We spend a lot of time talking about cybersecurity on “What the Hack with Adam Levin,” but tech scams and hacks don’t only go down online. This week’s episode was brought to you by the Covid-19 epidemic–specifically the mass unemployment caused by it. 

While we reserve the nastiest punishment in cybercrime hell for threat actors who target vulnerable people–which includes but is not limited to hospitals, the poor, the underemployed, the socially marginalized, and the consumers of cable news–the lowest of the low would be a scammer who knowingly steals unemployment benefits. This week’s episode is about Abby’s experience being scammed out of her unemployment benefits. 

Does the perpetrator earn a ticket to cyber hell? Sure, just because there is no such thing as a victimless crime. But in this case, it’s for you to decide. Did the threat actor know what s/he was doing, or was Abby caught in a cyber gill net–equal opportunity evil?

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Read the transcript.

Adam Levin is the former Director of Consumer Affairs for the State of New Jersey, serial entrepreneur and author of Swiped, which he wrote with his sidekick, writer and cyber mensch, Beau Friedlander. With expert commentary from Travis “Here’s What Actually Happened” Taylor, the show gets everything sorted out—or not—but either way you’re going to have a great time. Something weird happen to you? We’ve got your back.

What the Hack with Adam Levin is a production of Loud Tree Media and is produced by Andrew Steven.