Coding was once hailed as essential for future careers, but AI advancements are quickly changing that.
Be careful mixing crypto with real estate - or this could happen
When it comes to real estate, it’s a seller’s market right now. Everyone wants homes, and thanks to the demand, prices are higher than the Empire State Building. At least, that’s how it can feel to folks who can’t afford to buy a house.
iBuyers, or automated instant home buyers, exacerbate the situation. They’ll snap up homes that hit the market before a human even finds out the house is available. Tap or click here to find out how iBuyers are taking over home sales.
But there are two sides to every coin, and tech could help homebuyers just as much as it can hinder them. At least, that’s what the team behind a cryptocurrency called Realux said. They claimed they would democratize real estate through the blockchain — and investors fell for it, hook, line and sinker.
It was all a lie
From the start, Realux looked like a legitimate cryptocurrency. It had a snazzy, professional site — which is now deleted. Luckily, you can check it out on the Wayback Machine.
Let that be a lesson for you. Don’t automatically trust websites just because they look well put together.
Also, don’t swallow whatever social media influencers tell you. Do your research because they might not. In this case, Realux paid crypto influencers @AltcoinSara and Jim Crypto to hype up RLX coins.
Many fans fell for the hype and took Realux for face value, missing the red flags of a scam. Remember: Unscrupulous influencers can cost you big time. Always do your research.
If you want to spot warning signs when you buy online, we’ve got you covered. Tap or click here for five ways to spot a scam when shopping or selling on Craigslist. This guide is an oldie, but good advice is timeless.
There’s a lot to learn from this story
Its creator released 70 million RLX tokens at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 31, according to blockchain records. Once Realux released its tokens and investors snapped them up, it vanished. Realux deleted its social media accounts and official website, Vice reports.
In other words, Realux was nothing more than a rug pull. Vice says the scammers made under $24,000.
At-home COVID tests: Red flags you bought a fake
We’re not out of the woods yet. The omicron variant is spreading, and more people are getting infected. This leads to a higher demand for COVID-19 tests, as evidenced by the long lines you may have seen outside testing centers.
🏠 Phony landlords: Scammers are flooding Facebook Marketplace with fake rental listings. They use real addresses and legit-looking pics at prices that seem like a steal, and they’ll even let you check it out in person. Major red flag: They’ll demand an application fee upfront via PayPal, Venmo or Zelle.
$750,000 ransom demand
Made by an IT contractor paid to protect his victim. The infrastructure engineer used his access to lock out the company’s IT administrators, delete all their backups and get access to the rest of their servers. If you own a business, be aware of how much control you’re handing over.
At-home Covid test prices are through the roof - How to find them in stock
The omicron variant has been causing chaos all over the country. Not only are infections at an all-time high, but thousands of flights have been canceled, creating a situation that is rife with scams.
Many people are desperate to get tested and have turned to at-home testing. These inexpensive tests can be delivered to your doorstep without going out in public.
On the hunt for the season's hottest toys? Don't fall for these scams
Many parents dread the holiday season shopping, as there are always new hot toys that kids want but are hard to find. Not content with last year’s trends, many children want the latest and greatest things in their stockings. Tap or click here for details on a holiday decoration scheme going around.
Global tech outage wreaks havoc
A software update by CrowdStrike took down tons of computer systems around the world. Banks, businesses, hospitals, and more were all impacted. Plus, Amazon Prime Day updates and Zoom’s demand for a return to the office.
Say cheese: Thanks to the 20-something TikTok crowd, Fujifilm’s retro-themed cameras, like the X100, are selling like hotcakes. They’re such a hit that Fujifilm is struggling to meet demand, even at $1,599 a pop.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Have you bought chicken in the past decade? You could get paid
Poultry can be found in the dishes of almost every culture in the U.S. It is a massive industry, not just in the U.S. but globally. It is estimated that the U.S. has around 518 million chickens waiting to be processed at any given time.
COVID-19 is driving up prices online - here's how to save
One of the most radical changes caused by COVID-19 has been the startling increase in online shopping versus buying from brick-and-mortar stores. This change was already well underway pre-pandemic, but like with many cultural trends we took for granted, the sudden lockdown of businesses rapidly accelerated the process.
Uber gives us an idea of the massive hit to the US economy
Open/download audioA few months ago, Uber was on top of the ridesharing world. Fast forward to today and the demand has dried up — taking thousands of jobs along with it. The massive cuts at Uber give us a glimpse at what’s happening to the U.S. economy as a whole.
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Use this site to find any coronavirus supplies in stock
In March 2020, finding a simple roll of toilet paper became a herculean task in just a matter of weeks. The staple home good is now a scarcity, and it’s hardly alone in the retail wasteland of post-coronavirus America.