Breaking news and tips

Scam in the skies

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I am hearing more and more reports about a certain travel scam that is not making the tech sites or mainstream news. 

A “travel agent” or travel site selling fake plane tickets. You pay real cash for a flight that doesn’t actually exist, like booking a table at a restaurant that burned down in 2006. 

Let’s break this down so you don’t accidentally vacation your identity into a black hole.

🚩 Sneaky setup  

You search for tickets online or reply to a scam email. Overwhelmed by all the travel sites and apps, you choose what seems like a trustworthy source with awesome prices.

Maybe you end up emailing, chatting or talking to someone who promises they can get you a great rate on a ticket. So you hand over your name, phone number and payment details.

Using your information, they book what you think is a confirmed seat and say you’re good to go. You, the savvy shopper, go to the airline’s website and enter the flight information. Sweet, there’s your seat. You pat yourself on the back for saving money and consider your travel booked.

🥶 Two weeks later…  

You try to check in for your flight. Except … you can’t. There’s no ticket. Never was. Turns out these crooks just made a seat reservation — they never paid for an actual ticket. 

And now? You’re not going to Cabo. You’re going to Rage Town. Population: You. 

Hopefully, you find this out long before you’re standing at an airport customer service counter, suitcase in hand! Either way, you’re out the money and the airline ticket.

😡 Outsmarting human malware  

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What dreams are made of

😴 Tired of being tired? These sleep helpers are your answer.

🐞 Don’t let the bedbugs bite: Plug in a pack of indoor fly traps (10% off) so that buzzing turns into zzz’s.

This is worse than spam calls

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Most people have never heard of companies like Mobilewalla or Gravy Analytics, but they know you

The FTC just clamped down on these two for secretly vacuuming up people’s real-time location data without consent. Not just estimated neighborhoods or passing GPS flickers. 

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🔋 Make your laptop battery last longer: Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate adjusts how often your screen updates for simple tasks. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate > Dynamic.

🚨 Urgent recall: Ditch this Igloo cooler if you value your fingertips. Over 130,000 just got recalled after causing 78 injuries, including 26 with fractures or even amputations. The handle can pinch hard when you push it against the cooler. Over a million are now affected, so check here if you own one.

AI voice scams hit banks

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Scammers are using AI to fake your voice and beat phone security. I’ll tell you the right way to lock down your accounts.

By the numbers

$20 million

The bounty Coinbase is offering for tips leading to the capture of the crooks who tried to extort it. When cybercriminals demanded $20 million in Bitcoin to keep stolen customer data secret, Coinbase slapped a $20 million bounty on their heads instead. It’s like Catch Me If You Can but with way more crypto and way less Leonardo DiCaprio.

⌚ Watch these moves: Control your smartwatch with just a flick of your wrist. On an Apple Watch, head to Settings > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch. For a Samsung Galaxy Watch, go to Settings > Accessibility > toggle on Universal Gestures. When you’re done setting up, both offer a tutorial on the hands-free moves you can do. Neat.

This AI lets you talk to lost loved ones

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AI tools like StoryFile and HereAfter create interactive avatars of people who’ve died. You can hear their voice, see their face, and ask them questions.

💆‍♀️ I’m not saying collagen is a miracle powder, but … I take two scoops a day, and let’s just say my hair and nails aren’t complaining. Collagen gives your bones extra support, helps smooth out those fine lines and adds a little strength where you want it most. Want to try what I use? Use this link for 45% off. Your future self (and skin) will thank you.

Dirt stops here

🧽 Cleaning doesn’t have to suck (unless we’re talking about vacuums).

👠 Shoe, don’t bother me: Toss these deodorizer bags ($11) in your gym bag or sneakers to soak up any funky smells.

Scammer ruins a 45-year marriage

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What’s worse than your mom leaving your dad for a guy she met on Instagram? Finding out he’s a romance scammer and she knows — but she’s still in love. That’s what happened to Grant Inman. Now, the My Funeral Home Stories host is trying to help his mom see the truth.You, 21 min

40-foot submarine-hunting drone

The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.

🌴 It’s not just beds anymore: Airbnb just leveled up with its new services live in 260+ cities. The app now offers spa treatments, private chefs, personal trainers and more. Basically, it evolved from “couch in Berlin” to celebrity-led adventures like Megan Thee Stallion’s anime-themed “Otaku Hottie Quest,” whatever that means.

Write swipes: Swipe up from the bottom right of your iPad to open a Quick Note and jot down an idea. Head to Settings > Multitasking & Gestures and toggle on Swipe Finger from Corner to turn this on. You can also choose what each corner does, like taking a Screenshot with a swipe from the bottom left.

Kim Komando Show

Delete a selfie? Facebook saw it — May 10th, Hour 1

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Post a pic. Regret it. Delete it. Facebook tracked when teen girls did that, says a former company exec. Then, at that moment, it allegedly hit them with beauty ads. Plus, NYC tests crime-predicting AI and drivers want buttons back in cars. I also talk to Ken from Ohio, who says his Apple Watch saved his life.

Don’t miss ‘Amazon Pet Day’

🐱 Today’s your last chance to fetch more savings.

  • Walk with a no-pull harness (11% off) that won’t choke your pup.
  • Muddy paws? This washable doormat (28% off) catches all that dirt.
  • Snag a pet door (22% off) with three flaps to lock the weather outside.
  • This smart fountain (43% off) tracks if your kitty is drinking enough water.
  • Clean your furball with a vacuum (20% off) that comes with seven tools.
  • And a pet bed (5% off) shaped like ramen. Weird? Yep. Comfy? Totally.

🐾 More pawsome picks: That’s just a taste. Hit this link for more Amazon pet steals your furry friend will bark (or purr) for.

⭐ Rate and reward: Want more online reviews? Ask your customers to leave one on Google or Yelp for a giveaway. Use Google Forms to collect the entries and announce the winners in a social post or email. Pro tip: Thank them in a shout-out. This keeps the good vibes (and stars) rolling.

Your boss knows: Turns out your free “work perk” might be a mic’d-up Trojan horse. Experts say company-issued AirPods can be linked to your boss’s Apple ID and track your location. HR “saw” you at the happy hour, Karen. Enjoy your “performance review.” You’ll need to restore the AirPods’ factory settings manually to avoid this.