DeepFake it till you make it.
Show notes
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow, a sweeping DOJ-led crackdown and rare U.S.-China cooperation that led to hundreds of arrests and the dismantling of global scam centers targeting Americans. Maria has the story on a study finding over a third of FIFA World Cup 2026 partner domains lack strong DMARC “reject” protections, leaving fans and customers vulnerable to spoofed emails and event-themed fraud. Dave’s got the story on Americans losing $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, with shopping, investment, and romance fraud surging as criminals increasingly use platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to target victims. Joe’s got the story on AI deepfakes fueling scams, from fake Taylor Swift videos on TikTok luring users into phishing schemes to a completely fabricated influencer persona run by a scammer, underscoring how convincingly synthetic identities are being used to deceive online. Our catch of the day is on a text message where a scammer is promising a big reward.
Resources and links to stories:
- 276 arrested in connection with 'scam centers' targeting Americans
- US, China join for rare cooperation in scam center raid
- FIFA World Cup 2026: More than One-Third of Official Partners Expose the Public to the Risk of Email Fraud
- Watchdog warns high FIFA World Cup ticket prices increase risk of scams
- How to make your World Cup experience scam free
- Consumers lost $2.1B to social media scams in 2025, FTC reports
- Taylor Swift Deepfakes Are Fooling TikTok Users Into Phishing Scams
- MAGA Influencer Emily Hart Exposed as Indian Man
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