George, your AI host, tells the true story of a man in love with an AI chatbot. What does this say about the future of relationships? Also: a tragic ChatGPT lawsuit, solo hacker attacks with Claude, disappearing Ford dashboards, YouTube vs. Fox, and AI-powered insurance appeals. AI isn’t going away anytime soon.
Don’t just freeze, fight back
ChatGPT
Ashley in Washington asks:
“Kim, do I really need identity theft protection? I used to have LifeLock years ago and dumped it because they constantly were selling me other things. I heard you say on your radio show that you use NordProtect now. Why? How is any of this different than freezing your credit? Love your show and newsletter!”
You’re asking a smart question, Ashley, and you’re not alone in wondering. Let’s break it down.
🥶 Do the credit freeze
Freezing your credit is smart, and I recommend everyone do it. A credit freeze keeps criminals from opening new accounts in your name. And heck, it’s free!
Here’s how to do it at the four credit reporting agencies.
- Equifax: Visit Equifax.com or call 1‑888‑298‑0045.
- Experian: Visit the Experian freeze center or call 1‑888‑397‑3742.
- TransUnion: Visit TransUnion’s website or call 1‑888‑916‑8800. (Argh, they just got hacked, btw. Details below in the Web Watercooler section.)
- Innovis: Visit Innovis or call 1‑866‑712‑4546.
Once you’ve placed the freeze, you set a PIN or password to temporarily lift or remove it. Make sure you keep this info in a safe place.
But that’s just one layer of protection. It does nothing when thieves get into your existing bank accounts, credit cards, email, or if your Social Security number or medical records end up on the dark web.
🛡️ Full-scale identity protection
I used LifeLock years ago, too. They were the first big name in ID theft protection. But like you, I got tired of the upselling and prices increasing.
You sign up, then every alert or feature seems to require “upgrading” to yet another tier. It’s like joining a gym where they charge you monthly and then $10 per dumbbell. No thank you. And LifeLock isn’t cheap. Their top plans can run $30 or more per month per adult.
New scam trick: Fake sites that look too good
Midjourney
Here’s the newest con in town: Scammers are using AI to clone legit websites, and they’re scary good at it. I’m talking about perfect logos, identical layouts, right down to the fonts and buttons.
The crazy part is that they spin these sites up in minutes. Then, they shove them to the top of Google, where you search for your bank, power company or even a government site. One wrong click, and boom, you’ve handed over your login, your info, your identity.
Denied? Not so fast: I’ve talked about insurance companies using AI to deny your coverage in literal seconds. If that happens to you, fight back using AI of your own. A free service called Counterforce Health writes appeal letters faster than you can say, “That’s not covered.” Here’s good proof that tech doesn’t have to mean soulless. You know, my puns are like health insurance. Some just can’t get it.
$539
Lost to the average deepfake call. Criminals use AI to impersonate Medicare workers, politicians, Amazon reps, insurance agents, you name it. When in doubt, hang up.
Find missing money with one simple search: You may be owed money and not even know it! There are several easy ways to find out if you have unclaimed funds left in old bank accounts, insurance policies and other places. Don’t let your hard-earned money slip through the cracks! Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.
Why rich people swap homes (and how you can, too)
ChatGPT
Want to globe-trot like a baller but on a budget? Enter home swapping: the Airbnb alternative that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment per night. It’s just what it sounds like. You stay in someone’s house, they stay in yours, like Freaky Friday with better Wi-Fi.
The jobs AI can’t steal (yet)
ChatGPT
Larry from Louisiana writes: “Kim, what jobs are safe from AI and don’t need a college degree? I’m losing sleep worrying about my future and how I’m going to support a wife and three teenagers.”
Larry, you’re spot-on to be thinking about this. Supporting a family of five in this economy is basically a full-contact sport. You’re also asking exactly the right question.
🚨 Farmers Insurance data breach: Hackers stole data on 1.1 million Farmers Insurance customers. They grabbed names, addresses, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers, everything they need to steal your identity. Farmers is notifying people, but until then, keep an eye out for phishing scams. They’re coming.
Their faces went viral without them: TikTok paid actors as little as $500 to license their faces for AI avatars (paywall link), which are now appearing in ads for horoscope apps, supplements and insurance quotes, even in other languages, sometimes on other platforms like YouTube. The actors don’t get royalties, can’t control the content and didn’t realize how far it would go. It was all in the fine print.
🦎 Gecko gotcha: Carrie just wanted cheaper car insurance, but Google served her scam. She clicked a fake Geico link, handed over everything (yes, even her SSN) and Venmo’d $400 to fraudsters. Didn’t realize the con until Geico HQ had no record of payment. Gotta watch where you click, folks.
Aflac breach gets messy: Hackers cracked into Aflac’s system using social engineering tricks, possibly swiping health data, SSNs and more. No ransomware dropped, but still, duck insurance just got real personal, in the bad way. Keep an eye on your inbox (and your identity).
🩺 Hello, it’s a scam: The FBI says scammers are cold-calling folks with fake “discount health care” plans that’ll leave you with zero coverage and maxed-out bills. They’re impersonating real insurance companies and pushing fake policies with sketchy promises. If your “plan” sounds like a Groupon for gallbladder surgery, hang up.
This data could raise your insurance rate — May 10th, Hour 4
Your new car logs where you go, and how hard you brake. Who gets the info? Insurance companies. Then I cover a viral app that’s making Americans toss out food by the cartload. Plus, Apple Intelligence isn’t real yet, deepfakes are faking heartbeats and there’s a $299 AI-powered toilet camera.
🚨 Fake health insurance: Scammers are offering “discounted” medical plans that don’t actually cover anything but your steady descent into rage headaches. Red flags? Pressure to act fast or promises of free services that sneak in extra fees. PSA: Look up the provider on the Better Business Bureau to check if an offer is legit.
This 15-digit code is your stolen phone insurance
ChatGPT
If your smartphone was ever lost or stolen, would you know what to do? Lock it remotely, call your carrier or use a tracking app. That’s a start.
But you know what weapon most people sleep on?
The $55K FaceTime car scam
ChatGPT
Sarah’s $55,000 lesson: The online car dealership that wasn’t
Even smart shoppers can get taken; here’s how to make sure you don’t.
Sarah from Salt Lake City did everything right, or so she thought. She was looking for a used car online and found what looked like a legitimate dealership.
🚨 Life insurance data breach alert: Landmark Admin, which works with life insurance and annuities, got hacked last year with an estimated 800,000 people hit. Yeah, we’re just hearing about it now. Surprise, it was actually over 1.6 million. If you’re one of them, you’ll get a letter. Watch out for sketchy calls, texts or emails to be safe. At this point, getting hacked is just America’s newest rite of passage.
Read this before your laptop or e-bike becomes fireworks
ChatGPT
Maybe this photo is a little bit dramatic. BUT, electronics are exploding.
Everything from your phone to your e-bike runs on lithium-ion. While batteries are small energy wonders, they’re also tiny explosives just begging for an excuse to ruin your day. Or your house. Or your entire block.
Insurance rates rising, here’s what you can do
My car insurance just jumped 32%. No, I didn’t get into an accident or rack up a few speeding tickets. Since 2020, car insurance rates have skyrocketed by 37%, and in 2024 alone, they climbed another 16.5%. Some states saw hikes of over 50%!