Happy Wednesday, friend. Let’s go back … way back to when phones had cords, weighed 7 pounds and required actual finger dexterity to dial anyone. 

😮‍💨 Simpler times, sure. But not everything about old phones was as real as it seemed. In fact, one common sound you still hear today was totally fake from day one, designed not to function … but to reassure. 

Which weird phone-related sound are we talking about? A) Dial tone, B) Ringback tone (the ringing you hear when calling), C) Touch-tone beeps, or D) Busy signal. Keep on reading, the answer is waiting for you at the end! 

📩 Got a favorite “blast from the past” story? I want to hear it. Just hit reply or let me know in the comments when you rate the newsletter!  — Kim

Sarah’s $55,000 lesson: The online car dealership that wasn’t
Even smart shoppers can get taken; here’s how to make sure you don’t.

Sarah from Salt Lake City did everything right, or so she thought. She was looking for a used car online and found what looked like a legitimate dealership. 

She wasn’t some sucker scrolling Craigslist at 2 a.m. with a bottle of wine, she did her homework. The website was clean and professional. They picked up the phone when she called and even FaceTimed her to show the car in real time. 

It all felt legit. She ordered a Carfax report. She added the car to her insurance. It was that real.

She wired $55,000 for the purchase. Then came the call from the “truck driver” who said he was on his way with the delivery.

Except … the car never showed up. Then the phone lines went dead. The website vanished. And Sarah realized the truth: She’d been scammed.

🎣 $55,000 gone  

No car. No recourse. No one was held accountable.

Sarah did what anyone would do. She filed reports with her bank. She contacted the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and her local police department. But the silence was deafening. She never heard back.

And just when Sarah thought that it couldn’t get worse, she saw the same scam rise from the ashes like a very annoying, very illegal phoenix, with a nearly identical site and even the same address. Crazy, right?

These criminals didn’t just steal her money, they’re still out there stealing from others.

👩🏻‍🏫 Here’s what to know

• A slick website means squat.
  Always reverse image search the photos. If that car’s been used to sell 42 other totally legit BMWs, run. Buy your car from a genuine local dealership.
  
• Phone calls and FaceTime? Still not proof.
  Scammers are pros. They’ve got scripts, burner phones, fake names and even staged videos ready to go.
  
• Never wire money for a car you haven’t seen in person.
  Once wired, that money is gone. No refund. No dispute. No second chances.
  
• Trust, but verify.
  Verify the dealership. Google the address. Call the business license office in the city. Search the phone number and domain name. If it’s real, it’ll check out across multiple sources.
  
• Report, report, report.
  File with IC3.gov, your bank’s fraud department, your local police and the FTC. Even if it doesn’t get your money back, it creates a paper trail.
  

Sarah told me her story not because she wants pity. She’s sharing because she knows the next “faceless dealership” is already preying on their next $55,000 dreamer. You’ve been warned. 

Here’s the real pain: These scams win when we think they’d never fool us. If you’re not careful, they’ll get you on your bad days, and they’ll get you on your good days all the same.

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🕵️ Scammers posing as the FBI: The lowest of the low. Scammers claim to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and offer to help you recover stolen money, then refer you to another “agent.” That’s when they ask for financial info and money. The real FBI won’t contact you like this or ask for payment. 

🚨 Android alert: Watch out for a fake bank text asking you to call about a suspicious transaction. That’s when they’ll get you to share your card info and install a so-called Reader app. Next, you’re told to tap your bank card to your phone, and just like that, the app steals the card’s chip data with full access to your bank account. 

Nintendo Switch 2 update: Preorders are set for April 24, and the price is holding at $449.99. Accessories are getting more expensive. The Joy-Con is $94.99, the Pro Controller is $84.99, and the Switch 2 Camera is $54.99. Launch day’s locked for June 5. By the time I finish buying accessories, Nintendo is legally allowed to claim me as a dependent.

💍 Be smitten, not bitten: Couples are losing thousands to photographers they find on social media. It all seems legit with a digital contract. Then, the shady shutterbugs ask for a cash deposit through Venmo or Zelle. But on the big day? They ghost you or show up and never deliver the photos. Folks, do your homework.

Hackers can steal your home: With just a forged signature, cybercriminals can take out loans in your name, drain your equity and leave you with the mess. Click here to get a free home title history report, when you sign up using code KIM. You’ll also receive a free 14-day trial of their Million Dollar Triple Lock Protection.*

⚠️ Flying a drone? Be careful. They’re getting way too close to planes, especially around major U.S. airports. Some have come within 50 to 300 feet of passenger jets mid-flight. Most people don’t even realize they’re flying in restricted zones. The FAA is now testing jammers and lasers to stop it. Yep, it’s that serious. 

Cloudy days for ASUS: Update the firmware in your ASUS router. It has a severe vulnerability that lets attackers remotely execute functions. That is, do whatever the heck they want on your network. 

🧠 New Gen Z term to know: “Locking in.” If someone you know uses that phrase, it means they are cutting out distractions to focus on a personal goal. Think quitting social media, skipping parties and going all-in on fitness or making money. My dad used to call it “a kick in the a$$.”

Finding the perfect candidate for an open job can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Enter LinkedIn.

With millions of job seekers at your fingertips, LinkedIn is a treasure trove of skilled folks ready to make a difference. I’ve used LinkedIn to assemble my standout team who help put together this newsletter, my national radio show, our podcast and everything else we do.

LinkedIn’s advanced tools make the hiring process smoother than ever. They even help you put together the ideal job description so you can focus on what matters — growing your business.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Reopen an unsaved Word doc. Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents. Nice.

🤳 Skip the digital zoom: It makes photos look worse by stretching pixels instead of capturing real detail. Instead, use your phone’s highest megapixel setting, take the shot and then crop in on what actually matters. Bonus: Before you snap the pic, tap to focus so there’s no annoying blur.

Reel in the views: Want to go viral on Instagram? The algorithm loves Reels with trending sounds. After uploading your video, tap the Music icon on the right. Then, hit the Trending tab for the top 50 tracks right now. Pro tip: Press the Bookmark icon next to a song to save your favorites for later. You’re not basic, you’re just strategically algorithm-friendly.

🚘 Curb the impulse: Want to save money and time? Use curbside pickup whenever you can. That way, you won’t grab things you don’t need. Walk in for toothpaste, leave with a kayak? We’ve all been there. Just look for the pickup option at checkout. If you do go inside the store, bring a list and stick to it.

💌 Create a custom invitation: No graphic designer or Photoshop required. Canva has free templates for almost any occasion. Want to try it? Log in to Canva with your Google account > go to the search bar > type “invitation” > pick one you like > and hit Customize this template. One click, and suddenly you’re organizing “BrunchCon 2025” like it’s a presidential campaign.

Memorize this: On a PC, hit Alt + Tab. On Mac, it’s Cmd + Tab. Keep hitting Tab while holding down Alt or Cmd to switch between your open applications. It’ll make you feel like a total pro.

The answer: B) Ringback tone. The “ringing” you hear when calling someone isn’t real. It’s a sound created by your phone provider to soothe your anxious anticipation while you’re sitting in silence as the network connects the call.

Suddenly, your dial tone turned into a lullaby of false hope. And we’ve been falling for it since day one.

🔔 Things are changing: New phone technology will be linked up with microchip brain implant technology. This way, when your phone rings it can immediately connect without making a ringing sound. It just won the Nobel Peace Prize. (Oh, that was so bad, it was so good!)

💬 If you laughed, learned or rolled your eyes so hard you saw your router’s IP address, do me a solid: Forward this to one friend who still thinks FaceTime = facts.

Tomorrow, I’ve the one thing you have to do with your smartphone, plus more tech smarts here in the best newsletter in the USA. Look at you! You’ve been tuned in, teched up and now totally digital smart fabulous. 📻💁‍♀️— Kim

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