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Meet your financial evil twin
A man named William Woods spent years trying to prove he was … himself. Why? Because another man, Matthew David Keirans, stole his Social Security number and birth certificate, built a whole new life with them and lived under Woods’ identity for decades.
The guy really committed to the bit. Keirans got caught only after DNA tests exposed the fraud, and now he’s in prison.
Recently, a woman used my husband’s name and his SSN with her address to get a set of new dentures in Tampa, Florida. Maybe she looks like a guy named Barry?
Law enforcement is also seeing an uptick in kids’ Social Security numbers being used to build fake “Franken-identities.” Why? Children don’t have credit histories yet. By the time families discover it, the synthetic persona has credit cards, loans and debt all tied back to an innocent name.
🔧 Here’s how it works
Criminals stitch together real and fake info, say your SSN with a made-up address, and nurture that “new person” into a believable identity. They start small (a prepaid card or phone plan), then scale up to big loans or credit lines.
When the debt piles up, the synthetic identity vanishes, but creditors chase the real person behind the stolen SSN. Banks call this the fastest-growing type of financial crime.
🚨 Signs of synthetic identity theft
- Strange addresses where you’ve never lived pop up on your credit report.
- New accounts or loans show up in your name, but the contact info (phone, email) isn’t yours.
- Collection calls demand payment for debts you never took out.
- Mismatch alerts from banks say your SSN doesn’t match your name or DOB, even though you typed it correctly.
👉 If any of these hit your radar, it could mean someone’s cooking up a “Franken-identity” with your info.
That’s why I use NordProtect, a sponsor of my radio show. It monitors your most sensitive info like your Social Security number, phone number, email and mailing address, then alerts you the moment something suspicious pops up.
Think: Someone uses your name to try to take out a loan, open a credit card or file for insurance. If it happens, NordProtect doesn’t just notify you, they guide you step-by-step to shut it down fast.
Unwrap the awesome
These gift ideas will make everyone say, “Where’d you find that?”
🖼️ Digital picture frame (31% off): Send vacation photos from your phone straight to the grandparents’ living room.
Heated throw blanket (20% off): Ten heat settings, machine washable and safely turns off automatically.
😌 Shower steamers (18% off, 15-pack): Drop one in and enjoy up to 20 minutes of fizzling essential oils.
Dog puzzle toy (33% off): Fill it with treats and watch your pup burn energy while brain-training. Works for any size dog.
🪐 Gskyer telescope (40% off): A perfect starter scope. Hook up your phone, snap some stellar pics and flex on Instagram.
📦 Ditch the e-card: When in doubt, an Amazon physical gift card wrapped in a box feels special, not just another email.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Meet the scammers driving your neighborhood
Ever get one of those weird texts that says something like, “Your package is waiting” or “Click here to unlock your cash reward”? We all have. Most people figure it’s just a scammy mass text from some sketchy website.
👻 Boo-tiful viral pages: Love creepy but adorable things? Then check out Spooky Cutie. It’s a viral coloring book perfect for both teens and adults. With 40 single-sided pages, you can keep it simple or go all out with shading and personal designs. Plus, it makes a … fang-tastic gift. (lol)
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
⚡ Smaller, faster, richer: The Ferrari 296 and Lamborghini Temerario run on a motor that started as a college project. Oxford grad Tim Woolmer invented YASA’s “axial-flux” motor. Lighter, 45% smaller and up to four times more power-dense than the usual stuff. YASA made just 1,000 five years ago. Next year? 25,000. Super cars are about to be more super.
Secret messages through Google Docs
Forget phones. Students are turning Google Docs into secret chat rooms. With invisible text and shared files, it looks like homework but it is really the new way to pass notes in class.
Am I crazy or has my phone been hacked?
Lilly from Indianapolis thinks her phone has been hacked. Can she prove it? Also, the Secret Service crushes a nightmare cyber plot. Plus, the dark side of Amazon Prime, AI celebrity boyfriends, and digital shoplifting. Don’t miss this!
🖨️ Print for free at public libraries: Many local libraries offer free printing, sometimes up to 10–20 pages per day. Great for boarding passes, forms or return labels.
She made $93K selling grocery lists online
One Ohio mom turned $45 into $93,000 on Etsy by selling simple printables. Here’s how you can start your own side hustle with templates people actually buy.
🧽 AI’s dirty dishes: AI was supposed to save time. Instead? You’re cleaning up its mess. A new Stanford study says 41% of workers are busier with “workslop” since tools like ChatGPT and Copilot showed up, thanks to sloppy drafts, useless decks and bad edits. The bots aren’t just taking your job, they’re trying to give you theirs.
Outsmart the outdoors
Here’s how to enjoy nature without turning your home into a campsite.
🐤 Smart bird feeder (44% off): Watch feathered friends in 2K day or night. The built-in AI IDs 10,000+ species for you.
Electric flyswatter (33% off): Rechargeable and fitted with a purple light that draws pests in. Way easier than clapping at thin air.
🚪 Magnetic screen door (15% off): Fresh air in, bugs out. Double-stitched mesh with 52 magnets snaps shut instantly.
Filtrete air filters (29% off, six-pack): Certified to help with asthma and allergies. Basically, a bouncer for your sinuses.
🫣 Portable blackout curtain (13% off): Blocks 100% light and UV rays. Comes with a travel bag to beat jet lag.
🏠 Click, shop, conquer: From cleaning supplies to DIY tools, check out my updated home helpers page on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Saving passwords in your browser? Stop that.
“Hi, Kim, I save all my passwords in my browser. So why do I need a password manager? Thanks for your newsletter. I can tell it’s a lot of work. The quality every single day is incredible.” — Robby in South Carolina
Future-proof: AI is transforming business faster than ever. That’s why over 43,000 companies trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 AI cloud ERP. Stay ahead by downloading your FREE CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning today.
Kentucky kids rediscover paper: Jefferson County Public Schools just saw a 67% spike in book library checkouts after Kentucky banned phones in class. At Ballard High, students borrowed nearly 900 books in August, up from 533 last year. Librarians say whodunits are a hot commodity. Apparently, when TikTok disappears, Agatha Christie eats.
🔎 Fine-tune your Mac: Spotlight in macOS 26 can get too broad. Go to System Settings > Spotlight > Results from Apps. Anything here could appear. For example, search “contract,” and it might pull documents and dictionary definitions. Uncheck the apps you know you won’t need.
Will I be able to sing?
Roger Love, vocal coach to Bradley Cooper and other big stars, turns me into a songbird. Yes, I sing in this show. Then, the U.S. leases China’s TikTok algorithm, sketchy routers, and Facebook Dating’s AI wingman. Plus, why some people turn to the wild world of free sperm donors on social media.
Your smart speaker is building a case against you
Alexa might be listening more than you think. George, your AI host, breaks down how much data your smart speaker is really grabbing, plus the Venmo ‘oops’ scam that could cost you big, fragile iPhone 17s, the MGM hacker teen, and device advice you need to hear.
Chromebook slow? Press Search + Escape to open Task Manager to see apps and tabs eating up memory or CPU. Click one and hit End Process to close it. Next, in Chrome browser, tap the Extensions icon (top right) > Manage Extensions and Remove any you don’t use anymore.
A switch that makes sense! Check this out. Consumer Cellular gives me the same great coverage as the big carriers for a fraction of the cost! You can keep your phone and number or get new ones. I’m getting two unlimited lines for just $60. Use code KIM25 at ConsumerCellular.com/KIM for $25 in savings, and make the smart switch today. You can save more if you’re an AARP member.