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Your driver’s license has two jobs: ID and moneymaker. But sadly, not for you.
Breaking news and tips
Stop one-touch theft
Tap-to-pay is slick, fast and super convenient until it isn’t. Scammers have figured out how to use that same technology to steal your money without you even knowing.
It’s called “ghost tapping,” and it’s spreading so fast, the BBB issued a major alert about it.
💳 How it works
A scammer carries a hidden NFC reader, the same tech used in legit payment retail terminals, and bumps up close to your credit or debit card. If your card is contactless and not protected, boom, a payment goes through.
No swipe. No PIN. No clue it happened.
These crooks hang out in crowded spots like malls, airports, festivals and train stations. If your tap-to-pay card is sitting loose in a bag or back pocket, they can charge you by brushing past. It’s that easy.
Even worse? They often start with tiny amounts, so it flies under your radar. A couple bucks here, a coffee there, and they keep draining your bank account.
🛡️ Stay a step ahead
You don’t have to give up tap-to-pay. You just need to outsmart the scammers, especially when you’re in a crowd.
- Use an RFID-blocking wallet or card sleeve. These physically block anyone from scanning your card when you’re not using it. Cheap fix, big peace of mind. Here are some great sleeves (50% off) and wallets for men (60% off) and women (40% off).
- Turn off tap-to-pay if you don’t use it. In most banking app settings, you can turn off contactless features or set a low limit. Do it.
- Watch the screen before you tap. If something looks off, like the merchant name or amount, stop. Don’t tap and hope.
- Add transaction alerts. Most banks and card apps let you turn on push notifications for every charge. If something sketchy goes through, you’ll know right away.
💪 If you found this warning helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend or family member or simply use the share icons below now. This kind of scam hits hard.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🚗 Don’t get stranded
Think of this as your roadside rescue kit, minus the AAA hold music.
⚡ Battery boost: Portable jump starter (40% off)
No more begging for jumper cables. This beast fits in your glove box and doubles as a phone charger. Handles blizzards and the desert heat like a pro.
❄️ Ice, ice (gone) baby: This military-grade scraper brush (20% off) wipes layers of snow in one swoop. Swivel head + expandable handle = no bending or climbing.
Flat tire? Don’t panic. Snag a cordless inflator (35% off) that hits 150 PSI and fills your spare tire in about a minute. Works on cars, bikes and motorcycles.
🔒 Carjackers hate this: Anti-theft steering wheel lock (20% off). Four locking hooks and twin bars make this a cheap insurance policy for your peace of mind.
Safety you can swing: When seconds count, this window breaker and seat-belt cutter combo (21% off, two-pack) can save your life. Toss one in every ride.
🚦 Stay rolling:Click here to see the rest of my favorite car gadgets before the next cold snap hits and while they’re still on sale.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop saving passwords in browsers, seriously
I got an email from a listener named Jim K., and it’s the kind of note that sticks with you.
“I checked Have I Been Pwned and found one account breached twice, another nine times, and another five times. I keep my usernames and passwords in Notes. I don’t let websites store my credit card info, but I do reuse passwords. I’m not sure I trust password managers. And I really don’t want to change every password the next time there’s a breach.”
🖼️ Give your screenshots some style: Using the Snipping Tool on Windows 11? You can make every capture pop with a border. Open the app, click the three-dot menu > Settings and turn on Add border to each screenshot. Tap the arrow next to it to pick your border color and thickness.
Robo-trainer takes the field: Apparently, NFL players now have digital clones. They call it “Digital Athlete,” and it watches every sprint, twist and fall to warn when someone’s about to pull a hamstring. It even flashes red if a player’s overworked (paywall link). It’s basically Fitbit meets Minority Report, except the stakes are million-dollar knees instead of your steps goal.
Kim Kardashian blames ChatGPT for failing her law exams
The world’s most famous student lawyer learned the hard way that you can’t trust AI for everything. Get the scoop in this short podcast.
The 24/7 AI camera network spying on you
Flock cameras, installed by HOAs, apartments, and local businesses, are live feeds police can access anytime. Privacy red flag? Think so. Plus, Neil DeGrasse Tyson deepfakes, Kim K’s AI legal drama, and tap-to-pay scams. I also give advice to Jane from Atlanta who asks: how can I help businesses tap into AI?
Stream like a king: Amazon cut the Fire TV Cube price down to $99.99 ($40 off), and it’s worth it. It’s like if a Fire Stick and Alexa had a baby with 4K Ultra HD, Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Atmos. Basically, it turns your old TV into the rich kid at school.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
60-second fix to secure your home camera
Did you change your security cam’s default password? If you’re like most, maybe not. Here’s why you should and other great tips you need to know about.
🥳 The Promised LAN: Last month, I sat on an 11-hour flight from London with no Wi-Fi. Argh. Those days are coming to an end. Starlink hit 8 million subscribers and inked a shiny new deal with British Airways’ parent company to install satellite Wi-Fi on 500 planes from BA, Iberia and Aer Lingus. I believe Wi can Fi.
From mess to impress
If chaos had a villain, these picks would be the heroes.
💨 Dust-busting dynamo: Compressed air duster (40% off)
Ditch those disposable cans. Zarimi’s rechargeable turbo fan blasts away dust from keyboards, vents, and it even doubles as a leaf blower. Versatile and compact.
🐱 The cat’s meow: Whoa, this pet steam brush (62% off) is a huge steal. With one button, you can tap those fur clumps away. No more manual picking.
Bye-bye bugs: Itching for a solution to mosquito bites? Plug in an LED bug zapper (30% off) and consider them handled. Works indoors and outdoors. Win-win!
✨ Multi-surface magic: The Pink Stuff (47% off) handles grease, grime, stains, you name it, like a champ. The fruity scent leaves everything smelling delightful.
Spin-cycle TLC: Snag a six-month supply of descaler tablets (23% off) for your washer. Keeps it running smoothly and smelling loads better (pun intended).
😍 Peek at your faves: Hit this secret link to check which of your tried-and-true items are waiting for you at a discount.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop porch pirates from ruining your holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for gift-giving and the worst time because of gift-stealing. Over $2 billion worth of parcels got stolen in the last three months of 2024 alone. That’s a lot of missing presents and stocking stuffers. With the right gear, you can leave porch pirates out in the cold.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Next time you’re stuck on a tricky word, ask Siri instead of guessing. Say, “Hey, Siri, how do you spell Liechtenstein?” She’ll read it out letter by letter, no typo stress.
You look familiar: Ever wanted to ring a doorbell and get your face added to a database? You’re in luck. Amazon’s new Ring cameras can recognize “familiar faces,” but here’s the rub: They scan people’s faces without asking. The EFF says it might break biometric privacy laws in states like Illinois and Texas. Amazon says that’s your problem. Also, the scanning happens in the cloud. Sleep tight.
🏠 Home safety made simple: SimpliSafe is running its Black Friday deal early with 60% off any new system. Protect your home with easy setup, live monitoring and award-winning sensors that keep watch day and night. Get started at SimpliSafe.com/Kim.
Facebook made $16 billion off scam ads
Why can’t Meta stop the fraud? Easy. It probably doesn’t want to. Hear how it made billions off scam ads last year. Plus, the Musk-Altman feud and a big Google Maps update. Then I talk to caller Byron, who says scammers drugged him and used facial recognition to unlock his phone. Scary!
VPN myths that need to die
Half the stuff you’ve heard about VPNs is total nonsense. No, they don’t make you invisible online. AI host Rylie breaks down fact from fiction. Plus, how Chess.com became a billion-dollar empire, a teen’s genius and the latest AI fails that’ll make you facepalm.
Let AI plan your plate: Figuring out meals for the week can be exhausting. Get ChatGPT to handle it by prompting, “Plan a week of simple, healthy meals I can cook, and make a grocery list with the exact ingredients.” You can ask it to include cooking steps and portion sizes to match your calorie goals. Pro tip: Tell it what’s in your fridge for meal ideas. Bon appétit!
📱 Free phones aren’t really free: Big carriers hide costs in long contracts that keep you stuck for years. Consumer Cellular keeps it honest with no hidden fees and no long commitments. If you’re over 50, get two unlimited lines for $30 each and save $25 when you switch at ConsumerCellular.com/Kim.