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Why you should not use WhatsApp
“Kim, I heard the call with the man who lost $60,000 in a crypto scam. You said anytime someone wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, it’s a scam. Why is that?” — Dennis in Washington
Thanks for the question, Dennis. I’m glad you heard that call. Heartbreaking. And unfortunately, it’s not rare. When someone says, “Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp,” it’s almost always the beginning of a scam.
By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware that many of these scammers are victims of human trafficking in Myanmar. They’re forced to work in scam compounds where they spend 12 to 16 hours a day targeting people around the world.
If they don’t hit their scam dollar quotas, they’re beaten. So it’s not personal, their lives depend on stealing from people.
📲 App-solutely a trap
Scammers are taught to not be watched. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and even regular old email have systems to detect fraud and spam. You can report messages, block shady profiles and sometimes recover lost money.
WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal are a different story.
These are encrypted apps designed for privacy. Great for your personal life, but also great for criminals. Once the conversation moves there, there are no moderators, no scam detection systems and no help when things go wrong. You’re on your own.
Scammers start where you trust them. Maybe it’s a message from someone who looks legit on LinkedIn. Maybe it’s a friendly DM on Instagram or a Facebook message from someone who says they’re in finance or crypto.
At first, it sounds professional. Then comes the switch:
- “Let’s move this to WhatsApp, it’s easier.”
- “I’ll send you the investment details on Signal.”
- “I only do business on Telegram.”
That’s when the manipulation begins. You’ve stepped off the platform with guardrails and right into their controlled zone. You’re isolated. And once they start asking for your money, there’s no one to step in.
All wired up
⚡ Plug these picks into your day and thank yourself later.
- 🖱️ Game changer: Forget lag, this speedy ergonomic mouse (43% off) has 11 programmable buttons.
- 🎥 Look sharp: A 4K webcam (23% off) with 4.4 stars, 34,000+ reviews = zero grainy Zoom calls.
- 💡 Alexa, set the mood: From party vibes to chill nights, this smart lamp (22% off) has range.
- 🔌 Clip it good: These cord organizers (13% off, three-pack) hold down your charger before it hits the floor.
- ⌨️ Dirty keyboard? Blast away crumbs and gunk with an electric air duster (21% off).
🤖 Smart tech, small price: There are more gadgets on sale (like this portable monitor) up on my Amazon shop, right now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Kim’s picks to save your vacation
Traveling soon? Don’t leave your common sense at home. These safety gadgets aren’t “nice to haves.” They’re the kind of gear you’ll wish you got before your bag went MIA (or worse).
Before you say, “Kim, I already took my summer vacation,” perfect. This is your last shot to snag these deals before prices head north for good. Let’s get you prepped.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Saying “cheese” in photos can make your smile look stiff. Try “yoga” instead. The soft “uh” at the end helps your face relax for a more natural look.
🔴 Red pill teens are rising: “Red pilled” used to mean you saw the truth, like in The Matrix. Now it’s code for online communities where young men vent about women, feminism and dating, often turning hateful, sexist and sometimes racist. It’s becoming a gateway drug for disillusioned boys looking for belonging. Make sure your guys are not partaking.
The iPhone Fold
Apple’s AI flops while folding phone rumors fly. Will this new phone distract from Siri’s shortcomings?
$1 billion
What Zuck allegedly dangled in front of an unnamed AI engineer. That’s 5,200 Oppenheimers, adjusted for inflation. The man who ended WWII got $190K a year; this mystery coder might make that before breakfast. Superintelligence might be coming, but super salaries are already here.
🎤 Got a wild tech story? Did your smart home go rogue? Did AI creep you out or help you catch a hacker? Getting scammed? Family drama because of tech? I want you on The Kim Komando Show. If I feature your story, you’ll get a $25 gift card as a thank-you. Just say you saw this in the newsletter. Click this link to send it now!
Stop your TV from collecting data
Your smart TV isn’t just watching shows, it’s watching you. Here’s how to stop it from tracking everything you do.
🧨 The dronepocalypse starts now: New FAA rules (Part 108) will nix those tedious waivers and unlock drone flights over people, at night and out of sight. Great for commercial use like deliveries or for agriculture. Awful for an air traffic control system still running on floppy disks. Also: D.C. just let drones fly in the capital.
Smart shower thoughts
🛀 You’re in there every day. Might as well make it awesome.
- 📱 Scroll and soak: This rotating phone holder (10% off) keeps your screen high and dry.
- 😌 Instant spa: Breathe in these eucalyptus steamers (17% off, 15-pack) with 4.4 stars & 23,000+ reviews.
- 🚿 No drills, no drama: A suction caddy (6% off, two-pack) turns shower chaos into vertical bliss.
- ✨ Your glow mode: Vibrate away dirt, oil and stress with this anti-aging brush (33% off).
- 👣 Swampy floor? Not with a memory foam bath mat ($10) that soaks up water fast.
💭 Sink more about it: There’s way more where that came from over on my Amazon store.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Fitness granny falls in love with ChatGPT
Could you fall in love with a chatbot? Influencer and author Andrea Sunshine did, but her digital romance came to a sudden end when her chat logs were deleted. She shares how the relationship began, what it feels like to connect deeply with AI, and what she’s doing to get her chatbot lover back.
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.
Facebook trickery can’t get past us: Meta wants access to your unposted camera roll, via a pop-up that quietly signs you into cloud uploads and AI scanning. They say it’s for fun little collages but don’t specify whether that data’s going into AI training. Go to Facebook > Settings > Your Information > Camera Roll Cloud Processing and switch it off. This also starts deleting anything already uploaded after 30 days.
🔐 Weak passwords are so last decade: Every single one of your accounts needs its own unique password. No repeats! I know, it’s a pain. But it’s also the best way to keep hackers from turning one slipup into a full-blown disaster. Make your passwords 16+ characters, and mix in uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. Or save yourself the headache and use the password manager I trust to keep everything locked down and organized. One click, and you’re safer online.
Scammers hijacked his business
I talk to a listener whose farming business was cloned by fraudsters online. Got laid off? Here’s why CEOs are bragging about it. Plus: why SEO is dead, ChatGPT’s new tech support agent, and how to resell your unused vacation.
Lawn and order
🌻 Outdoor life comes with quirks. I’ve got your fixes.
- 🦟 Bee bite-free: Slap on a mosquito repellent bracelet (10% off, 20-pack). No more messy spray.
- 💦 Go with the flow: This lightweight garden hose (42% off) works year-round and doesn’t kink.
- 🍃 Leaf it to me: Blow, vacuum and mulch in one swoop with a three-in-one leaf blower (13% off).
- 🔥 Too hot to handle? No prob. These grill gloves (10% off) are like oven mitts on steroids.
- 💡 Backyard brilliance: These floodlights (24% off) catch any movement, like would-be creeps.
🏠 Rather be inside? There are plenty of smart finds for the great indoors waiting for you on my Amazon shop.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🛒 Clear your Amazon search history: Great for hiding gift ideas or clearing out those very awkward clicks. On desktop, hover over Account & Lists under Hello, [Your Name] at the top. Click Browsing History, find the item you want to hide and select Remove from view. Because “I was hacked” only works once.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📦 QR code scam alert: The FBI says scammers are shipping fake “gifts” with QR codes that lure you into handing over personal info, or worse, downloading malware. No sender info, just a data breach waiting to happen. If a box shows up uninvited, don’t scan anything. Just toss it or enjoy your free salad spinner.