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Breaking news and tips
When your stock is actually a scam
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.
- Steer clear of “secret tips”: If someone promises huge returns on a secret investment, walk away. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
- 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.
- 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?”
Early ‘Prime Day’ goodies
🤑 Why wait till next week? The deals are already knocking.
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✅ Ready, set, go: Hit this secret link for the rest of the pre-deals I couldn’t fit here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop using 2FA text codes already
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.
🎧 Join me this weekend! My national radio show is hitting 500+ stations coast to coast, and you’re on the VIP list. I’ll be sharing smart tech tips, digital life advice, crazy stories that didn’t make the newsletter and taking your calls! Find your local station or get the podcast.
💔 Trouble in swipe city: Dating apps are seeing a drop in love … and users. Case in point: Bumble just laid off about a third of its staff to cut costs. Why? People are fed up with ghosting, pay-to-play matches and the lack of real connection. Looks like it’s back to making eye contact at the grocery store while squeezing the melons.
Is your crypto account real?
Crypto scammers promise fast cash. Only it’s not. Here’s how the con works.
$1 billion
That’s Rivian’s latest cash infusion from Volkswagen. It’s the second billion in a $5.8B tech JV, paid out after Rivian hit gross profit (finally). The deal: VW gets EV software; Rivian gets a lifeline. Think of it as funding your roommate’s startup in exchange for their Wi-Fi password.
🚨 A sneaky virus could be lurking. It’s better to be safe than sorry, which is why I trust TotalAV. For just $19 for the first year, you get rock-solid antivirus protection on up to five devices. It’s smart, simple and keeps your tech safe without breaking the bank.
Never lose your friends again
Separated in the crowd? Drop a pin in Google Maps and share your live location. Here’s how.
DJI’s power play: DJI’s new Power 2000 is part battery beast, part road trip buddy. It’s a 2kWh LFP unit expandable up to 22kWh, thanks to 10(!) daisy-chained expansion batteries. It hits 3000W output and doubles as a noise-conscious “Uninterruptible Power Supply,” meaning it can keep devices powered during blackouts. Cost? $10,000.
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.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Google’s eating itself alive
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.
🔞 TikTok trouble, again: This is really bad. A viral TikTok trend is using motivational clips to camouflage grooming tactics. Teens, mostly girls, lip-synch “Yes you can” while text implies dating younger kids or sneaking out. Experts say it plays on empowerment language to nudge kids into risky behavior. Predators are watching and commenting. TikTok, of course, does nothing.
Swipe to type on Samsung: If you have a Galaxy smartphone, you don’t need to tap each key. Open a message, select the keyboard settings icon, and go to Swipe, touch, and feedback. Choose Keyboard swipe controls, then hit Swipe to type. Now just glide your finger across letters to spell out words. Easy.
Trump’s crypto push — July 5th, Hour 1
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.
Upgrades for everyday relief
😴 Feel like a human pretzel by 2 p.m.? Let’s fix that.
- 🪞 Mirror, mirror on the wall: This smart travel scale (19% off) doubles as a makeup mirror. It slides right into your bag.
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🛍️ Bag it all: From feel-good finds to everyday essentials, my Amazon storefront has you covered.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🍏 Turn Spotlight searches into shortcuts: Always using Spotlight on your iPhone to find the same apps? Save yourself the trouble. Just long-press the app in the search results, drag it out and drop it onto your Home Screen. It’s quicker than digging through your App Library every day.
👂🏻 Gene therapy restores hearing: I love this. Scientists helped people with lifelong deafness hear for the first time using an experimental treatment. They injected the OTOF gene (needed to send sound signals to the brain) into patients born with a mutation. The outcome? After six months, everyone tested gained some level of hearing. Amazing.