Agent Dozier Would Like a Word (Word)

Show notes

Hello to all our cyber spooks!

This week, Selena is joined by senior threat researcher Tim Kromphardt and, for his first time on the show, threat intelligence analyst Aron Salzman-deis. Together they dig into the strange and surprisingly persistent world of West African fraud.

Tim breaks down his latest research on scammers targeting universities. The scheme starts with fake password-reset emails and eventually lands with too-good-to-be-true campus job offers that do not end well. Tim also explains how he engages directly with these actors and uses tracking links to trace them back to the Lagos, Nigeria area.

Aron walks through a business email compromise and advance fee fraud cluster that has impersonated dozens of U.S. government agencies.

The team also discusses how much generative AI is really changing fraud (it’s making the lures shinier, but not the payout), why the payment step still needs a human, and practical tips to protect yourself and the people around you. Plus: an unexpected Doctor Who tangent.

In this episode:

How “word word” coaching helps phishing forms evade detection
Why compromised .edu accounts are so valuable to scammers
Fake check scams and the 24–48 hour window fraudsters exploit
Turning victims into money mules
U.S. government impersonation, lookalike domains, and freemail reply-to tricks
What AI is and isn’t doing for fraud actors
Red flags, MFA, and why you should always get a second set of eyes

Whether you’re a new college student hunting for a part-time gig or a vendor answering a government request, the lesson is the same: slow down, look closely, and when something feels off, ask someone you trust. Fraud can happen to anyone, and it’s never embarrassing to ask for help.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/edu-account-takeover-job-scam-abuse-west-african-fraud-actors-target

For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.

Subscribe & Follow:

Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

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Send us fan mail! Hello to all our cyber spooks! This week, Selena is joined by senior threat researcher Tim Kromphardt and, for his first time on the show, threat intelligence analyst Aron Salzman-deis. Together they dig into the strange and surprisingly persistent world of West African fraud. Tim breaks down his latest research on scammers targeting universities. The scheme starts with fake password-reset emails and eventually lands with too-good-to-be-true campus job offers that do not end well. Tim also explains how he engages directly with these actors and uses tracking links to trace them back to the Lagos, Nigeria area. Aron walks through a business email compromise and advance fee fraud cluster that has impersonated dozens of U.S. government agencies. The team also discusses how much generative AI is really changing fraud (it’s making the lures shinier, but not the payout), why the payment step still needs a human, and practical tips to protect yourself and the people around you. Plus: an unexpected Doctor Who tangent. In this episode: How “word word” coaching helps phishing forms evade detection Why compromised .edu accounts are so valuable to scammers Fake check scams and the 24–48 hour window fraudsters exploit Turning victims into money mules U.S. government impersonation, lookalike domains, and freemail reply-to tricks What AI is and isn’t doing for fraud actors Red flags, MFA, and why you should always get a second set of eyes Whether you’re a new college student hunting for a part-time gig or a vendor answering a government request, the lesson is the same: slow down, look closely, and when something feels off, ask someone you trust. Fraud can happen to anyone, and it’s never embarrassing to ask for help. Resources Mentioned: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/edu-account-takeover-job-scam-abuse-west-african-fraud-actors-target For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website . Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!