Turns out Meta AI chats like “How do I hide $200K from taxes?” were posted publicly. I talk to a guy who uses his wife’s Facebook account to score Marketplace deals. Plus: VR headsets that smell (for real), and how to make $50/month with AI.
5 clever scams spreading now
ChatGPT
Lately, I’ve had way too many calls on my shows from people who have lost thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) to scams. These are so cleverly evil, it’s like Ocean’s Eleven but starring a dude with three Instagram followers and a ChatGPT subscription.
You see, we’re way past scam emails from sketchy Nigerian princes. Today’s scams are slick, personalized and powered by scary-good tech like AI voice cloning and deepfakes. And yep, people fall for them every single day.
Here are today’s scummy front-runners, plus how to protect your cash, pride and sanity:
1. The AI voice clone
This one’s horrifying because it sounds like someone you trust. Scammers grab a clip of your child’s, spouse’s, boss’ voice from social media, podcasts or even your voicemail.
Then they call your mom, your grandpa, your partner: “Hi, it’s me. I’m in big trouble. I need money. Don’t tell anyone.” It’s not them. It’s AI. And it works because it feels real.
Anthony in Los Angeles was deceived by scammers who used AI to replicate his son’s voice. Believing his son was in distress, Anthony transferred $25,000 to the fraudsters.
If you get a call like this, call or text the person. Try someone they live or work with.
2. ‘Your bank account’s frozen’
You get a text or call from your “bank,” and the number looks legit. They say your account is locked due to suspicious activity and you need to confirm your info.
Stop right there. That link? Fake. The person on the phone? Also fake.
Charles in Iowa lost over $300,000. Always open your bank’s app or type the web address in yourself. Never tap the link they send.
Privacy disaster: Meta’s AI assistant scoops up personal data from Facebook and Instagram to train its models. Even public posts, comments and interactions could be fair game unless you opt out. The catch? Most people don’t even know it’s happening. If you use the app, you really need to read this now.
Facebook on mute: Whether you’re sneaking a scroll at work or just want things silenced, it’s easy to stop videos from auto-playing with sound. On your phone, go to Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Media and toggle Videos Start with Sound off. Ah, much better.
Gen Alpha side hustles — June 21st, Hour 4
Gen Alpha isn’t only glued to the iPad. They’re making real money online. Here’s how. Then I talk to a caller who learns his sexy pics were part of a scam. Facebook fraud is exploding (shocker: Meta’s cashing in), and your printer is secretly tagging every page you print.
Don’t buy that Facebook lie
Scams on Facebook and Instagram are stealing billions from Americans. Zuckerberg’s empire is doing nothing to stop it.
💸 Thrift of the year: An Arkansas man spotted a $120 coffee table on Facebook Marketplace and decided to do a reverse image search. Turns out, it was made by an Italian company in the 1990s and listed on auction sites for up to $8,250. It’s now in his living room, glued to the floor.
❤️ How about some good news? When a dad needed a kidney, his family started a “Kidney 4 Joe” Facebook page to find a donor. The twist? A complete stranger saw the post through a mutual friend, got tested and turned out to be a match. They met for the first time on surgery day. Proof that one share can change everything.
Math problem pyramid scheme: A fake Facebook event disguised as a “genius-level math contest” has been a top post for half a year, somehow racking up 115M+ views. Spoiler: It’s just a viral engagement trap. People are still arguing about its fake equation in the comments a year later. My math teacher called me average. How mean.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Facebook Messenger, type @everyone to notify everyone in the chat. It’s great for urgent messages.
🔞Texas going hardcore parental: Texas wants to ban all minors under 18 from using social media. That means no Instagram, no TikTok, not even Facebook (RIP). Kids would need an ID to make accounts, and platforms would have to delete profiles if parents ask. Lawsuits incoming from tech giants and probably teenagers themselves.
🚨 Biggest social media data breach ever: A cybercriminal gang calling themselves ByteBreaker says they scraped 1.2 billion Facebook records. We’re talking names, emails, birthdays and more being sold on the dark web. Meta says it’s just 2021 leftovers, but do we really believe them? Either way, it’s a buffet for scammers. You know the drill. Change your passwords. Freeze your credit. Put alerts on your bank accounts. Dang, I feel like there have been so many data breaches that hackers are deleting duplicates of my data to save on space.
Meta’s scam spiral: Facebook and Instagram reportedly ran God only knows how many shady ads tied to scams from fake food giveaways to nonexistent golden retrievers. Internal docs say the company avoided cracking down to keep the $$$ flowing. JPMorgan says half of Zelle scam complaints lead straight back to Meta. Turns out “move fast and break things” meant “let’s break trust.”
Don’t fall for Facebook or Instagram scams
See a great deal on your feed? Here’s why it could be a slick scam that takes your money fast.
🔗 Don’t connect your socials: Unless you’re an influencer, it’s best to keep your accounts separate. Linking apps, like putting your Instagram in your Facebook bio, makes it easier for stalkers to track your life and location. Use different usernames, handles and profile pictures to stay safe.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On Facebook, go to Settings > Privacy > “Who can look you up?” and lock it down to friends only.
Scammers listed her home online — May 17th, Hour 2
Strangers kept showing up at her door, but her house wasn’t for rent. A scammer listed it on Facebook. Plus, Waymo chaos and a Disney+ warning for parents. I also talk to Earl from Chicago, who needs tech help to officiate his daughter’s wedding.
Major AI breakthrough — May 17th, Hour 4
Google’s DeepMind and Project Zero built an AI that found a security flaw faster than any human. Wild. Plus, planning a shopping trip? The weather could impact your store discount. I also talk to the teens who made $1 million selling junk on Facebook.
Fake AI video generators: Hackers have a new trick: websites that promise to turn your images into videos. But once you upload a file, they send back a ZIP named something like “VideoDreamMachineAI.mp4.exe.” The twist? It’s actually malware that steals your personal info. Watch out for them in Facebook groups especially.