Scammers’ newest trick

November 5, 2024

🚨 Scammers’ newest trick: This time, it’s fake arrest warrants claiming you’re facing felony charges for missing jury duty. They’re using texts and calls — a huge red flag, since the police don’t text about arrests. These warrants can look legit, with a judge’s signature and all. Pro tip: Any time you get a call from the police, call your local non-emergency line to see if the police call is real.

Tags: jury duty, Police, scammers, scams, warrants

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5 things that make you a target online

Too many people share just about everything online. That’s a one-way ticket to Scamtown. Some info makes you an especially prime target. Keep these close to the vest.

Widows and widowers are big targets. Crooks want to get their grimy hands on inheritance money. Take Rosalie Douglass, who tried her hand at online dating and listed “widow” as her relationship status. Two different scammers connected with Rosalie and swindled her out of a staggering $430,000.

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Job site comparison: LinkedIn vs. ZipRecruiter vs. Craigslist

Where do you look for your next career move? There are several job boards, but which is right for you?

Let’s look at a few places job seekers go online and find the right one for your needs.

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Record your Mac screen: Maybe you’re sharing directions or want to show something to a friend. Hit Cmd + Shift + 5. A toolbar will pop up. Here’s a quick look at what each tool does. Pick your fave, hit Record, then press Stop when you’re done.

ChatGPT’s new search engine is here

When ChatGPT launched on Nov. 30, 2022, I knew the web — and the world — would change forever. A week later, I predicted on national radio Google’s days would be numbered. People laughed at me, and I got notes from listeners telling me I was nuts.

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Some great apps you need to try

Today, by popular demand, I’m sharing some of my most-used apps and a few other great ones you might not know about. Most of these are free with in-app purchases.

And one more: MyRadar is Barry’s favorite weather app for hyper-local forecasts and notifications. (iPhone | Android)

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Some sneaky aloha spirit … They black out the unsubscribe link.

🤐 Get off my PC: Windows 11 crams ads for apps into the “recommended” section of the Start menu. Yes, it’s on by default. I’ve got the fix: Go into Settings and select Personalization > Start. Then, toggle off “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions and more.”

🏠 More accurate than Zillow: Ever driven by a beautiful house and wondered how much it cost? Find its sale price on your county assessor’s site. These government-run sites list the buyer, the square footage and, yep, how much a house last sold for, too. Here’s the Maricopa County assessor’s site. To find yours, search “[your county] + assessor.” Happy snooping.

🤑 Amazon’s secret 20% discount: Send your old tech to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. They’ll take just about anything — it doesn’t even need to work. But if you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle, eero or Fire TV Stick, you’ll get 20% off a new, qualifying device. Nice.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Internet providers push the priciest plans and do their best to convince you to spend more money. News flash: You may be overpaying. Calculate how much internet you need or use the quick guidelines below:

10 Mbps: Great if you only have a few devices connected to your Wi-Fi and use your network to visit websites and get email.
25 Mbps: Perfect if you watch lots of videos and download big files.
100 Mbps: Online gamers and streamers, this one’s for you.
500 Mbps or higher: Ideal for simultaneous streaming, online gaming and downloads on many devices. You need the speed.