Rick-rolling is like a mischievous online booby trap that lures unsuspecting victims into clicking a link, only to be serenaded by the timeless tune of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Peeping Toms are upping their game with smartphones
I hate using dressing rooms at retail stores. I’d rather buy two different sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit. Plus, those mirrors are awful and don’t get me started on the lighting. The last thing you want to worry about is being spied on while changing.
Women nationwide are reporting a new kind of dressing room violation — one using a smartphone.
Creeps who love to spy on unsuspecting victims are nothing new. And thanks to today’s tech, they’ve taken their creep skills to a whole new level and it’s easier than ever to get away with crimes.
Dressing room dread
In Kansas, a woman was trying on Halloween costumes at Forever 21 when she noticed a phone inside her dressing room nestled into a pair of jeans. Another woman discovered a phone watching her try on bathing suits at Target.
Turns out these women were victimized by the same peeping Tom, who also had other victims. He was arrested.
In Ohio, a different guy was arrested for spying on women in dressing rooms at a Nordstrom Rack store. He was caught in the act after reports of him filming were called in. This slimeball was convicted of two counts of voyeurism.
A new kind of turbulence
It’s not just in dressing rooms. On a recent American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Boston, a 14-year-old girl made a shocking discovery in an airplane bathroom: an iPhone taped to the back of the toilet seat.
The worst part? The family believes it was placed there by the flight crew.
The girl says a male crew member instructed her to use the first-class bathroom. He entered the bathroom before her and said the toilet seat was broken. Once inside, she noticed the iPhone. Thankfully, she thought to take a photo with her phone for evidence.
Massachusetts State Police escorted a flight attendant away when the plane landed. The case is still under FBI investigation, and American Airlines claims to be taking the matter “very seriously.” As they should.
How to donate to Maui wildfire victims without getting scammed
I have so many listeners and readers in Hawaii. I also lived in Maui for years. It’s heart-wrenching to see lives lost, homes destroyed and the devastation. We won’t know the full extent of the loss for some time.
Scammers are ready to take advantage of people’s kindness in times like these. If you’re thinking of helping out, you need to know who to donate to.
Support victims of Hawaii's fires - without getting scammed
Looking to help Hawaii’s fire victims without getting scammed? Here are some legitimate places to donate to, in 60 seconds.
4,000 celebrity victims of deepfake pornography
That’s just so far — and it’s only according to one investigation. The real number is much higher, I’m sure.
MOVEit data breach: Is your info safe?
The companies you trust your data with aren’t the only ones who handle it. Vendors, subcontractors, advertisers and other companies are often in the mix. And when one falls down on the job, everyone is screwed.
That’s precisely what happened when bad guys took advantage of a security flaw in the super-popular MOVEit file transfer system. One estimate puts the total number of victims at 513 organizations and 34,682,156 individuals. Yes, you read that number right.
Signs your new boyfriend or girlfriend is not who they say they are
Scammers are waiting around every corner, and special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Black Friday are usually when they kick their activities into high gear. Unfortunately, this is the perfect time of year for romance scams.
3 ways to screen out killers, stalkers and other threats on dating apps
Killers use social apps as hunting grounds. Last Friday, Oregon authorities arrested a man for torturing a woman he found on a dating app. Police say he held her captive and beat her into unconsciousness.
The woman is in critical condition at an Oregon hospital — but many victims don’t survive. If you’re using dating apps, you must protect yourself.
This tricky scam campaign goes after those who lost money in crypto
Cryptocurrency has always been a risky investment. Even though Bitcoin skyrocketed and made some investors millionaires, it’s difficult to predict when or why the crypto market will slide. Not only that, but the FBI warns that hackers have been targeting crypto platforms. Tap or click here for our report.
Student loan scammers are going after people WITHOUT loans, too
Students in the U.S. got a reprieve from paying back hefty federal study loans during the pandemic, with the government putting a halt on repayments. The deal was initially set to expire in January 2022 but got extended to May.
3 surefire signs someone stole your identity
Your credit card information is valuable to scammers, but there is one thing that they desire the more: your personal information. Tap or click here to see 10 accounts more valuable to cybercriminals than your credit card.
Scam Alert: Robocalls trick victims with fake COVID-19 tests
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues its spread across the country, the number of infections is increasing. Naturally, that leads to more people wanting to be tested.
Testing is available at a number of health facilities and pharmacy chains, and you can even opt to buy testing kits that can be shipped to your home. Have you purchased an at-home test? Tap or click here for details on millions that have been recalled.
Scam alert: Avoid these personalized ads on social media
Scammers will use any means to steal your money and information, and social media is an ideal platform to find new victims. The biggest social networks have billions of users, so even a tiny percentage who aren’t careful offer up a huge target.
Watch out for Oxford High School shooting scams
Do you want to donate to help victims of the Oxford High School shooting? Listen now for two reasons why you should think before you spend.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
FTC just banned a spyware app with 1M downloads - How to know if it's on your phone
Have you ever thought that someone knows just a little too much about your private life? Your mobile phone could be infected with stalkerware, and it’s as bad as it sounds. The technology is sold to people who want to track others, often without their knowledge.
COVID scams aren't going away - Watch out for these common ones
Vaccinations have been administered to millions of Americans, accelerating the timeline for when things will get back to relative normality. Even though states like Texas and New York are drastically relaxing measures, scammers still use the pandemic as a criminal vehicle.
Scammers are impersonating FBI agents. Don't let your family fall for it
Some robocalls are easy to spot. When a robotic voice warns your Netflix account is locked or that a credit card you don’t have has been compromised, it’s obvious you should just hang up.
But not all scam calls are so easy to spot. Thieves are always coming up with clever ways to trick victims out of their personal data and rip them off. Thankfully there are some steps you can take to stop scam and robocalls on your own. Tap or click here for ways to stop them in their tracks.
Looking for love? Don't get taken in by a seductive scammer
It’s difficult to find companionship as it is, but add in the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos of 2020 in general and you have a recipe for loneliness.
It’s a shame, too. Even though dating apps and services are more plentiful than ever, not everyone is willing to date while social distancing is in effect. Tap or click here to see why you might have better luck this coming January.
A glimmer of good news from all the looting
Open/download audioIf there is any good news from the lawlessness in America’s major cities, it’s this: Apple is making monetary contributions to help victims of police brutality, while the looters of Apple stores got much more than they bargained for.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
FBI warning: Dating apps are a hotbed for human trafficking
We’re all doing our best to make it through the coronavirus pandemic and keep a positive outlook. That can be hard to do in difficult times like these.
Cybercriminals don’t help matters when they piggyback on COVID-19 fears and use them to attack unsuspecting victims. Tap or click here for a complete list of coronavirus scams to watch for.