🐱💤 = Catnap: Most think this smiley-faced emoji — 🙂 — is the digital equivalent of a fake smile. Don’t use it. Instead, pick something happier. I like 🤗, 🥰 and 😃. But lately, it’s hard to beat the 🫶.
Hackers steal $285M in Bitcoin
$285 million in crypto — gone. Two hackers stole over 4,100 Bitcoin from a billionaire, but they didn’t get away with it. Plus, tips for using Perplexity AI, a shocking Titan submersible update, and a fantasy football fan caught sending fake threats.
iScam, you scam: Cybercriminals are sending fake emails claiming your Apple ID is suspended, urging you to click a link to “verify” your info. Don’t fall for it. Apple never asks for sensitive info via email.
$5 million
Fine for fake plastic surgery reviews. Seattle-based Dr. Javad Sajan will pay restitution to 21,000 victims after he forced them to sign nondisclosure agreements and threatened them when they left bad reviews. If you’re getting a life-changing procedure, do your research — and not just on the doc’s website.
Sextortion scams are getting more realistic
Got an email saying your webcam was hacked? Don’t worry — it’s just another sextortion scam. I’ll tell you why it’s all fake and how to stay safe.
Science anus as easy as it seems: The Ig Nobel Prize (a play on the Nobel Prize) honors those doing quirkier work. Some of this year’s award-winning discoveries: Real plants can imitate the shapes of nearby fake plants, a coin is more likely to land on the side it started (heads or tails), and many mammals can breathe through their anuses. Yup, you read that right.
Phony election contribution websites are everywhere
Scammers are working overtime as candidates push for donations, even as small as five dollars. With emotions running high, be cautious of fake headlines and misleading donation links.
Protect your fam from fake kidnapping calls
Could you tell your child’s voice from a scammer’s? With AI cloning technology, it’s harder than ever.
The FTC bans fake online reviews
Using bots to boost social media followers and influence is off the table, too. Disney+ adds Hulu shows, sparking parental outrage. Plus, Waymo horror stories, Facebook rental scams, and tips for your next mechanic visit. And Earl from Chicago needs wedding help for his daughter.
iPhone 16 launch date: Here’s what you can expect
Mark your calendars! The iPhone 16 is dropping this September. Also, Telegram’s CEO gets arrested in France — authorities say he didn’t do enough to stop shady stuff on the app. Plus, Amazon Echo fails and fake election maps going viral.
See if your genius idea already exists: Google Patents has the full text of more than 120 million patents from around the world. Weird patent of the day: This one from Russia for fake cheese.
FTC cracks down on fake followers and reviews
Fake followers? Fake likes? The FTC is done playing around. I’ll tell you why the crackdown could mean big fines — or worse — for influencers and brands pulling these tricks.
Toxic chemicals found in Temu products
Officials flagged sandals with 11 times the legal lead limit! Google’s forcing your site to train its AI if you want it searchable. Plus, the FTC is cracking down on fake reviews, and a hack to find cheap flights online.
Tesla's unsafe autopilot
Elon Musk’s Tesla has reported over 1,200 autopilot crashes in the past three years. Also, look out for foreign nations spreading misinformation on social media, fake reviews targeting restaurants, and the rise of restaurant robots.
Unwitting Americans and the election
With the election nearing, foreign entities are spreading fake news online. Here’s how to stay sharp and protect yourself from propaganda.
Clone your voice in 15 minutes
A new iPhone feature can make a copy of your voice. Could scammers use it for deepfakes? A German company will freeze your body for over $200,000, hoping to bring you back to life later. Plus, Taco Bell brings AI to the drive-thru, and be wary of fake Facebook stores.
How to spot if a review is fake
When you’re looking on the web for a place to stay, eat, or work, here’s why you should think twice about online reviews.
When social media can't lie
When Donald Trump was shot, a photo captured the bullet mid-flight. It’s now a rare instance of a picture shared on social media — before anyone could fake it.
The job you applied for online might be fake
Looking for a new job? Before you get bummed you never heard back, know that not every post is real.