Innovative Countermeasures Against Scamming Tactics (Lock and Code S06E14)

Becky Holmes, a recognized expert and author on romance scams, employs a distinctive approach to counter the tactics of scammers. Over the years, Holmes has engaged with numerous romance scammers, turning the tables on them with her clever responses. For instance, during an interaction with a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt, she humorously claimed to require immediate assistance in concealing a murder victim’s body. In another instance, she made a scammer laugh by expressing her willingness to take an international flight to meet him. Holmes has cleverly informed scammers of her residence at addresses with suggestive street names and sent them pictures of apples in response to requests for Apple gift cards. In a particularly audacious maneuver, she convinced a scammer posing as Mark Wahlberg that she was exploring the concept of cannibalism.

While her online antics often elicit laughter, Holmes has also worked collaboratively with law enforcement to successfully shut down multiple romance scams. These efforts are crucial, as romance scams represent a significant threat to individuals. Unlike scams that solicit donations for fake charities or trick victims into providing their login credentials on fraudulent websites, romance scammers ensnare their targets through prolonged manipulation and emotional appeal.

These scammers typically initiate contact via social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or Instagram, presenting a simple yet alluring message: “I love you.” They often target divorcees and widows, offering comforting romantic gestures that may resonate with their emotional vulnerabilities. Additionally, some scammers enhance their deception by impersonating well-known actors and musicians, further increasing their appeal.

The effectiveness of these scams is underscored by alarming statistics. Research from Malwarebytes indicates that approximately 10% of individuals have fallen victim to romance scams, with a troubling portion of these victims reporting losses exceeding $10,000.

In a recent episode of the Lock and Code podcast hosted by David Ruiz, Holmes delved into her experiences with romance scammers, the influence of artificial intelligence on online fraud, and the evolving strategies for protecting oneself against such scams in an increasingly sophisticated technological landscape.

“I’ve seen videos of scammers actually making these real-life video manipulation calls where you’ve got some guy sitting one side of the world pretending to be somewhere else completely, and he’s talking into his phone, and it’s coming out on the other person’s phone as a different image with a different voice.”

For a comprehensive exploration of this topic, tune into the full conversation.