⚡ Apple Pay’s “free money”: You have to see this TikTok of a woman crying because she thought Apple Pay was Apple’s way of giving her money. She thought every tap, every time she accepted cookies and every app she downloaded earned her cash. I bet she thinks American Express is a train. Watch the short video here. Real or not? Let me know when you rate the newsletter at the end.
Meet the scammers driving your neighborhood
ChatGPT
Ever get one of those weird texts that says something like, “Your package is waiting” or “Click here to unlock your cash reward”? We all have. Most people figure it’s just a scammy mass text from some sketchy website.
You can’t be so sure anymore. What if I told you those shady texts didn’t come through the usual networks? They were broadcast by a random car driving through your neighborhood?
That’s the new trick. Scammers are using devices called SMS blasters, and they’re not just annoying, they’re downright dangerous.
🚗 A cell tower in a backpack?
Here’s the deal: These devices pretend to be a real cell tower.
Your phone gets tricked into connecting, even if just for a second, and then BAM, a scam text pops up like it came from nowhere. These setups can be mobile, too. I’m talking about backpacks, parked vans, rental cars on the move.
They don’t need your number. They don’t even need a list. They just hijack every phone nearby and blast out messages like spam on steroids.
👀 Why this should freak you out
These scam texts can look really convincing. Delivery updates, IRS warnings, bank fraud alerts, the kind of stuff you click without thinking twice. One wrong tap, and they’ve got you. Personal info, passwords, credit card numbers, all wide open.
Here’s the kicker: Even the scam filters on your phone can’t stop them because these texts are basically cheating the system.
🧠 Your checklist
1. Turn off old connections: Scammers love older networks because they’re easier to spoof. Disabling 2G or older on your phone blocks one of their favorite tricks. I checked the steps below, but they may be different on your device, depending on make, model and operating system. Just keep poking around until you find them.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On Facebook, save interesting posts for later. Tap the three-dot menu on a post, select Save post and find them anytime under the Saved section.
🛏️ Fake sleep science: Turns out sleep trackers are only 65% accurate at guessing your sleep stages. They’re basically playing a slightly smarter version of “Are You Asleep Yet?” based on your wrist twitches. Helpful? Maybe. Lab-grade reliable? Not even close. Still, 1 in 3 adults say they aren’t getting enough sleep, which explains why we keep buying the devices.
Chips off the ol’ motherboard: Nvidia just tossed $5B at Intel to build next-gen chips, mashing Intel CPUs with Nvidia GPUs for better PCs and AI gear. Intel’s had a rough patch, but this? Might be the glow-up it needs. Their stock jumped 28%. All they needed was a rich friend with a vision board. Don’t we all?
👂 Struggling to hear? Custom-fit hearing aids with expert guidance and a 45-day risk-free trial help you hear clearly, follow every conversation and reconnect with friends and family, so you never miss a moment again.
🥶 Not the ad fridge: Samsung swore they had no plans to put ads on smart fridges’ screens. We know that song and dance. Cut to now and a new software update turned into full-blown Cover Screen promotions. Samsung says, “The ads are added value.” Talk about having big meatballs. At this rate, I’ll need a pop-up blocker in the produce drawer.
TikTok gets a chaperone: Instead of a ban, TikTok’s getting a weird fix. ByteDance will lease its algorithm (paywall link) to a U.S.-controlled company. Oracle handles the “don’t spy on Americans” part, and the app on your phone? Works the same. No re-download needed, no sudden disappearance.
🕳️ Crypto bribery network: So X says scammers tried to bribe employees into reinstating banned crypto accounts. The group behind it, “The Com,” is basically a hacker frat for teenagers, linked to 120+ attacks, even against the London Underground. Imagine hacking the subway before you can drive a car. Legal action’s in motion, but heads up: If you see “double your Bitcoin now,” it’s not your lucky day.
A smart tip to help protect your retirement savings: With the economy so unpredictable, I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. I protect a portion of my savings with real gold and silver from Goldco. And right now, Goldco is giving up to 10% back in FREE silver when you open a qualified account.
🫠 Martian spa: Mars wasn’t always a dead rock. It had water. A lot of it. NASA’s rover just found proof the Jezero Crater got wet, not once but three different times. And not just any water, they’re saying chill, life-friendly mineral baths. Basically, Mars hosted spa days long before we even had plants.
🧃 Electric camel unlocked: Mercedes built a prototype EV that drove 749 miles across Europe without blinking, and it still had 85 miles in the tank. One battery. Zero charging. That’s the distance from New York to Chicago, and maybe circling the block for parking. Solid-state tech, real-life road, no science fair nonsense. It’s coming by 2030.
Bad news for photodumps: The new iPhone 17s, yep, the $1,200 ones, are apparently glitching if you take pics near bright LED lights, like at concerts. One reviewer found black boxes, missing chunks, ghostly squiggles. Apple says it’s rare and a fix is coming, but for now? Your pics might look like abstract art.
💻 The kids are not alright: I read this new report and felt sick. One in three boys, ages 9 to 12, has had sexual interactions online. Yeah, 9. Instagram, Discord, even Roblox. Most aren’t telling anyone. If you’ve got kids, ask what apps they use. No shame, no lectures, just real talk. Be their safe place before someone else pretends to be.
Five stars, zero shame: Walmart’s online marketplace is booming, but so are the scams. A CNBC probe found 43 shady sellers using stolen business IDs and fake reviews to sell bogus products. Unlike Amazon, Walmart skips video interviews and makes EIN docs optional. Pro tip: Filter reviews by “verified purchase.”
🫣 Wait, is TikTok … different? The U.S. takeover deal’s in motion, and with it? A few quiet tweaks. Your “For You” might feel a little … less global. New terms, new vibes and maybe fewer dance trends from Berlin. It’s not broken, it’s just moving in with Oracle.
🛬 iPad turbulence: When a Spirit Airlines flight flew too close to Air Force One over Long Island the other day, air traffic control urgently warned the pilots to turn and finally snapped, “Get off the iPad!” The FAA says the planes maintained a safe distance. Read the entire exchange here. It’s interesting.
Hold off buying any Google Home products: Reminder that on Oct. 1, at least one new Nest Cam and doorbell with Gemini built in will drop. I’ll keep you posted.
🍿 Wicked early: Be the family hero. Amazon Prime members can now snag tickets to see Wicked: For Good on Nov. 17. That’s a full four days before the official release. Just click here, so you don’t miss out. You can shop for Oz-themed merch and stream the first movie on Prime Video to get ready in style.
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America loves spyware: Guess who’s the biggest investor in spyware? Home of screaming bald eagles and football fields. A lot of this money isn’t just coming from hedge funds, it’s pouring in from teachers’ and firefighters’ retirement plans buying things like NSO Group and SIO. Congrats, your 401(k) is riding on being Big Brother.