🫥 Royal eviction: The royal family gave Prince Andrew the 404 treatment. He’s now just Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten Windsor. Not only is he out of his 30-room mansion, but he’s been digitally wiped off every royal website. Search his name? It reroutes to King Charles. Rumor is Prince Harry is next, but remember, the king can only move one space at a time. (Get it, chess joke? Woah, tough crowd today!)
Stop one-touch theft
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Tap-to-pay is slick, fast and super convenient until it isn’t. Scammers have figured out how to use that same technology to steal your money without you even knowing.
It’s called “ghost tapping,” and it’s spreading so fast, the BBB issued a major alert about it.
💳 How it works
A scammer carries a hidden NFC reader, the same tech used in legit payment retail terminals, and bumps up close to your credit or debit card. If your card is contactless and not protected, boom, a payment goes through.
No swipe. No PIN. No clue it happened.
These crooks hang out in crowded spots like malls, airports, festivals and train stations. If your tap-to-pay card is sitting loose in a bag or back pocket, they can charge you by brushing past. It’s that easy.
Even worse? They often start with tiny amounts, so it flies under your radar. A couple bucks here, a coffee there, and they keep draining your bank account.
🛡️ Stay a step ahead
You don’t have to give up tap-to-pay. You just need to outsmart the scammers, especially when you’re in a crowd.
- Use an RFID-blocking wallet or card sleeve. These physically block anyone from scanning your card when you’re not using it. Cheap fix, big peace of mind. Here are some great sleeves (50% off) and wallets for men (60% off) and women (40% off).
- Turn off tap-to-pay if you don’t use it. In most banking app settings, you can turn off contactless features or set a low limit. Do it.
- Watch the screen before you tap. If something looks off, like the merchant name or amount, stop. Don’t tap and hope.
- Add transaction alerts. Most banks and card apps let you turn on push notifications for every charge. If something sketchy goes through, you’ll know right away.
💪 If you found this warning helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend or family member or simply use the share icons below now. This kind of scam hits hard.
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Been on Facebook for years? You might have a pile of unread DMs hiding in your Message requests folder. That’s where Meta keeps chats from anyone outside your friends list. To check, open the app and tap the Messenger icon > Settings > Message requests > You may know. Who knows, maybe a childhood friend is still waiting on a reply.
AI after dark: Meta’s facing a $359M porn piracy lawsuit, and claims it didn’t use adult films to train its AI. It argues the 2,396 videos(!) were likely downloaded for “private personal use” on its network. Yep, they’re leaning on an old BitTorrent excuse that IP addresses don’t prove identity and “someone at work might’ve torrented that.” I hope his name wasn’t Mark.
Death by download: A YouTuber made a how-to on installing Windows 11 on unsupported PCs. YouTube yanked it and claimed it could lead to “harm or death.” No, seriously. Apparently, teaching people how to upgrade their dusty laptop is a lethal activity. Rich, the creator, thinks Microsoft might be pulling strings. Thanks for keeping the internet safe, YouTube. Next up: cat videos taken down for terrorism.
Smart cloud, simple choice: Tired of slow apps or surprise tech bills? Oracle Cloud Infrastructure runs faster and costs less while keeping your data safe without the drama. It’s power you can actually count on. Try it free today.
Logging off is luxe: You know what’s trendy? Not texting back. Seriously, people are paying to not be online (paywall link). They’re going to concerts and dinner parties where phones get locked up and strangers actually talk. Apps like 222 even charge a “curation fee” to set up phone-free hangouts. I’m sure there’s a market to pay $25 to make real eye contact with a stranger.
📱 Cell savings simplified: Cutting your cellphone bill doesn’t mean cutting corners. That’s why I switched to Consumer Cellular. I’m getting two unlimited lines for just $60 a month. Solid coverage, no gimmicks, no gotchas. Use code KIM25 at ConsumerCellular.com/KIM to save $25.
What did they say? It’s tough keeping up with all the new slang flying around on social media. That’s where Urban Dictionary saves the day. Look up any phrase your kids might drop, like “no cap” or “bussin.” The top-voted definitions appear first, so you’ll finally know if you’ve been complimented or roasted.
CEOs lose it: I agree. America’s CEOs have officially had it. Too many people are texting in meetings (paywall link). Airbnb’s Brian Chesky called it a “societal problem.” Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase tells execs to shut their iPads. Others are banning Wi-Fi. If you think it’s bad now, wait until the iPad kids enter the boardroom.
Clips for clicks: Turns out those random MrBeast clips in your feed aren’t random at all. He’s got a thousand editors cutting up his videos into bite-size bait. Each one gets paid per view, up to $1,500 per million. It’s like a digital attention span deficit factory with ring lights. Wildest part? It works. He’s at 448 million subscribers and counting.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want a clock on your Kindle? In a book, tap the Aa icon > More > and turn on Show Clock While Reading. The time will appear at the top of the screen.
🔭 Seeing too many stars: Get this, Neil DeGrasse Tyson had to tell people he’s not promoting flat Earth videos. Yep, deepfakes got so real that even Terry Crews believed one. Neil says he’s cool with parodies, but if it looks real? “You’ve crossed a line.” I always wanted to ask him, “How different do you think your life would have been if your parents named you Moe instead of Neil, and would you still use your full name?”
Your inbox holds your entire life. Family photos, bank info, travel plans, everything. But here’s the problem: Free email providers aren’t really free. They scan, track and sell your data. That’s why I trust StartMail. It keeps your emails truly private, blocks trackers and spam, and even lets you create unlimited disposable addresses so you stay anonymous. No snoops. No ads. Just secure, private email. Take back your privacy today. Get a 7-day free trial and 60% off today!*
✈️ The sky-high shriek: Imagine this. You’re mid-movie on a flight, and your $249 AirPods Pro 3 start whistling in your ear like a boiling teapot. Some fliers say the new AirPods’ noise-canceling feature flips out at altitude, creating a painful screech. Apple hasn’t fixed it yet, so maybe pack an old backup pair that behaves. Or pretend it’s experimental jazz.
No kids club: So Character.AI, the app where people talk to pretend humans, is officially kicking out everyone under 18. Yep, kids are getting banned after some horrific lawsuits, including one from a mom who says a chatbot pushed her son to end his life. Starting now, there’s a two-hour limit. Full lockout by Nov. 25. Right, like this will work.
Lazy-day win: In maybe the best news in a while for incessant returning folks, you may soon be able to skip the whole “find a box, print a label, drive to UPS” thing. Amazon’s testing a partnership with USPS that lets you hand off returns right from your doorstep. Eligible items are under 15 pounds, and it’s rolling out quietly.
Cellphone bills too high? That’s why I switched to Consumer Cellular. I’m getting two unlimited lines for just $60 a month. Solid coverage, no gimmicks, no gotchas. Use code KIM25 at ConsumerCellular.com/KIM to save $25.
Love, loss & lies: Here’s your daily dose of “aww … ouch.” Larry, a 71-year-old from California, loses his wife, gets a wrong-number text and somehow ends up falling for “Tina,” a woman who claimed to trade crypto and sip Napa wine. Three months later? His $1 million life savings was gone. Turns out “Tina” was really good at pretending to care.
🩳 Detroit’s courtroom surprise: A cop logged into virtual court, badge up top, boxers down below, and forgot his camera was not cropped. We’ve all been there. The judge gasps, “You got some pants on, officer?” And the cop? Deadpan: “No, sir.” Detroit’s finest, apparently also Detroit’s freest. You know what they say, justice is a dish best served pantsless.