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Watch out for these cunning scams
I don’t want you to be a statistic.
Google put out a quiet but urgent warning: Online scams are on the rise, and they’re getting harder to spot. Even savvy folks are getting blindsided.
According to FTC data cited in Google’s November 2025 advisory, 57% of adults were targeted by a scam in the past year, and 23% had their money stolen.
Let those numbers sink in for a bit. I’ll wait.
🥷🏼 Scammers go pro
These scams don’t come from a sketchy email with misspelled words and cartoonish logos anymore. They’re polished. Professional. Powered by AI.
A fake job offer that looks like it’s from a company you trust. A holiday travel deal that matches exactly what you searched for. A banking app that appears like your real one, down to the logo and interface. A phone call with a caller ID saying it’s your financial manager.
And scammers know the season. Around the holidays, we’re all clicking more links, scanning more emails, tracking more packages. The bad guys are counting on it.
✋ If it feels off, pause
Scammers aren’t simply phishing anymore. They’re spearphishing. That means they’re using personal info they buy from data brokers, including your name, job title, hometown and more to tailor scams to you.
A few quick tips that make a big difference:
- Double-check URLs. Scammers use ones that look almost identical to the real deal but with one letter off or a different domain.
- Don’t pay to apply for a job. If a listing wants money up front, it’s a red flag.
- Use two-factor authentication on every account you can, especially your email and bank. Better yet, use an authenticator app from Google (Android, iOS) or Authy (Android, iOS).
- Be cautious with unfamiliar apps, even on official stores. Look at the reviews, publisher and number of downloads.
Don’t get caught in the cold
The best plan is to be ready for anything.
🔋 Blackout backup: Portable power station (50% off)
Blizzard-ready battery. When the grid goes down, Jackery’s solar generator packs keep your lights, heater and appliances running. Such a smart lifesaver.
📻 Crank ’n’ go: This emergency radio (39% off) with SOS alarms to NOAA alerts is your winter lifeline. Bonus: Built-in solar panels charge your phone.
Self-defense in a pinch: Clip these personal safety alarms (30% off, two-pack) to your key chain. Pull the pin, and boom, 130 decibels of “back off.”
📨 Protect your paper trail: Whether it’s bills or letters to Santa, tamper-evident envelopes (48% off) make it clear if someone got nosy.
Track that kitty: A reflective AirTag cat collar (under $14) helps make sure you always know where your tiny little prowler is. Adjustable, colorful and safe.
✅ You’re almost set:
- Want more smart-prep gear? Check out my Amazon shop and load up on 20+ great picks.
- Amazon’s Black Friday Week starts Nov. 20. Yes, a whole week. Check out early deals before the rush.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
See if license plate readers are in your neighborhood
A woman in Colorado was falsely accused of theft because a Flock camera that looks like the one in the image above spotted her car near the scene. She wasn’t even close. She had to dig up dashcam footage, GPS, even her outfit to prove it. The charges were dropped, but the stress? Very real.
🎬 Drop Windows default video players: The OS comes with Films & TV and Media Player, but they’re known to crash easily. The alternative? VLC. It’s free and plays almost any video or audio format. Plus, it won’t bog down your system and supports subtitles for all your movies. And yes, you can get it on Mac, too.
🥛 Drink up: Water alone may not keep the body fully hydrated. Native Hydrate from NativePath adds back essential electrolytes with zero sugar, clean ingredients and only 5 calories. Get 44% off + free shipping & gifts.
The death of swear words
Offensive language dates back to ancient times. Gen Z is looking to keep it there. Here’s my take in this short podcast.
AI side hustles: what you need to know
Want to make money with AI (but can’t code)? A 20-year expert reveals the real jobs: training chatbots and moderating ads. Plus, the OpenAI vs. NYT showdown, a chart-topping AI country song, and the ClickFix scam.
Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping online for your kiddo or spouse, and they walk in. Quick! Hide your open browser windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + M to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + H + M. Phew, no spoilers.
Check your pulse with a smartphone
You don’t need a fancy smartwatch to keep tabs on your heart rate. Check out how these apps can do the job without breaking the bank
🤖 Ctrl + Alt + Marry: In a surprising twist of heart, a 32-year-old woman named Kano ended her engagement and instead tied the knot with an AI husband named Klaus she made via ChatGPT. The union took place in a hybrid ceremony (real and virtual), with Kano donning augmented-reality glasses so she could “see” Klaus by her side as they exchanged rings. Her parents showed up and cheered. Online reactions were all over the place: Some saw the love story of the future, others worried about the emotional risks of a partner programmed to agree with you. What do you think? When you rate the newsletter, drop a comment with your email address.
Sleigh the airport chaos
You can’t control delays, but you can control what you bring.
🌬️ Power puffs: Travel steamer (27% off)
Dual voltage = no adapter drama. Pack a two-in-one iron that fits in your carry-on and heats up in 30 seconds flat. Tough on wrinkles, gentle on delicates like silk and lace.
🧳 Shrink your clothes: These compression packing cubes (30% off) save up to 60% of your luggage space. They come with a handy drawstring bag for your shoes.
Sky-high screen time: Clip this airplane phone holder (36% off) to your tray table and lock it at the perfect angle. The best part? A built-in light for Zoom calls at 30,000 feet.
⚡ Juice for days: Anker’s Prime power bank (22% off) takes your phone or laptop from zero to 50% in under 30 minutes. And yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Plugs without borders: Don’t forget a power adapter (20% off) if you’re heading overseas. Charges up to five gadgets at once in 150+ countries. Score.
📅 Deals take off soon
- Black Friday comes early this year: Amazon starts dropping the discounts on Nov. 20. Click here to check out the early steals.
- From AirTags to neck pillows: Find 30+ handpicked faves that make every trip smoother, smarter and less stressful.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Fly the unfriendly skies
Flying soon? Listen up. At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week.
That means thousands of flights canceled, or in other words, 200,000 fewer seats and butts in the air per day. Blame it on a record‑long government shutdown.
💾 Life lesson: Don’t learn the hard way. One spill, crash or virus can wipe out your computer. Carbonite backs up your files and photos automatically and restores them with one click. Start backing up now for 50% off.
$3K phone, 3 folds: Leaks say Samsung’s launching its first trifold phone Dec. 5. It’s called the Galaxy Z TriFold (real name, not a yoga move) and unfolds into a 10-inch display with a 200MP camera and $3K price tag. That’s right, you can drop first beater car money on electronic origami. I won’t knock it until I see it in person, but I’m not hopeful.
Try these Safari shortcuts on iOS 26: If you need to jump back more than one page, long-press the back button to see your recent sites and tap the one you want. If you’d like to return to your All Tabs view, double-tap the ellipsis in the bottom-right corner. To create a new tab, swipe left on the address bar at the bottom of the screen.
My Tesla told my son to send dirty pics
A mom let her kids try the new Grok AI chatbot in their car. She says what started as a convo about sports turned dirty, quick. Plus, Waymo heads on the freeway, Cyber Monday tricks, and you can now add your passport to your iPhone Apple Wallet.
ATM that melts your gold for cash
AI host George talks about the wild new ATM in Shanghai that melts your old bling for instant cash, Terminator-style. Then, a family used AI to fight a ridiculous $195k hospital bill and won, saving $160k. Plus, laugh at the cop who attended virtual court… pantsless.
Tired of scrolling for something worth watching? Head to my YouTube channel! It’s packed with smart tips, real laughs and tech talk that actually matters. Click now and enjoy screen time that’s worth it.
Apple’s midlife makeover: Apple’s turning 50 soon and acting brand new. They’re working on satellite upgrades (paywall link) with Starlink for iPhones and Apple Watches, so you can text without service, plus a $1 billion-a-year deal with Google’s Gemini AI to make Siri smarter. Oh, and a “low-cost” MacBook’s coming to compete with Windows.