How Hacks Happen https://howhackshappen.net/podcasts/how-hacks-happen/ Hacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented by your friendly neighborhood cybersecurity gal Michele Bousquet.   Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:53:08 +0000 en-us © 2026 How Hacks Happen Many Worlds Productions episodic Hacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented by your friendly neighborhood cybersecurity gal Michele Bousquet.   Many Worlds Productions false https://howhackshappen.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/g6t2949bnp3dutzm9gh57g0hy9ss-1.jpg How Hacks Happen https://howhackshappen.net/podcasts/how-hacks-happen/ Hacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented by your friendly neighborhood cybersecurity gal Michele Bousquet.   No yes 238b5345-d46f-5fe5-8d59-762d7aba34f9 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 Actors Behaving Badly https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/actors-behaving-badly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=actors-behaving-badly Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-19001866 The promise of Hollywood stardom leads some to fraud and scams. In this episode, we talk about three scammers from the land of the silver screen: Alison Gu, a convicted fraudster who tried to hire Chinese-speaking actors as witnesses for her case; Zach Horowitz (aka Zach Avery), an actor who conned his friends and major […]

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]]> The promise of Hollywood stardom leads some to fraud and scams. In this episode, we talk about three scammers from the land of the silver screen: Alison Gu, a convicted fraudster who tried to hire Chinese-speaking actors as witnesses for her case; Zach Horowitz (aka Zach Avery), an actor who conned his friends and major […]

The post Actors Behaving Badly first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> false no 0:00 No no Spotify: Making Millions With Bots https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/spotify-making-millions-with-bots/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spotify-making-millions-with-bots Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-19161550 When musician Michael Smith couldn't find an audience for his music, he manufactured it. By unleashing thousands of bots to listen to thousands of fake AI-generated songs on Spotify and other platforms, Smith earned millions in royalties before getting caught. Resources: North Carolina Musician Charged with Music Streaming Fraud Aided by Artificial Intelligence — U.S. […]

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]]> When musician Michael Smith couldn't find an audience for his music, he manufactured it. By unleashing thousands of bots to listen to thousands of fake AI-generated songs on Spotify and other platforms, Smith earned millions in royalties before getting caught. Resources: North Carolina Musician Charged with Music Streaming Fraud Aided by Artificial Intelligence — U.S. […]

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]]> false no 0:00 No no Voiceprint, Face ID, and Sneakers https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/voiceprint-face-id-and-sneakers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=voiceprint-face-id-and-sneakers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-19087332 Voiceprint ID is the latest virtual gadget for banks and financial institutions. But how secure is it, really? Let's look at the pros and cons of voice recognition, facial ID, and the AI systems they work with, and look back at the 1992 film Sneakers to see how this 34-year-old movie predicted some of the […]

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]]> Voiceprint ID is the latest virtual gadget for banks and financial institutions. But how secure is it, really? Let's look at the pros and cons of voice recognition, facial ID, and the AI systems they work with, and look back at the 1992 film Sneakers to see how this 34-year-old movie predicted some of the […]

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]]> false no 0:00 No no Glitches in the Matrix https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/glitches-in-the-matrix/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=glitches-in-the-matrix Sat, 07 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-18638368 Glitch or fraud? Let's explore "money glitches" popularized on social media, and the consequences faced by people who used them.  Resources: The Chase Money 'Glitch': How a Viral Fraud Scheme Backfired What you need to know about "Klarna method" posts on social media Ringleader sentenced in multimillion-dollar fraud operation which saddled victims with crushing debt […]

The post Glitches in the Matrix first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> Glitch or fraud? Let's explore "money glitches" popularized on social media, and the consequences faced by people who used them.  Resources: The Chase Money 'Glitch': How a Viral Fraud Scheme Backfired What you need to know about "Klarna method" posts on social media Ringleader sentenced in multimillion-dollar fraud operation which saddled victims with crushing debt […]

The post Glitches in the Matrix first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> false no 0:00 No no 2025: The Year of AI Scams https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/2025-the-year-of-ai-scams/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2025-the-year-of-ai-scams Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-18424637 AI is undoubtedly the technology of the year for hacks and scams. While scammers are busy using AI to make scams more convincing, scam baiters are fighting back with ingenious grandma-style AIs that keep scammers busy for hours on end. There have also been some spectacular busts of scam centers. What’s next, AI scammers chatting […]

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]]> AI is undoubtedly the technology of the year for hacks and scams. While scammers are busy using AI to make scams more convincing, scam baiters are fighting back with ingenious grandma-style AIs that keep scammers busy for hours on end. There have also been some spectacular busts of scam centers. What’s next, AI scammers chatting […]

The post 2025: The Year of AI Scams first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> false no 0:00 No no The Barber Shop Scammers https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/the-barber-shop-scammers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-barber-shop-scammers Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-18349491 Ever get your hair cut and wonder, "Is my barber part of an international scammer ring?" In November 2025, the FBI arrested Victor Marion, the owner of Mecca Barber Shop in San Diego, and eighteen of his buddies for scamming elderly victims out of $40 million with the classic tech support and refund scams, and […]

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]]> Ever get your hair cut and wonder, "Is my barber part of an international scammer ring?" In November 2025, the FBI arrested Victor Marion, the owner of Mecca Barber Shop in San Diego, and eighteen of his buddies for scamming elderly victims out of $40 million with the classic tech support and refund scams, and […]

The post The Barber Shop Scammers first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> false no 0:00 No no It’s Official: Facebook is Scammy https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/its-official-facebook-is-scammy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-official-facebook-is-scammy Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-18273163 If Facebook has seemed scammy for the past few years, it's not your imagination. A leaked internal document shows that Facebook, and its parent company Meta, are well aware that many of their ads and posts are scams, but they make too much money off of them to do anything about it. Get all the […]

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]]> If Facebook has seemed scammy for the past few years, it's not your imagination. A leaked internal document shows that Facebook, and its parent company Meta, are well aware that many of their ads and posts are scams, but they make too much money off of them to do anything about it. Get all the […]

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]]> false no 0:00 No no Signing Your Life Away: Subscriber Agreements https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/signing-your-life-away-subscriber-agreements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=signing-your-life-away-subscriber-agreements Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-18168876 Do you tap "Accept" without reading subscriber agreements? Those long-winded documents can strip away your legal rights, and even hijack your face, your voice, and your life. Let's peek inside the dystopian world of Subscriber Agreements for streaming services and see what little goodies they hold for us. Netflix in Your Neighborhood Privacy Policy Netflix […]

The post Signing Your Life Away: Subscriber Agreements first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> Do you tap "Accept" without reading subscriber agreements? Those long-winded documents can strip away your legal rights, and even hijack your face, your voice, and your life. Let's peek inside the dystopian world of Subscriber Agreements for streaming services and see what little goodies they hold for us. Netflix in Your Neighborhood Privacy Policy Netflix […]

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]]> false no 0:00 No no Personal Pest Control: Cybersecurity Awareness Month https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/personal-pest-control-cybersecurity-awareness-month/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=personal-pest-control-cybersecurity-awareness-month Mon, 06 Oct 2025 01:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-17951200 October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it's time to clean house! Let's get rid of all those dust bunnies (weak passwords) and vacuum under the sofa cushions (no multi-factor authentication) and even do a check under the bed for that half-eaten Pop Tart (vulnerable emails). Hear about a few instances where poor cybersecurity led to […]

The post Personal Pest Control: Cybersecurity Awareness Month first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it's time to clean house! Let's get rid of all those dust bunnies (weak passwords) and vacuum under the sofa cushions (no multi-factor authentication) and even do a check under the bed for that half-eaten Pop Tart (vulnerable emails). Hear about a few instances where poor cybersecurity led to […]

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]]> false no 0:00 No no AI Gone Rogue: Delusional Chats Lead to Heartbreak https://howhackshappen.net/podcast/ai-gone-rogue-delusional-chats-lead-to-heartbreak/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ai-gone-rogue-delusional-chats-lead-to-heartbreak Sun, 28 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Buzzsprout-17919024 AI is great for researching topics and digging up information. But what happens when people start to humanize their chatbots, and think they're talking to God? Or that they are God? Let's look at what makes AI come up with delusional theories, and why it tells people they're right even then they're wrong.  Resources People […]

The post AI Gone Rogue: Delusional Chats Lead to Heartbreak first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

]]> AI is great for researching topics and digging up information. But what happens when people start to humanize their chatbots, and think they're talking to God? Or that they are God? Let's look at what makes AI come up with delusional theories, and why it tells people they're right even then they're wrong.  Resources People […]

The post AI Gone Rogue: Delusional Chats Lead to Heartbreak first appeared on How Hacks Happen Podcast.

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