💖 IRL Tony Stark: A 35-year-old man just became the second person with a titanium heart transplant. With severe heart failure and fluid in his lungs, doctors used a magnet-powered artificial heart as a last resort. The result? Normal circulation, blood flow and blood pressure. The only downside is he says it feels a little “heavier.” This could be the solution to the organ shortage.
Scam alert: How to spot fake Ukrainian aid sites before you donate
Scammers have no shame in exploiting devastating events, natural disasters or human tragedies. Whether it’s the global pandemic or tornados ravaging the Midwest, scammers are always on the lookout for unsuspecting targets.
Not even the tragic events in Ukraine are immune from criminals trying to make a quick buck. There are plenty of legitimate charities desperately in need of funds, but scammers complicate it.
Read on to discover how unscrupulous individuals exploit an international war for financial gain.
Here’s the backstory
As the world tries to come to grips with the recent events in Europe, hundreds of humanitarian workers are on the ground rendering aid. But any tragedy is expensive, not just in the human lives lost but also in medical care and infrastructure rebuilding.
Many charities that work with Ukraine can’t keep up with the need for assistance. So while some are helping to evacuate residents and international citizens, others are looking after the many animals left behind.
The vast majority of charities that need financial assistance are genuine, but unfortunately, others smell the opportunity to make some money. As pointed out by ESET Security, the start of the Ukrainian conflict has seen a spike in fake charities soliciting funds.
Requests for money are often posted to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, but some have been making the rounds in WhatsApp groups and email chains.
If you look closely at the fundraising campaigns, you’ll notice that the charities are incredibly vague about how the money will be spent. There will be little information on where it is going or any proof of it being used in Ukraine. It is also not immediately apparent if the campaigns are related to real organizations.
ESET put the following list of questionable domains together to be wary of:
- help-for-ukraine[.]eu
- tokenukraine[.]com
- supportukraine[.]today
- ukrainecharity[.]gives
- ukrainesolidarity[.]org
- ukraine-solidarity[.]com
- saveukraine[.]today
What you can do about it
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Apple’s technology is often credited for saving people’s lives. An elderly New Jersey resident, for example, hit her head earlier this year while no one else was around. Unable to move, she dialed 911 through her Apple AirPods and Siri.
🏥 The hologram will see you now: A hospital outside of Dallas is the first in the country to use a $65,000 Holobox. The device beams a 3D image of your doctor inside what looks like a futuristic vending machine for a slightly more personal telehealth appointment. Good news for areas with doctor shortages.
Need help finding a doctor? These new tools make it easier
During this pandemic, it’s important to have a healthcare professional you trust to contact with medical questions. But the last place you want to visit right now unless absolutely necessary is the doctor’s office.
🩻 It’s not all black and white: You’re putting your private medical data at risk by asking AI bots to analyze X-rays and medical info. It’s tempting, I get it. But ChatGPT and the others don’t have to comply with HIPAA. If you want “Dr. AI” to help, be sure to redact personal info like your name, address and birthday. You never know where this info might end up.
Left in the dark: A woman went in for a gynecological biopsy, and she wasn’t given any anesthetic. The pain was so intense, she fainted. She posted her experience online, and it’s going viral. I hope she files a complaint with her local medical board.
☝🏻 Hope it doesn’t malfunction: Researchers have developed a human-like robotic finger capable of performing routine physical exams. The “bioinspired soft finger” uses tech sensors to feel around for abnormal lumps, take your pulse and even venture into — ahem — those other places for diagnostics. Bums away!