Breaking news and tips

When your stock is actually a scam

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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.

  1. Steer clear of “secret tips”: If someone promises huge returns on a secret investment, walk away. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
  2. 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. 
  3. 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?”

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‘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.

Stop using 2FA text codes already

ChatGPT

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.

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🍏 Auto-launch apps on your Mac: Always opening the same app? Do yourself a favor and set it to open on startup. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login, click the (+) button and choose your app. Bonus: To remove one you’re not using, select it and hit the (–) button.

🧠 New brain tech: This is amazing. Researchers developed an implant that helps people who can’t speak communicate again. Casey Harrell, for example, has ALS and now has his brain signals turned into text and read aloud by a computer in his old voice. The best part? It’s 97% accurate, making it the most advanced system yet.
Stand out on LinkedIn by posting when your audience is actually watching. Peak times are Tuesday to Thursday, 7–9 a.m. or 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Use my special link to post a job for free.

Is your old tech worth a fortune?

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Some investors are treating vintage tech like fine art. The right piece could be a goldmine.

By the numbers

37 out of 50

That’s how many top news sites saw traffic drop after Google’s AI took the wheel. Despite wild headlines covering assassination attempts, election chaos and tariff wars, users stayed on the search page. Why? Google’s Gemini bot summarizes the news, grabs the eyeballs and leaves publishers ghosted like a bad Tinder date.

Stop trolls on Instagram: You can filter out nasty comments. Go to Profile > Settings and activity > Hidden Words (under How others can interact with you). Tap Manage custom words and phrases to build a block list, then toggle on Hide comments. Anything with those words stays hidden from your followers.

Boomers and Zoomers agree on this

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Are your phone habits harmless? There’s one thing every generation agrees is just too rude.

TSA gets it right: Gold Star families now have free PreCheck, plus a discount for military spouses, and TSA is adding expedited lanes in 10 cities. It’s part of their July 4th rollout that finally makes airport lines suck a little less to thank families for their service to our country.

Early ‘Prime Day’ goodies

🤑 Why wait till next week? The deals are already knocking.

  • ❤️ 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. 

Google’s eating itself alive

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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.

🧲 Battery boy: A mom demanded an X-ray for her screaming toddler. Good move, because he’d swallowed a button battery, which was frying his throat from the inside. He was originally misdiagnosed with a stomach virus. He’s recovering after several procedures, and Mom basically saved his life by refusing to be gaslit by triage.

📶 Wi-Fi not showing up on your phone? First, move closer to your router. Thick walls and appliances can mess with the signal. Still nothing? Unplug the router for 30 seconds and restart it. Still no go? Toggle Wi-Fi off and on.

Kim Komando Show

Trump’s crypto push — July 5th, Hour 1

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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.

Organization nation

🇺🇲 Land of the free (from clutter).

  • 🧺 Level up laundry day: These drawstring bags (10% off, two-pack) hold up to three loads. 4.6 stars and 19,000+ reviews.
  • Need more space? Go vertical. Floating shelves (9% off) show off your things. No more desk clutter.
  • 🛏️ Moving made easy: Zip up your mattress in a bag with handles (14% off). Perfect for college move-ins and outs.
  • No more hidden messes: You’ll say, “Wow, I didn’t know I had that much room” with these under-sink organizers (33% off).
  • 📁 File under “smart”: A rolling cabinet (15% off) that moonlights as a printer stand? Yes, please.
  • Sneakerheads, rejoice: Tidy up your kicks with clear organizer boxes (25% off). They’re stackable for tight spaces.

👉 Don’t miss out: If you’re 18-24, Prime for Young Adults gets you all the perks with a $0 trial for six months, then it’s 50% off after that.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Watching YouTube and want silence? Tap M on your keyboard to mute/unmute instantly. Useful when someone walks in mid-video.

Free TV isn’t free: Amazon is torching the Freevee app. It’s dead by August 2025. All that “Watch Free with Ads” content is getting absorbed into Prime Video. Jeff needs the money.