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Scam in the skies
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
Gourmet gear
👩🍳 Cooking is way more fun with the right stuff.
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- Grab a four-pack of ice cube trays (10% off) to pop ’em without twisting.
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- Shave your cheese and more with a handheld rotary grater (20% off).
- Meat lovers, BBQ like a pro using a set of shredder claws (41% off).
🦖 Jurassic breakfast: This mini-waffle maker (30% off) turns batter into dinosaur-shaped treats in minutes.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
This is worse than spam calls
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.
🎨 Need stunning photos? I’ve used Dreamstime for years, and for good reason. Whether you’re building a website, designing a presentation or just need the perfect pic for social media, Dreamstime has millions of royalty-free images that won’t break the bank.
😑 Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free “CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
With AI, you’re the product
Most AI tools don’t cost anything to use. There’s a reason: your data is the price.
1 year later
People are still complaining about the Apple Vision Pro. At $3,500, you’d expect comfort, but many can’t wear it for more than 20 minutes without neck pain. It’s not just the hardware either. There are still barely any apps, and the resale value stinks. One guy got $1,900 (paywall link), and that’s considered a win.
🔗 Don’t connect your socials: Unless you’re an influencer, it’s best to keep your accounts separate. Linking apps, like putting your Instagram in your Facebook bio, makes it easier for stalkers to track your life and location. Use different usernames, handles and profile pictures to stay safe.
One inbox for everything
Tired of missing bill alerts and repair requests? Set up a shared email for all the important stuff.
📡 5G conspiracy theory debunked: Remember the 2019 rumors saying 5G could damage your cells or cause spooky side effects? Well, researchers found the signals only penetrate your skin by less than 1 millimeter (or 0.04 inches if you’re like me and slowly inching toward the metric system). Even at frequencies 10 times what’s considered safe, there’s still no impact on your health. It was all fearmongering.
Computer goals
👩💻 “Kim, what are your laptop and desktop recs?” I got you:
- This HP laptop ($350) comes with a lifetime Microsoft Office license.
- I use a Dell Inspiron 3030 ($838) as my workstation in Santa Barbara.
- The battery on the latest 13-inch MacBook Air ($849) lasts 18 hours.
- Snag a Dell XPS 13 ($1,600) that can support two external monitors.
- Gamers, Asus’ ROG Strix G16CH ($1,889) is made with you in mind.
💻 Before you log off: Check out 15 more picks on my new Amazon page to fit your budget and needs.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
23andMe data sold for $256M
Your DNA is now in the hands of biotech giant Regeneron. They say they’ll protect it. Plus, Owen Wilson deepfake scams, Meta lets fraud off the hook, and phone-free vacations. Got T-Mobile? Here’s how to claim your part of the $350M data breach settlement.
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.
AI took his six figs: A senior software engineer went from a $150K salary to DoorDashing after AI made his skills obsolete. He’s applied to 800 jobs, been rejected by most and now lives in a trailer, while AI interviews other devs. Coding may still be hot, just not for humans with rent.
Have a YouTube channel? The algorithm might not know who to show your videos to. Give it a nudge by adding channel tags. Click your profile picture > YouTube Studio > Settings > Channel, fill in your Keywords (like “travel”) and hit Save. It’s a small step toward building your audience.
Deepfake Elon stole millions — May 17th, Hour 1
Want billions like Musk? Don’t fall for this crypto scam. Some people are paying $217K to freeze their bodies. I’ll also share five signs your phone might be tapped. Plus, I talk to Randy from Oregon, who wants to cash in on a viral video.
What dreams are made of
😴 Tired of being tired? These sleep helpers are your answer.
- Read with a dimmable wall light (8% off) that won’t wake your partner.
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- Use a wedge pillow ($30) to stop things from slipping behind your bed.
- Too hot? Too hard? A cooling mattress topper (21% off) will fix both.
- Inflate this camping pad (15% off) in a minute, using its built-in pump.
🐞 Don’t let the bedbugs bite: Plug in a pack of indoor fly traps (10% off) so that buzzing turns into zzz’s.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📋 Easy copy & paste: Apple’s Universal Clipboard lets you copy from your Mac right onto your iPhone or iPad. Just make sure they’re all signed in with the same Apple ID and turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. On each one, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff) and toggle on Handoff.
🧟♂️ No face? No problem: AI’s tracking you anyway. A startup called Veritone made an AI that ditches facial recognition and still tracks you in video footage, just by how you walk and what you’re wearing. It’s already being used by cops and government agencies. The tech is legal, terrifying and possibly the start of your new fashion surveillance arc.