# Social Engineering Scams on the Rise Latest scam methods and protection tips - **Source:** [Hacking Humans](https://brifing.si/source/5c2a25b7-81b2-4f80-9066-74997292410d) - **Published:** 2026-08-20 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6300eeeb-c4e7-4431-9198-911896a262b3 ## Social Engineering Scams Maria Varmazis and Joe Carrigan discuss social engineering scams and phishing methods this week. They cover operations against online fraud centers in the Philippines and WhatsApp's new scam detection feature. This feature aims to detect suspicious conversations while preserving privacy. ## Jury Duty Scam A woman in Florida was scammed for over 10 hours using fake law enforcement, cryptocurrency payments, and stolen personal information. This scam resulted in the theft of over $25,000. Such scams often involve fake identities and intimidation tactics. ## Back-to-School Scams A new wave of scams targets parents and students with fake websites, phishing attempts, and AI-generated content. These scams focus on school supplies and course fees. Parents need to be vigilant against such frauds. ## Check Fraud Ami's experience shows that even paying by check isn't foolproof. A mailed check was intercepted, altered, and cashed by someone else. Such frauds are common with mailed payments. ## Operations in the Philippines The Philippines, with UN support, is conducting operations against online fraud centers. These operations aim to significantly reduce fraudulent activities. However, scammers developing new methods require continuous efforts. ## WhatsApp's New Feature WhatsApp is introducing a new feature to detect suspicious conversations. This feature aims to prevent scam attempts while preserving user privacy. However, its effectiveness and impact on privacy remain debated. ## Cryptocurrency Scam A Pennsylvania resident fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam through an online chess game, losing nearly $400,000. Such scams are prevalent in the cryptocurrency market, requiring users to be cautious. ## Fighting Fraud Scam methods are constantly evolving, requiring continuous efforts to combat them. User awareness, enhanced security measures, and reporting suspicious activities to authorities are crucial steps in fighting fraud. ## Sources covering this story - https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/hacking-humans/399/notes — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._