Criminals want to get to know your schedule … so they know exactly the right time to attack. Beware of camouflaged cameras recording every time you leave the house.
Meet your financial evil twin
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A man named William Woods spent years trying to prove he was … himself. Why? Because another man, Matthew David Keirans, stole his Social Security number and birth certificate, built a whole new life with them and lived under Woods’ identity for decades.
The guy really committed to the bit. Keirans got caught only after DNA tests exposed the fraud, and now he’s in prison.
Recently, a woman used my husband’s name and his SSN with her address to get a set of new dentures in Tampa, Florida. Maybe she looks like a guy named Barry?
Law enforcement is also seeing an uptick in kids’ Social Security numbers being used to build fake “Franken-identities.” Why? Children don’t have credit histories yet. By the time families discover it, the synthetic persona has credit cards, loans and debt all tied back to an innocent name.
🔧 Here’s how it works
Criminals stitch together real and fake info, say your SSN with a made-up address, and nurture that “new person” into a believable identity. They start small (a prepaid card or phone plan), then scale up to big loans or credit lines.
When the debt piles up, the synthetic identity vanishes, but creditors chase the real person behind the stolen SSN. Banks call this the fastest-growing type of financial crime.
🚨 Signs of synthetic identity theft
- Strange addresses where you’ve never lived pop up on your credit report.
- New accounts or loans show up in your name, but the contact info (phone, email) isn’t yours.
- Collection calls demand payment for debts you never took out.
- Mismatch alerts from banks say your SSN doesn’t match your name or DOB, even though you typed it correctly.
👉 If any of these hit your radar, it could mean someone’s cooking up a “Franken-identity” with your info.
That’s why I use NordProtect, a sponsor of my radio show. It monitors your most sensitive info like your Social Security number, phone number, email and mailing address, then alerts you the moment something suspicious pops up.
Think: Someone uses your name to try to take out a loan, open a credit card or file for insurance. If it happens, NordProtect doesn’t just notify you, they guide you step-by-step to shut it down fast.
Free check to see if your router has been hacked by criminals
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The internet is a crazy place. Not only do marketers and advertisers follow your every move, but there are also hackers and scammers lurking in the dark corners, ready to pounce on your personal information.
At least marketers and advertisers want to make money off of you. The hackers and scammers we’re talking about want to flat-out steal your money by hijacking your personal information.
Don’t get tricked by “oops” money
A “wrong number” cash drop on Zelle or Venmo is not a mistake. Criminals use stolen cards to make you the fall guy, tricking you into sending your own money. Here is how to spot it and stay safe.
Go figure: Mentions of using AI tools and tactics for nefarious business are up 200% on the Dark Web. Yeesh. Criminals have more tools than ever. Get your name out of databases that make it easy to find you with Incogni. Hit my link for 60% off.
148%
The spike in impersonation scams over just one year. Scammers are getting better and multiplying. Just last year, fake voices, cloned execs and AI chatbots helped criminals drain nearly $3 billion from victims. The crazy part? It only takes three seconds to clone your voice.
This new COVID scam tries to lure you in with a refund on your phone bill
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By now, you should know that scammers and criminals will do almost anything to get their hands on your data and money. There is seemingly no length that they won’t go to, even if that means using the pandemic as a lure.
The best way to keep an eye on your pets inside and out
Pets are notorious for causing a stir when their owners are away. When you drive off, dogs might bark so loudly they bother the neighbors. Cats might scratch the sofa to punish you for leaving.
Animals have many methods for messing up the house when you’re away. Sometimes, you may return home and walk into such an outrageous mess you can’t help but wonder, “How on Earth did that happen?”
Kidnapped for his Bitcoin
A New York crypto investor survived 25 days of torture by criminals after they tried to force him to hand over his crypto.
Here VR for convicted criminals: Prisoners in solitary confinement are getting VR goggles so they can pretend to be walking in Paris or on a beach in Thailand. The goal? Handle life. Case in point: Someone bumped into Daniel in VR. Instead of lashing out, he was guided through a breathing exercise to handle conflict.
Cyber criminals are sending ransom demands by snail mail
Extortionists are skipping email and sending official-looking ransom letters through the U.S. Postal Service. Here’s the scoop.
Whiskey business: A bottle of rare 81-year-old Macallan scotch is selling for $649,999. No wonder alcohol counterfeiting is so big. Criminals make bank refilling authentic bottles with cheap stuff. Not anymore! New tech embeds a molecular marker in the seal of each verified bottle so collectors don’t get duped. Authenticated bottles get a blockchain record you can check. Now that’s a barrel of laughs.
License plate readers track your politics
They’re tracking more than criminals — they’re recording your bumper stickers, yard signs, and more.
America's drinking water is under attack
Water systems in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania have already been hit by hackers in China, Russia and Iran. Plus, clothes that block 5G waves, AI coming to Alexa, and Walmart’s new digital pricing. We also chat with Joseph Cox about his book “Dark Wire,” which is about Anom, the FBI’s secret app used by criminals.
Trying to sell online? You're a theft target
Criminals no longer need to stake out your house to case it; they can simply browse your online listing.
February 10th, 2024
Meta admits it trains its AI on your public pics and vids. Plus, the new way criminals target your bank account and the wild things folks are doing with their Apple Vision Pro. Also, a new super sports app is coming and an incredible drone rescue. That and much more, plus all your calls and questions.
How hotel hackers get your info
Are you on a legit hotel website? In just one minute, I cover the tactics criminals use to scam you.
Why it's a good idea to wrap your car keys in tin foil
Did you know carjackers can break into your car from afar? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a cheap way to stop criminals in their tracks.
The pros and cons of Bluetooth trackers like Apple AirTags
How can Apple AirTags put you in danger? Listen now to find out how criminals use Bluetooth trackers.
Tech Refresh: FBI app crackdown, X-rated emails, tech productivity hacks
The FBI busted criminals using a super-secret app to communicate all their comings and goings. Kim has the scoop on how they did it. Scammers are sending X-rated emails to scare people into paying up, and the team dives into tech productivity hacks to make life easier.