All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Breaking news and tips
When your stock is actually a scam
I don’t mean to be a downer, but I need to warn you that tens of thousands of Americans, folks just like you, are getting duped into buying worthless Chinese stocks.
The Wall Street Journal (paywall link) found even seasoned investors are falling for this scam, losing big bucks in the blink of an eye.
How the scam goes down
Fraudsters hype obscure Chinese companies using flashy but totally fake online marketing. We’re talking bogus financial reports, glowing endorsements from so-called “experts,” and completely made-up news stories claiming revolutionary breakthroughs.
It’s like the Netflix Original version of Wall Street. Investors think they’ve discovered the next Tesla or Amazon. Fraudsters generate online buzz like it’s a Marvel premiere.
You’ll see anonymous Reddit accounts praising a “groundbreaking diagnostic technology” that cured their dog’s cousin’s gluten allergy. Influencers squeeze out TikToks looking like TED Talks, promising, “You’ll 10X in 3 days or I’ll eat this protein bar on camera.”
Then the scammers quietly cash out, the stocks crash, and everyday people are left holding worthless paper.
- Mike from Texas dropped over $40,000 after he followed advice from an online forum screaming success about a so-called groundbreaking Chinese biotech company.
- Emily, a teacher from Florida, poured her entire retirement savings into a Chinese company promoted by a convincing finance influencer. Turns out, the company didn’t even exist. Her retirement vanished almost overnight.
- Jim from Illinois? Fell for sleek emails teasing “exclusive tips.” The only thing exclusive about it was how fast his kids’ college fund evaporated chasing a Chinese electric vehicle startup that disappeared overnight.
So, what do you do?
Be smarter. Please.
- Steer clear of “secret tips”: If someone promises huge returns on a secret investment, walk away. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
- Do your homework with trusted sources: Cross-check on Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance or the SEC. Can’t find details? Run. If you’re sourcing from a comment section, stop.
- Watch out for social media buzz: Hype on Reddit, Twitter and Discord is a huge red flag. Influencer-driven frenzy rarely points to solid investments.
Don’t let scammers ride off into the sunset with your life savings while you’re left in an empty Reddit asking, “Wait, did anyone else lose everything?”
’Twas the night before ‘Prime Day’
🌃 And all through Amazon, the deals were already dropping.
- 📱 Your phone’s lifeguard: These waterproof cases (41% off, two-pack) have 4.5 stars and 21,000+ reviews.
- 🏷️ Stick with it: An ink-free label maker (52% off) is pure organizing bliss. Type, tap, done.
- 💡 Glow and behold: The sleekest LED floor lamp (10% off) you’ll ever plug in. Yep, it doubles as a bookshelf.
- 🐦 Flyby footage: Bird-watch in HD with this smart bird feeder (30% off). Bonus: color night vision.
- 🧳 Luggage mishap, aborted: A digital luggage scale (16% off) saves me from paying overweight fees.
- ⚡ Your tech will thank you: This cleaning kit (20% off) tackles gunky ports and even bad connections.
👉 More early deals? Just one click away on my Amazon storefront and this handy page.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop using 2FA text codes already
Today’s a short but super important security tip. If you’re still getting login codes via text on your phone, stop. That’s so 2010 and one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to online security.
Sure, it’s convenient. You type in your password, get a six-digit code via SMS, enter it, and you’re in. But here’s the problem: Hackers have figured out how to steal those codes.
👉 Running a business is tough. Download NetSuite’s free guide, “Navigating Global Trade: Three Insights for Leaders.” It’s packed with smart, no-nonsense tips to keep you ahead of the game, avoid costly mistakes and spot new opportunities in today’s fast-moving global market.
🛩️ Amelia Earhart mystery: Another team is trying to find out what ever happened to the famous pilot who disappeared 88 years ago. They’re heading to Nikumaroro, a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Why now? A satellite image revealed something odd, called the “Taraia Object,” that could be part of her missing plane. Stay tuned.
Apple’s top app
A controversial new app just shot to #1 on the Apple charts. Not for entertainment, but for alerting users to ICE activity.
Scam emails
Scam emails? So 2022. Phishers now are spinning up entire scam sites faster than you can microwave leftovers. Okta, a login security company, caught bad actors using v0 (a site-building AI tool by Vercel) to launch convincing login clones, including one of Okta’s own.
🍏 Stop your iPad from locking too fast: Your screen turning off too quickly can get annoying when you’re reading. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then scroll to Auto-Lock. Pick a time that works for you (like 5 minutes), or choose Never to keep the screen on. PSA: Leaving it unlocked means anyone can snoop.
Prices change while you shop
Stores are rolling out digital price tags that let them raise prices in real time. Here’s how surge pricing could hit your next grocery run.
⏩ 2x speed frying memory: A new study says bingeing podcasts and videos at warp speed might make you dumber or at least worsen memory retention. Turns out 2x pushes the brain past its “working memory” limit, especially for older adults. Teens? Basically brain athletes for TikTok TED Talks. The rest of us? Toast.
‘Prime Day’ is coming in hot
⏰ Forget the countdown. The deals are primed and loaded.
- 🔥 S’more power to you: A tabletop firepit (19% off) brings campfire vibes home. No backyard? No prob.
- 🍕 Leftovers, meet your match: Stack up to five slices in these pizza containers (18% off, two-pack).
- ↔️ Mind the gap: Silicone stove gap covers (23% off) catch runaway crumbs. 4.3 stars with 68,000+ reviews.
- 👍 Top-tier spinner: Up your pantry game with a nonskid turntable (15% off). Two levels, 10 color options.
- 🍽️ Your sink’s sidepiece: This dish drying rack (5% off) drains water straight into your sink.
- 🥤 Stanley Cup collector? Show off up to nine of them with a tumbler organizer (15% off).
💸 Why wait to save? Scoop more early deals here and on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Google’s eating itself alive
Google’s new AI-powered search is tanking its own traffic. Plus, your ChatGPT chats live forever, a job offer scam, and a car rental side hustle making real money. Then I talk to Holly from Kentucky, whose kiddo ordered 70,000 suckers on Amazon.
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.
Have mandatory cybersecurity classes at work? New research from Purdue found anti-phishing training may make workers worse at spotting scams. Turns out, binge-watching security videos doesn’t build instincts, it builds false confidence. One group even clicked more after “interactive” training. That’s right: Your IT team’s monthly guilt-trap quiz might be actively hurting.
Get to the point: Cut to the chase if you’re adding special instructions to your online order. If there’s a gate code, for instance, start the message with “Gate code 1234” (or whatever your code is). Often, those notes get cut short for the delivery person, so put the important stuff right up front.
Trump’s crypto push — July 5th, Hour 1
Will the U.S. be the world’s crypto capital? Here’s what to know before you invest. Plus, streaming fails, Taylor Swift vanity phone numbers, and a viral airport theory. Holly from Phoenix says her brother lost $400K to a Jennifer Aniston deepfake scam.
Early ‘Prime Day’ goodies
🤑 Why wait till next week? The deals are already knocking.
- 💪 Get a grip: Skipped the gym? This resistance band kit (38% off) brings the burn home.
- ❤️ Pressure’s off: Keep tabs on your heart with a blood pressure monitor (5% off) that remembers your last 99 readings.
- 📚 Shelf-improvement: This bookshelf (15% off) is sleek, sturdy and actually easy to assemble (gasp).
- 👋 Bye-bye, blemishes: Heart-shaped pimple patches (23% off) are so cute, you’ll want to wear them.
- 🧽 #Nofilter needed: Blend like a beauty guru with a makeup sponge set (33% off).
- 💍 For your bling: Organize ’em in a jewelry box (45% off) with 4.8 stars and 11,000+ reviews.
✅ Ready, set, go: Hit this secret link for the rest of the pre-deals I couldn’t fit here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📚 Turn “da-da” into data: Get your kiddo ready for the future (and AI) with these 30 free STEM resources. The list includes apps, games and classes to teach youngsters stuff like coding, aeronautics, mathematics and, yes, data science.
🕵️ Data breach exposes stalkerware: Catwatchful was pitched as a “parental control” app. In reality, it lets people secretly spy on phones, texts, calls and GPS. Then it leaked everything: 26,000 victims’ data, stalkers’ logins and more. Google’s investigating, but it’s still up. Congrats to the stalkers, now you’re the ones being watched.