Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Ten years after Hurricane Sandy destroyed his beach house on the Jersey Shore, Adam was finally ready to sell the vacant lot. The only problem: It was already on the market. In this whodunnit, we go hunting for the bad guys.

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Episode 125: Liza and Harry Take Hits for You in This Holiday Twofer Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Shark Week doesn’t have anything on the Christmas scam season. Whether you’re buying something or selling something, there’s a scammer waiting to rob you blind. But there are ways to stay safe. File this week’s episode under: “You can’t say we didn’t warn you.”

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Episode 124: Marija Manojlovic Isn’t Kidding Around About Child Safety Online Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

How dangerous is the internet for children? According to Marija Manojlovic, it’s even worse than we imagined. This week we chart the dangerous freeways and dark alleys of the internet, the hazards they pose specifically to children and what you can do to protect them.

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Episode 123: Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw’s Meta Scam Gets Travis a New Cat Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

With a million followers and several books on kitten care, Hannah Shaw is no stranger to interview requests and the technical issues to which they often give rise. But when a podcaster helped her navigate a “problem” in her Meta settings, Kitten Lady was hacked. Hear how her eye for deceit and nimble action saved the day.

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