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Breaking news and tips
For whom the bell tolls unpaid
You’ve probably seen it: a text that says something like, “You have an overdue toll balance. Click here to avoid late fees.” It looks official, urgent and believable enough to make you think maybe it’s legit.
That text is part of a very sophisticated scam run by Chinese criminal gangs, and they’ve already made over a billion dollars ripping people off across the U.S., per the WSJ (paywall link).
🕵️ How the scam works
Here’s the pipeline these gangs use to steal your information and your money.
1. U.S.-based devices
Scammers set up “SIM farms” here in the States. Picture a folding table stacked with dozens of phones and SIM cards blasting out 300,000 fake toll-payment texts a day.
One setup can impersonate 1,000 phone numbers. They spoof area codes to make these texts look like they’re from your state toll authority.
2. Fake sites
Click the link and you’re taken to a website that looks exactly like your real toll agency, down to the logo and colors. You’re asked to enter your credit card info, your name and one-time security code.
Do it and you’ve handed over everything they need to go shopping on your dime.
3. U.S. “mules”
It gets darker. U.S.-based gig workers, often recruited on Telegram, are paid 12 cents per $100 to take those stolen card numbers and buy iPhones, luxury purses and other high-ticket items, but mostly gift cards.
Screen time, upgraded
A few clever tools make your tech life a whole lot easier on your eyes.
📼 Give nostalgia a new life: Analog to digital converter ($35, 30% off)
Dig those VHS tapes out of the attic. Plug this easy-to-use gadget into your computer, and boom, you’ve got digital copies forever. Your family will cry, laugh and maybe roast your old hairstyle.
💻 Rise above the desk clutter: An adjustable, sturdy and foldable laptop stand ($20, 35% off) stops you from hunching over like Gollum by 2 p.m.
Forget sprays and streaks: The iRoller screen cleaner ($13, 48% off) is like a lint roller for your phone or laptop. No liquids and rinses clean in seconds.
🤓 Long hours in front of screens? Same. Slip on these blue-light-blocking glasses ($16, 20% off) before work. Cut the glare and still look sharp.
Your TV’s raincoat: Guard your outdoor screen from Mother Nature with a weatherproof cover ($30, 15% off). Saves you hundreds in replacements.
✅ Promo code of the day: Use LEBOPX10 for an extra 10% off stylish fits. Hurry, this steal ends tomorrow.
Plug into more great picks: Tap over to my Amazon page for more smart upgrades that are all on sale.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The loyalty trap: That free coffee cost you everything
Let me tell you something that’ll make you look at your “loyalty perks” apps and programs a lot differently.
You think you’re getting a deal along with points, rewards, a freebie here and there. But what you’re really signing up for is a machine that’s collecting, analyzing and monetizing you.
🔐 Lock down your digital life: If you’re still reusing the same passwords (or just adding “123”), it’s time for a real fix. NordPass keeps every password safe behind one master key. Even if someone gets your device, they’re still locked out. It’s fast, smart and packed with features like Password Health, Secure Sharing and Email Masking. Get 58% off plus 4 extra months free with my exclusive link.
🏗️ Flying 3D printers: Is it me, or does looking up get more crowded every decade? Carnegie Mellon’s developing drones that double up as construction workers. Really. Picture a swarm of little bots 3D-printing shelters and bridges after a disaster. These things use AI to turn “build a bridge” into an actual blueprint, then adjust midair if something goes wrong. 90% success rate so far! Who would have thought that would ever be possible?
What happens when the internet shuts down?
Gas pumps? Gone. Groceries? Maybe. Here’s what still works when the web doesn’t.
The Amazon outage that broke the internet
Amazon’s cloud crashed and took half the internet with it. Snapchat, Ring, Venmo, even banks went dark. I’ll break down what happens when the web’s backbone fails. Then I talk to one business owner who caught scammers stealing her online brand. Plus, the Louvre heist, a New Jersey “UFO” update, and a smart ChatGPT trick.
Find your receipts on iPhone: If you take photos of receipts or tickets, your iPhone automatically organizes them, so you can find them later. Open the Photos app, then tap Collections > Utilities > Receipts. Or use the search icon (the little magnifying glass) and type something like “parking receipt.” No more endless scrolling.
Let AI be your assistant
Mondays don’t have to be chaos. Let AI organize your week, make a plan you’ll actually follow, and give you back a little sanity.
🤝 Own a website? While Google, OpenAI and Anthropic eat everyone’s content buffet-style for free, Search.com said, “How about we actually pay the chefs?” Their new AI search tool gives creators 60% of ad revenue, promises no scraping without consent and lets sites embed AI chatbots for free. It’s a small shift, but it could help keep your site, as well as your favorites, alive.
Saving never tasted so good
You don’t need a Michelin star, only four-star and up tools.
🔥 One appliance, endless meals: Air fryer (20% off)
Meat your guilt-free crunch companion (pun intended). Cooks fries, wings and veggies faster than your oven. Bonus: 130+ recipes in the app.
🥣 Wood you believe it? These chic bamboo utensils (29% off) are sturdy, lightweight and safe for all your nonstick pans. Set comes with a matching holder.
Sharper than your wit: Diamond wheels on this electric knife sharpener (9% off) make meal prep faster and safer. Perfect for Thanksgiving.
🧽 Countertop hero: A stainless steel sink organizer (28% off) keeps your countertop tidy while you conquer those dishes like a boss.
Soap-er clean: Grease doesn’t stand a chance against Cascade’s dishwasher pods (5% off, 78 count). A value pack will have you set through 2026.
✅ Click, cook, conquer: My Amazon shop is loaded with even more smart, sleek and downright useful kitchen gadgets.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The day the cloud caught a cold
If Zoom wouldn’t connect, YouTube froze or your smart home went dumb yesterday morning, it wasn’t just you. Over 11 million people reported issues with more than 2,500 big name apps and services.
The reason? A huge outage at Amazon Web Services, better known as AWS. Let me explain what all this means in plain English.
🔎 Scammers on Facebook Marketplace: It’s tough to tell who’s legit, so start by checking when the seller joined. Scroll to Seller information on their post. Profiles that are under a year old, private or blank are red flags. But that’s not a 100% guarantee all is legit. If there’s a phone number, search it in Groups for warnings. And always meet in public and bring a friend.
X marks the lock: If you use a physical security key (like a YubiKey) for 2FA on X, you’ve got until Nov. 10 to reenroll, or your account gets locked. Why? X is cutting ties with the old Twitter.com domain, which means you’re basically reregistering your key under X.com. Authenticator and SMS 2FA folks? No action needed.
🎨 Better AI images: The next time you use an AI image generator like Bing, imagine you’re giving directions to an artist who takes things literally. Start with your main subject, then layer in details such as color, background and mood. Don’t forget the style. Try “watercolor,” “realistic photo,” “Pixar style,” “vintage film” or even “cyberpunk.” And always say what to avoid. Example: “A happy golden retriever in an autumn park at sunset chasing a ball, Pixar style. No people.” The clearer you are, the better the magic turns out.
Meta’s AI trains on your private photos
Facebook wants to scan your camera roll. Yes, the pics you never posted. Creepy? Plus, one caller wants to stop his kid from looking at naughty things on the internet. Then I get into Amazon’s robot army, why being mean to AI work, and how to pay less for subscriptions.
When Amazon Broke the Internet
What happens when Amazon crashes the internet, why you shouldn’t fake a crime with AI, and why teachers are terrified of the words “six seven.”
Cool Windows 11 shortcuts: Save yourself clicks with these. Snap windows to the left or right side of your screen using Windows key + arrow keys. Open the widget panel for weather, stocks or sports updates with Windows key + W. Need your notifications or calendar? Try Windows key + N.
🧃 The “secret” drink I reach for instead of coffee: Tired of the jitters and sugar crashes? Same. I just found a clean electrolyte drink that tastes great and actually works. No caffeine, no junk. I’m talking all-day energy, mental clarity and zero crash. I’ve been sipping NativePath Hydrate daily, and I’m hooked. Try it for 44% off with free shipping before it sells out.