I hope you don’t need these: Reporting junk can help officials stop these creeps. Forward spam texts to the FCC at 7726 (that’s SPAM). For scam calls where you lost money or info, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For quicker reporting, go to DoNotCall.gov.
AI’s doing the interviews now, good luck out there
ChatGPT
Imagine prepping for your first big job interview, only to find out you’re chatting with someone named Jamie, who turns out to be less “recruiter with a solid LinkedIn” and more “Siri with a superiority complex.”
If you’re looking for a job or know someone who is, this is critical intel.
How it works
Once you apply for a position, you might get a message to schedule a quick AI screening. Then, expect typical questions like “Tell me about yourself” or “How do you handle challenges at work?”
But there’s no small talk, no human empathy, and don’t expect follow-up questions that make sense if your answer gets cut off.
Some bots are smart enough to transcribe your answers, rank you by score and flag it if you seem frustrated or distracted. Don’t tap your foot during an interview. You might get labeled as “hostile.”
Can you skip the AI?
Nope. One applicant tried hanging up mid-chat, and the bot called them back immediately like a clingy ex with access to your calendar.
Here’s what to do:
✔️ Talk like you’re answering a real person.
✔️ Keep your answers short, but don’t sound robotic.
✔️ Avoid reading as some bots track eye movement.
✔️ Double-check that the interview invite is legit (watch for scams).
This all sounds dystopian because it is. But it’s also real. Good recruiters still exist, but they’re relaxing behind a firewall, waiting for the bot to decide if you’re worthy.
It doesn’t seem like this AI recruiter phase will go away, so learn how to work with it. Yeah, brush up on your interview skills, with robots. And no, asking to “speak to the manager” will absolutely not help.
Credit card? Try regret card
Silent Push
Look at the image. That’s not the real Omaha Steaks. It’s from a fake site designed to steal your money.
It’s happening all over the internet right now. You see a great deal on name-brand stuff, a new smartwatch, fancy cookware, maybe some designer jeans, and you click.
The Microsoft Windows Defender scam
Scammers pose as Microsoft to trick you into calling fake support numbers. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Tax tip: The IRS is urging taxpayers to enroll in its Identity Protection PIN program, which relaunches this week. This six-digit number is assigned to you and prevents scammers from filing tax returns using your SSN and personal info. To get yours, create an account on the IRS website, verify your identity through ID.me, then click Profile and scroll down to the IP PIN program.
When your stock is actually a scam
ChatGPT
I don’t mean to be a downer, but I need to warn you that tens of thousands of Americans, folks just like you, are getting duped into buying worthless Chinese stocks.
The Wall Street Journal (paywall link) found even seasoned investors are falling for this scam, losing big bucks in the blink of an eye.
How I stopped scammers cold
ChatGPT
“Kim, Lifelock has gotten so expensive. Do I even need it?” — Matt in Texas
I’ve been hearing this a lot, Matt. I agree, LifeLock is pricey. My bill was $239.88 a year. Now, I’m paying $62.64 a year, that’s a 74% savings! More about that later.
Kim’s cart: 10 genius buys that keep you (and your stuff) safe
ChatGPT
I test a lot of gear. Every product here solves a sneaky problem and helps you stay one step ahead of scammers, snoops and opportunists. I’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. Let’s go shopping!
Fraudsters love “washing” checks and rewriting new amounts unless you use this pen. Its ink chemically bonds with paper, so the info can’t be scrubbed off. Get Uni-ball 207 Gel Pens ($6.08).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scam in the skies
ChatGPT
I am hearing more and more reports about a certain travel scam that is not making the tech sites or mainstream news.
A “travel agent” or travel site selling fake plane tickets. You pay real cash for a flight that doesn’t actually exist, like booking a table at a restaurant that burned down in 2006.
Grandma got played, but not by bingo
Let me tell you a true story that’ll shake you and hopefully protect someone you love from heartbreak or a well-rehearsed scam call.
It happened to a 90-year-old grandmother in Nashville. She picked up the phone because that’s what she’s always done. On the other end was a young woman, her voice trembling, the connection staticky. “Grandma, help! I was in a car accident. I need you to talk to a lawyer right now.”
How to get a job as a mystery diner
Any restaurant worth its salt wants to know what it’s doing right and what it’s screwing up. And they’re willing to pay you for that info. But they can’t just judge servers and kitchen staff when they’re on their best behavior. They need someone undercover.
6 signs your vacation rental is a scam
© Mark Winfrey | Dreamstime.com
It’s that time of year when so many of us are planning vacations and booking a rental. Sadly, scammers are very aware of that, and they’re always changing their tricks to fool people out of their money, rentals — or worse.
Lights, camera, AI: Johnny Depp says scammers are using AI to fake his voice and attempting to steal cash and personal info. He told his Instagram followers he’s not on X, Snapchat or Discord, so anyone claiming to be him is a fake. Reba McEntire and Kelly Rowland are targets, too. If your idol wants your money, it’s a scam.
The Hollywood celebrity scam
Scammers are using AI and fake celebrity connections to trick victims into sending thousands. Here’s how to spot and stop them.
The fake PayPal invoice scam
If you have a PayPal account, you’ll almost certainly see this scam in your inbox at some point. Know what to look for so you’re not tricked.
💔 Me love you long time: Nearly a decade ago, a handsome U.S. Marine discovered his photos were being used in a multibillion-dollar romance scam. Hundreds of women have been conned out of their money, and it’s still happening today. The worst part? Victims contact his wife to warn her he’s up to no good. Here’s the full story I wrote for The Daily Mail, with all the juicy details.
Looking for a job? Don't fall for this scam
Scammers use fake jobs to steal your info or charge bogus fees. Here’s how to spot the red flags and stay safe.
Phishing scams are getting amped up: No more copy and paste. Criminals are using AI to scrape up tons of detail and then write in the style of specific people or companies. Corporate execs and employees are getting emails with info only the sender would know, like just how they sound (paywall link) — yet another reason to wipe your info off the web.
⚠️ “Synthetic identity fraud”: That’s when scammers use stolen Social Security numbers (often from kids) and add bogus names, birth dates and email addresses to create fake personas. They open credit cards, max them out and leave a trail of debt. Losses from this scam are projected to hit $5 billion next year. Have a kid 13 or younger? Fill out this form to see if they have a credit report, and freeze it if they do.
💔 $1 billion in romance scams: That’s how much more than 64,000 Americans were talked out of, double the total four years ago. The Online Dating Safety Act could help. If approved, it’d require dating apps to notify anyone who has come in contact with a scam account. This begs the question: If they can identify scam accounts, why can’t they just remove them?