Smashing Security How to scam someone in seven days
21 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
In this episode, Lesley Carhart, a digital forensics expert known as Hacks for Pancakes, sheds light on the troubling state of entry-level cybersecurity jobs and the pitfalls of applicant tracking systems. Danny Jenkins, CEO of ThreatLocker, discusses the rise of ransomware and misconfigurations as chronic vulnerabilities. The duo explores the bizarre intersection of astrology and romance scams, dissects fraud manuals, and reveals the psychological tactics used by scammers to manipulate their victims. A riveting conversation on cybersecurity and deception awaits!
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Seven-Day Scam Funnel
- The handbook describes a seven-day timeline that moves from initial contact to money requests and fake investment deposits.
- It advises dropping slow prospects after three days to maximise churn and success rates.
Treat Quick Riches Or Instant Love As Red Flags
- Treat sudden promises of quick riches or instant love as red flags and pause before sending money.
- If an online partner quickly pivots to crypto or investments, stop and verify independently before engaging further.
Behavioural Tailoring And Empathy
- Scammers tailor messages to target demographics, mirroring interests and emotional gaps to build trust quickly.
- The handbook uses behavior prompts like 'deploy emergency empathy' to manipulate responses and prolong engagement.