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The catfisher in the minivan
Alert: This article is a spoiler for Unknown Number: The High School Catfish on Netflix.
Imagine you’re a high school girl. Your phone won’t stop buzzing. It’s not friendly DMs, texts or social media notifications.
Instead, hundreds of cruel, anonymous messages flood in, calling you names, threatening you, turning your friends against you and even urging you to take your own life.
This is the true story of Netflix’s Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.
🧍🏼♀️ Who was it?
It started in 2020 when 13-year-old Lauryn Licari from Beal City, Michigan, and her boyfriend Owen began getting bombarded with vicious, untraceable texts and DMs, sometimes over 50 a day.
Her mom, Kendra, was right there with Lauryn, consoling her, talking her through what was going on and helping her file reports with the school and police.
But this was all a sinister act. Kendra was the one harassing her own daughter.
⛓️ A digital predator’s tool kit
Kendra didn’t need sophisticated computer and hacking skills or tools sold on the dark web. She used apps available to anyone.
- Spoofing and burner apps: TextNow and TextFree let you create fake phone numbers. Kendra would send hateful texts, then simply get a new number.
- Bogus social media accounts: You can make fake social media accounts in seconds. Kendra did this on Instagram and Facebook, pretending to be Lauryn’s classmates or friends.
- VPN (virtual private network): Kendra used a VPN to hide her device’s IP address, making the messages appear to come from locations across the country.
She weaponized these tools to not only attack her daughter but to pin the blame on Lauryn’s friends, isolating her completely.
Don’t panic. Prepare
🎥 My pick: Roku indoor camera (33% off)
“Alexa, show me my living room cam.” Plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and motion alerts keep you one step ahead. Bonus: HD night vision.
🔊 Personal safety alarm (25% off): Clip an instant backup to your keys. A siren and flashing strobe will draw eyes your way.
🚨 Doorstop alarm (16% off, three-pack): If anyone tries to break in, they’ll get greeted with an ear-splitting 120 dB.
💡 Clip-on flashlight (30% off): Great for late-night walks, this little guy has 10 modes, including four for emergencies.
❤️🩹 Wound closure strips (29% off): Think butterfly bandages, but upgraded. They do the job when the ER can’t wait.
🛟 I’m throwing you a lifeline: Build your “just in case” kit on my Amazon page. My handpicked security gear is all there.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
VPNs that spy on you
Using a VPN? Better make sure it’s not on this list.
VPNs are supposed to keep you safe. They encrypt your internet traffic and hide your location from hackers, ISPs and creepy ad trackers.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Switch between browser tabs fast. Ctrl + 1–9 (Windows) or Cmd + 1–9 (Mac). Goes directly to the tab number you pick. Whoa!
🤖 Dropouts welcome: OpenAI’s launching Grove, a just-hatched accelerator for tech founders who haven’t figured out what they’re building yet. Fifteen people will get to hang around SF HQ, play with new models and maybe become the next billion-dollar AI overlord. Applications are open now, but spots are ultra-limited. I’d do this in a heartbeat.
Is ChatGPT the smartest entity on earth?
Sam Altman claims ChatGPT is smarter than people. Is he right, or is true intelligence still only human?
3,821%
That’s how much Pokémon cards have surged since 2004. For context, the S&P 500 managed a measly 483% in the same stretch. Translation: Pikachu just smoked your retirement account (paywall link). One near-mint Pikachu Illustrator sold for $5.3M, proving that a tiny crease can tank your portfolio faster than a bad earnings call.
💸 Save on gadgets: Amazon Renewed sells open-box, pre-owned and refurbished tech from big brands. You can find deals on iPhones, MacBooks, headphones, gaming consoles and more. Best part? Everything’s tested and inspected, so it looks almost new. And if something doesn’t work out, you’ve got a 90-day guarantee to fall back on.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scale your work with AI clones
Train AI with your own emails, proposals, and FAQs so it responds in your voice, your style, and your standards. This scales you without replacing you.
💻 Microsoft doomsday alert: Mark your calendars, November 2025 is when Windows 11 23H2 (Home & Pro) officially stops getting updates. Translation: Your laptop becomes an all-you-can-eat buffet for malware. Enterprise folks get an extra year, but for everyone else, upgrade to 24H2 or roll the dice. Some PCs can’t upgrade because of … audio drivers and wallpaper software. Yes, wallpapers. Unbelievable.
Dirty little secrets
🐾 My pick: Cordless handheld vacuum & air duster (43% off)
One vac to rule them all. Crumbs in your car? Check. Keyboard dust? Gone. And the pet hair on your couch? Like it was never there.
🧼 Toilet bowl cleaners (38% off, six-pack): Deodorizes, descales and keeps your porcelain throne worthy of royalty.
🐜 Indoor ant killer & bug spray (33% off): Creepy crawlies don’t pay rent. With this kit, you’ll send them packing.
💖 Laundry room containers (23% off): Plastic bags aren’t a vibe. Upgrade to these stylish bins for your pods, sheets and boosters.
🚮 Drawstring trash bags (17% off): Bestsellers for a reason. No rips or weird smells, just clean disposal every time.
✅ Staples that never fail me: Click here for the things I grab again and again because they just work. Then explore the rest of my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Can ChatGPT mess with your mind?
Some users are spiraling into delusions, claiming the AI gave them a sacred mission. It’s being called “ChatGPT-induced psychosis.” Plus: Physical buttons are making a comeback in cars, Shark has recalled some pressure cookers and much more.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
🙂 Don’t worry, be happy: Or just move to Hawaii, Maryland or Nebraska. Those are apparently the three happiest states, where the biggest stress is whether your corn’s tall enough, your crab’s spicy enough or your mai tai’s strong enough. WalletHub crunched 30 metrics (depression, income, job security) and crowned the trio champs of health, wealth and vibes.
❌ Delete bloatware on Windows 11: Your PC comes preloaded with apps you’ll never use. They waste space and can slow performance by running in the background. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Scroll the list, click the three-dot menu on an app (like Xbox Live) and hit Uninstall. Just be careful not to touch system apps.
Delete a selfie? Facebook saw it
A former exec says Facebook tracked teen girls deleting photos, then pushed beauty ads right when they felt vulnerable. Plus, New York City is testing crime-predicting AI, and Ken from Ohio shares how his Apple Watch saved his life.
Movin’ and groovin’
🎶 My pick: Bluetooth FM transmitter (20% off)
Old ride, new tricks. Plug it into your cigarette lighter and you’ve got streaming, hands-free calls and a fast charger in one.
📱 Tablet holder car mount (32% off): Turns your back seats into a rolling movie theater. Cue the Netflix marathons.
📍 AirTag holders (15% off, four-pack): Clip, snap, done. All those “Where’d I put that?” moments are history.
🧳 Carry-on luggage (22% off): Hard shell, smooth wheels. This bag’s built for sprinting to the gate without the struggle.
🚗 Car trunk organizer (15% off): Collapsible, sturdy and actually stays put, unlike that box you’ve been using.
✈️ Pack it, stack it, roll out: See the rest of my travel picks on my Amazon page. Everything from organizers to data blockers is all there.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👨🏻💼 Stop LinkedIn spam: If you’re flooded with unwanted message requests, lock down your profile. Go to Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Who can reach you > Messages and toggle off Message requests. Don’t want random invites either? Go back to Who can reach you > Invitations to connect and toggle Only people in your Imported Contacts.
⏱️ Pressure’s on: Apple Watches that track hypertension just got FDA approval and start rolling out today. The watch monitors your cardiovascular patterns over 30 days and alerts you if your blood pressure looks like it’s creeping too high. It’s not a replacement for a doctor or a real cuff, but it could be a game changer for the millions who don’t know they’re at risk. The feature is coming to Series 9, Ultra 2 and all future models, and yes, your wrist might just save your life.