spread Archives

For whom the bell tolls unpaid

Washington, D.C., Attorney General’s Office

You’ve probably seen it: a text that says something like, “You have an overdue toll balance. Click here to avoid late fees.” It looks official, urgent and believable enough to make you think maybe it’s legit.

That text is part of a very sophisticated scam run by Chinese criminal gangs, and they’ve already made over a billion dollars ripping people off across the U.S., per the WSJ (paywall link).

🕵️ How the scam works

Here’s the pipeline these gangs use to steal your information and your money.

1. U.S.-based devices

Scammers set up “SIM farms” here in the States. Picture a folding table stacked with dozens of phones and SIM cards blasting out 300,000 fake toll-payment texts a day.

One setup can impersonate 1,000 phone numbers. They spoof area codes to make these texts look like they’re from your state toll authority.

2. Fake sites

Click the link and you’re taken to a website that looks exactly like your real toll agency, down to the logo and colors. You’re asked to enter your credit card info, your name and one-time security code.

Do it and you’ve handed over everything they need to go shopping on your dime.

3. U.S. “mules”

It gets darker. U.S.-based gig workers, often recruited on Telegram, are paid 12 cents per $100 to take those stolen card numbers and buy iPhones, luxury purses and other high-ticket items, but mostly gift cards.

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AI jobs that pay $200K or more

Bing Image Creator

I know that many of you are afraid that AI is going to take your job. And you might be right.

The 2025 Global State of AI at Work report just confirmed what we’re all sensing. AI isn’t the future. It is now. But before you panic, let me offer a new way to look at this.

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Five easy ways to tune up your ride

Let’s get your car road-trip ready for the holidays.

⚠️ Roadside lifesaver: Portable air pump (28% off)

Small enough to fit in your glove box. You’ll be glad to have it if that tire pressure light turns on.

No more cracked seats: A dab of leather conditioner (39% off) softens, shines and smells amazing while it works its magic.

💥 Chip happens: Fix windshield cracks before they spread with a repair kit ($10, 50% off). One drop, wait five minutes and save hundreds.

You deserve better than a plastic bag: Toss your clutter into this leakproof trash bin (41% off) before it takes over your back seat.

📦 Junk in your trunk? From tailgating to shopping bags, this collapsible organizer (15% off) keeps your cargo chaos-free.

ICYMI: Here’s how Prime members can save 25¢ per gallon on Fridays until Dec. 26.

🏁 Your personal pit crew: My Amazon gear page has 25 more handpicked tools to help your wheels stay rolling.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Crap, you forgot the Christmas cards: It’s not too late to spread some holiday cheer with a heartfelt message. Hit up Canva, Adobe Express or Paperless Post online. Choose a template, whip up a greeting and send it in just a few minutes — no printing or trip to the post office.

Facebook profits from sick ads

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Social media’s dark side is growing. Reports show Meta profited from ads selling child-like sex dolls, even as scams and exploitation spread across its platforms. With billions in resources and AI tools, why is Big Tech still failing to stop it? Here’s what you need to know.

Lithium-ion battery fire: A home in Fairway, Kansas, caught fire after a lawn mower battery blew up in the garage. It was on the charger when family members heard an explosion, and the fire spread quickly. Thankfully, everyone got out safely. PSA: Charge your electric goodies outside, not in the garage.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On Instagram, spread two fingers outward to zoom in on photos or videos. I use it for reading small text. Just don’t double-tap and accidentally like something if you’re snooping.

Read this before you renew your car insurance

ChatGPT

You’ve probably seen this pitch from your insurance company: “Drive safely and save. Sign up for our smart driving program today!”

You’ve got a squeaky-clean record, so what’s the harm, right? Before you sign up, let’s pop the hood.

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Hidden setting lets apps spy on you through Bluetooth

Midjourney

Think Bluetooth is just for headphones and car calls? Think again. It’s one of the sneakiest ways apps track you, and most people have no clue it’s happening.

Even when GPS is off, your phone is constantly “sniffing” for nearby devices like AirTags, smartwatches and fitness trackers. That’s normal.

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Ripe for the picking

🥗 Eating healthy shouldn’t be hard. These helpers make it easy.

🍅 The slice is right: Swap your dull knife for a food chopper (40% off) with 4.5 stars and 119,000+ reviews. Wow.

🍊 Squeeze the day: This cold-press juicer (29% off) crushes whole fruits and veggies into liquid gold.

🥔 Clear the clutter: A set of stackable bins (20% off) will make your pantry look like a Pinterest board.

🥩 Bye, freezer burn: Hello to a vacuum sealer (37% off) that locks in flavor. Bonus: 30 reusable bags.

🥄 Stirring success: Keep your counters clean with Amazon’s most popular spoon rest (47% off).

😋 Hungry for more? I got you. Hit up my Amazon page for a full spread of handpicked kitchen must-haves (like this compact air fryer).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

News avoidance makes lies look legit

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Over Labor Day weekend, false rumors spread online claiming President Trump had died, and millions believed them. Here’s why fake news travels faster than facts and how news avoidance fuels the problem.

Scams are an underground industry

Midjourney

You already know the usual scams. Romance, crypto, tech support, job offers, fake investments, and the list goes on. But what you might not realize is that a growing number of people behind these scams aren’t evil masterminds.

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🍏 Mac trackpad tricks: Rotate a photo or PDF by moving two fingers in a circle. Swipe left or right with two fingers to jump between web pages in Safari or Chrome. Spread your thumb and three fingers to show the desktop. Bonus: Pinch your thumb and three fingers together to open Launchpad.

United's bad PR move

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United Airlines grounded its entire fleet for a day, calling it a “technology disruption.” The rumors of a cyberattack spread fast!

Check your kid’s phone for this app now

ID 142331565 @ Zarifaufa | Dreamstime.com

Briana from Houston is like so many moms I know. She’s busy, loving and doing everything she can to raise smart, safe kids in a digital world that changes faster than you can hit “update.”

She told me that when her 12-year-old daughter asked to download an app called Zepeto, it seemed harmless enough. Create a cute avatar. Dress it up. Play games. Chat with friends.

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🚨 Red alert for Androids: Be careful what you download. Hackers are using a tool called .NET MAUI to create what look like legit banking, dating and social media apps. They spread through texts and shady links instead of the Google Play Store. Always stick to the official app store, and keep your OS updated. Mahalo!

Best high-yield savings accounts for 2025

I love answering your questions and Danielle in Austin, Texas, wrote, “I see online banks that offer really high interest rates. Are they safe? My bank doesn’t even pay 1%!”

High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) online earn much higher interest rates than what big-name banks like Chase or Wells Fargo offer. I wouldn’t go with just any online bank, though.

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📸 Saving memories: A North Carolina woman is using Instagram to reunite families with photographs lost during Hurricane Helene. Taylor Schenker has collected hundreds of photos from the debris and shares them on her page, Photos from Helene. Folks can reach out to claim them or have them mailed back. Only about 15% have been returned. Spread the word if you can.

Not a joke: Two teenage boys in Pennsylvania thought it’d be fun to grab nearly 350 videos and photos of their female classmates from social media, use AI to make the girls appear naked, and then spread the pics around. They’re now facing 59 child porn charges. This is just getting worse.

Master Excel with these 5 genius tricks

You can’t keep track of everything on paper. Excel can play a significant role in your daily workload. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro user, there’s much to learn — like these five useful Excel tricks.

Want to become an Excel expert? It’s a good strategy for small business owners who want to grow this year. After all, you’ll generate tons of data. Speaking of which, here’s how to stop third parties from selling your data.

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