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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.
Feast your eyes
Let’s save time, cut chaos and make cooking a whole lot more enjoyable.
🧂 Seasoning of the season: Salt & pepper set (33% off)
Stocking stuffers that actually get used. Electric grinders add flavor without the wrist workout. One-handed, USB-chargeable and lit by a tiny LED spotlight.
🍾 Keep the bubbly: These Italian-made champagne stoppers (33% off) lock in fizz, so your sparkling drink doesn’t go flat. No more wasting the good stuff.
The feast knife: Slice through Thanksgiving dinner with this turkey carving set (25% off). Razor-sharp German steel glides through even the toughest meat.
🔥 Your cleanup shortcut: These nonstick oven liners (39% off, two-pack) catch drips and spills, so you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing away charred leftovers.
Digging for that one good spoon? Get a silverware organizer (54% off) that’s adjustable and BPA-free. Tames your utensil jungle for only $6.
🦃 Gobble up more:
- Head over to my storefront for a full buffet of 30+ handpicked kitchen gadgets.
- Black Friday Week starts Nov. 20. Get a jump on the best early deals here.
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.
3-second tech genius: Clear your Amazon search history to hide gifts or questionable clicks. On desktop, under Hello, [Your Name], click Browsing History. Find the item you want and select Remove from view or click here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Designer baby drama: Sam Altman and his husband are funding Preventive, a startup aiming to gene-edit embryos to prevent inherited diseases, something illegal in the U.S. and most of the planet. They’ve raised $30M and will set up shop abroad to run trials. Critics warn of designer-baby territory, but investors say it’s the next medical revolution. I’m torn. I can’t decide if this is hope or a sci-fi plot.
Why a DJI drone ban happens in 36 days
America’s most popular drone brand is getting banned just before Christmas. Here’s why the U.S. government says the Chinese-made drones are a national security threat and what they fear is being sent back to China.
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.
🎬 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.
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
📱 Bedtime rebellion: All that “blue light is ruining your life” talk might’ve been exaggerated, according to a new study. Research says heavy bedtime screen users actually slept better than the moderate dabblers. Turns out it’s not the phone, it’s the content. If your nightly scroll is cozy instead of crazy, your sleep might be just fine. Me? I avoid the tiny screen blasting light into my eyeballs before going to sleep.
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.
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.
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.
🥛 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.
💾 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.
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.
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.
🤖 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.