Save $3 a month: Switch to Microsoft 365 Classic if you don’t want the new AI tools. On your account dashboard, select Subscriptions > Manage subscription > Cancel subscription. Scroll past the warning about losing your OneDrive storage to find the Classic plans. Click Switch plan > Confirm your new subscription > Buy.
Gold grifters: The people behind a massive new scam operation
Jingming Pan on Unsplash
Yash Shah never thought he’d end up in jail. By his own account, he was just a “normal person” trying to make ends meet. Pick up a package, drop it off. Easy money.
But that “easy money” landed him in a detention center, facing charges for his alleged role in one of the fastest-growing criminal operations in America, which racked up $126 million in losses last year alone. I’m talking about gold bar scams.
How it works
Like most high-dollar fraud operations, the gold grifter scam preys on fear and urgency.
- The setup: It starts with a phony tech support inquiry, pop-up warning or government agent. Victims (often older adults) are told their money is at risk.
- The manipulation: The scammer insists that traditional banking systems are compromised. To keep their money “safe,” victims must convert their savings into gold bars.
- The transfer: Once the gold is purchased, victims are told to hand it off to a “government agent” or a “bank representative” for “protection.” That agent? A courier like Yash Shah.
This isn’t some back-alley con
It’s a global crime ring with layers of players keeping the operation running. Call centers in India are the first line, with scammers posing as government agents.
Then come the couriers, like Yash Shah, hired to pick up and transport stolen wealth for a quick payday. And the real ringleaders? Sitting overseas (again, mostly in India), untouchable and raking in millions.
Fighting back
After losing $80,000 to this playbook, Vietnam veteran Kris Owen teamed up with Indiana police for payback — staging a sting operation with fake cash, a wired-up car drop and a front-row seat for law enforcement.
After identifying the suspect as Abdul Mohammed, the police hauled him in for questioning. Facing federal charges for wire fraud, Mohammed fled the country. The feds may be cracking down on couriers, but the overseas kingpins remain hard to pin down (pun intended).
Recognizing red flags
Unsecure page error: 5 things to try if you get this warning
There are countless threats on the internet, from scams to malware-infested websites. Then there are unsecured websites, which your browser warns you about. If you get a message that says, “Your connection is not private,” you might jolt in alarm.
The Kim Komando Show Preview: ChatGPT called him a murderer
A man searched his name on ChatGPT. It said he killed two of his kids. He didn’t. Plus, Apple’s intelligence troubles, a warning for “Call of Duty” cheaters, and billboards in space are on the way.
🚨 Chrome warning: Watch out for websites offering free file conversions, like .doc to .pdf. Hackers are booby-trapping them with malware that can steal your SSN, banking info and passwords. FYI: These sites are hard to spot, so make sure you’ve got real-time antivirus protection. This is the one I use.
No. 1 in fatal accidents
For automaker Tesla, with 5.6 deadly crashes for every 1 billion miles logged in its 2018 to 2022 models. They recalled over 125,000 vehicles in May due to issues with the seatbelt warning system, which isn’t helping their track record, either. As for the other car brands, Kia was a close second in fatalities, followed by Buick, Dodge and Hyundai.
💬 Scam detector: Google Messages’ new AI tool will alert you if someone is scamming you. If it spots anything suspicious in your SMS, MMS or RCS convos, a warning will pop up. Just hit Report & block. Check your Android for the latest update or download it here.
Best way to stop spam texts for good
© Fizkes | Dreamstime.com
“Official notice from USPS. Your delivery is on hold.” I wonder why …
“Hi, how are you?” Who could this be?
🧬 23andMe filed for bankruptcy: I’ve been warning you about this for years. They’re selling off what they can to pay the bills, and that includes your personal info and genetic data. Delete your account ASAP before someone gets your DNA. Go to Profile > Settings > 23andMe Data > View > Delete Data, then confirm the deletion via email.
Scam alert: Google’s new call-scanning feature tells you in real time if you’re getting swindled on the phone. AI analyzes conversations, and if something sketchy happens, you get an audio, vibration and visual warning. It’s for Pixel 9 or later only. Go to the Phone app > Settings > Scan Detection. PSA: Google says they’re not saving your calls. Yea, right.
ChatGPT called him a murderer - March 22nd, Hour 2
A man searched his name on ChatGPT. It said he killed two of his kids. He didn’t. Plus, Apple’s intelligence troubles, a warning for “Call of Duty” cheaters, and billboards in space are on the way.
🙏 A nurse says her Oura Ring saved her life: Nikki had been dealing with night sweats and fatigue but brushed it off — until her Oura app kept warning her that her body was under stress. That push made her see a doctor, where she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer with the same symptoms. The Oura Ring is FSA or HSA eligible, btw.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
“I will make sure the U.S. is the Crypto Capital of the World.” That’s what President Trump said while announcing a new U.S. strategic crypto reserve. He name-dropped XRP, Solana and Cardano (prices skyrocketed), then later added Bitcoin and Ethereum to the mix. Warning: If a stranger DMs you claiming to be a crypto expert or offering “guaranteed” profits, don’t respond. It’s a scam.
🏈 Kicking off the ad dollars: All 32 NFL teams got busted for not warning fans that their websites and apps were collecting sensitive data and probably selling it all to advertisers. No notices, no easy opt-out, just silent tracking of your online behavior and location. You’ll start seeing privacy prompts now. As if the NFL doesn’t make enough money.
Better than holding down the power button: Windows PCs have a hidden emergency restart when nothing will respond. Hold down Ctrl and click the power icon in the Start menu. You’ll get a dramatic-looking message warning you’ll lose any unsaved data. Click OK to restart immediately.
AirTags in a house with kiddos? Apple skipped an important safety warning for its AirTags related to the small batteries inside. The AirTags are easy to open to get the batteries out. New models follow Reese’s Law, named after an 18-month-old who died after ingesting a button cell battery.
🇷🇺 Did this happen to you? The U.S. government banned Kaspersky because of its ties to the Kremlin. Without warning, the Russian company deleted its software from its subscribers’ computers and replaced it with something called UltraAV. If you were using Kaspersky for antivirus protection, try my antivirus pick instead.
Gift card scam warning this Christmas
Forgot someone on your Christmas list? A gift card might save the day, but beware of a sneaky scam.
Social Security scam warning
Good news for the 72 million people on Social Security: there’s a 2.5% increase starting in January. Bad news: scammers are going after you.
The Hurricane Helene forecast scandal
A deadly hurricane struck without warning, but a tool that could have predicted it wasn’t shared with the public. Find out why.