How to Protect Your Finances—and Sanity—From Scammers

“With guests ranging from schoolteachers to award-winning journalists to former U.S. Senator Al Franken, What the Hack has created a safe zone to talk about online crime–what we like to call a “no shame zone.” Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, but always a learning experience for us and our listeners alike, we think our weekly podcast is a must-listen (but of course we do).” - Adam Levin

AL: “Roy Wood, Jr. is one of the funniest people working in the entertainment industry today. We were lucky to have him on “What the Hack” and his comments about misinformation in the media were so astute that we made it into an animated short. You’ll never think about supermarket tabloids and the Loch Ness Monster the same way again.”

AL: “One evening, seventeen-year-old Jordan DeMay was coaxed by an online scammer into sending nude pictures of himself. Hours later, he took his own life. Now his father, John DeMay, works to raise awareness of the risks of sextortion and romance scams. This important episode focuses on the life-and-death consequences of today’s cyber crimescape.”

AL: “With the latest news on data breaches, leaks and compromises, haveibeenpwned.com is an indispensable tool in the war against cyber insecurity. Searchable by email address, phone number and password, HaveIBeenPwned is a quick way to determine how much of your information is in criminal hands, and what needs to change to make yourself more secure.”

AL: "Want to avoid getting scammed? Who better to ask than a reformed scammer? Brett Johnson, who was once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and now calls himself the first “Chief Criminal Officer” has a great podcast on scams and cybercrime of all kinds. He’s funny, engaging, and deeply knowledgeable about cybersecurity."

AL: “Cults may not be the first thing you think of when you hear the word scam, but they have a lot in common with the sort of hucksters we cover on “What the Hack.” Hosts Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth guide listeners on a weekly journey through the cults, and how to escape them.”

AL: “Ever heard of an affinity scam? I hadn’t until Sara Ganim and Karen Given joined us on “What the Hack’’ to discuss their podcast “Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story,” a complex and emotionally twisted tale about Coco Berthmann’s confabulations in an LDS community. Was she sex-trafficked? Did she have cancer? The lies and manipulation pile up in this binge-worthy pod.”