That flood of perfect reviews? Could be paid for. Here’s how to spot the signs.
Katy Perry’s Met Gala pics? Totally fake. Photos of her “attending” the fashion event are going viral, but they’re AI-generated. Katy posted them herself, saying she couldn’t make it because of her tour. This is the second year it’s happened to her, and even her mom got tricked last time.
63%
Lawyers that have used AI in cases. Only around 12% use it regularly. Bots like ChatGPT can make up fake cases in court docs. One lawyer was fined $2,000 and had to take a class on how to use AI for law.
🛏️ Fluffing the case: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s lawyer filed a court brief written by AI with nearly 30 fake legal citations. He blamed “paraphrasing” before admitting he didn’t fact-check at all. File this under absolutely not how you want your court case to go.
AI + legal advice = bad idea
AI makes things up, cites fake laws, and can even tank your case. If you think you need a lawyer, you probably do.
“Sell the rumor, buy the news” goes too far: This is crazy. A tiny finance account on X (with just 1,100 followers!) posted a fake claim that Trump was pausing tariffs. The market exploded with joy. CNBC ran with it, Reuters picked it up, and traders literally cheered on the NYSE floor. The account? Verified. The source? Sketchy. And the lesson? Maybe next time, before CNBC hits the banner button, they need to check who’s posting.
🐋 Modern-day Jonah: I thought this was totally fake, but it’s not. A dad watched a giant whale swallow his son and caught the whole thing on video. Phew, the kid survived! The whale spat the son and his kayak out after a few seconds. The video is terrifying. One moment, he’s paddling, and the next, he’s completely gone.
No, you're not being arrested
Apparently, you’re ‘wanted by the feds’ — or so the latest scam says! It’s as fake as it sounds, but some people are actually paying up.
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.
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.
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.
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.