Bill knows a lot about staying safe online and he still got scammed, which is what makes him the perfect guest for What the Hack. Trying to buy some last-minute tickets for a hockey game, he was in the scammer’s sweet spot–rushed and needing something specific. 

After he realized what had happened, he decided to track down the scammers in the hope that he could stop them from targeting others. The problem he ran into is the reason these scams exist: No one at the site where he bought the tickets or the cash app where he paid for them really cares about penny-ante crime. Scammers will scam, after all. But then Ahabs will Ahab. Listen in as Bill sails the seven cyber seas in search of his sports ticket-baiting nemesis. 

We also talk about Venmo privacy settings. Too many people don’t know that it can be a perfectly anonymous way to send cash–including Bill’s scammer. 

“What the Hack with Adam Levin” is available wherever you get your podcasts. If you like it, consider giving us 5 stars on Apple or writing a review. It really helps people find the show.

View 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.