Ahoy, matey, it’s Thursday! An orca whale was spotted in Puget Sound the other day wearing a dead salmon as a hat. This weird behavior hasn’t been seen since dozens of orcas did it in 1987. My favorite part? Scientists don’t have any idea why. Whales get up to all kinds of funny business, like pulling kelp underwater so it shoots high into the air. These pranksters heading to warmer waters are having a whaley good time! 🐳

Free knowledge drop: NetSuite has a smart guide about AI and machine learning. Hit the link to get your copy. Now, on to the news! — Kim

The scams don’t stop — and here’s another one you need to know about. Your phone rings. It’s a rep from your bank, and they’re warning your account has been compromised. You’re smart, so you immediately suspect it’s a scam.

Then, the guy on the other end reads off your Social Security number and account info. Only your bank could know that, right?

Some 300,000 people in the U.S. thought the same last year. People lost their life savings; one Virginia woman had a whopping $700,000 wired out of her Wells Fargo account, and another in Los Angeles lost $100,000 in minutes.

📈 Why banking scams are rising

Bank scams used to be a niche operation. Now, anyone can buy the tools to con you for a few bucks on the Dark Web. There are even guides to make a phone number look like it’s from your bank, including phony customer service reps to answer all your questions.

Pro scammers rely on social engineering, too. That’s the fancy name for mind games to gain your trust. They love jumping on video calls because seeing a face makes you more trusting. They’ll keep chatting with you so you miss the security alerts warning you to stop.

The big banks lost interest

Last year, the banks reimbursed scam victims at pitiful rates. JPMorgan Chase reimbursed 2% of transactions disputed as scams, while Wells Fargo reimbursed 4% of scam claims. Bank of America, meanwhile, reimbursed 24% of its scam dispute transactions.

Federal law requires banks to reimburse you only under certain circumstances, like if someone steals your phone and accesses your account. But if you’re the one to sign a wire form or agree to an online transfer and you find out it’s a scam, you’re screwed.

💰 Keep your money safe

• Slow down: If a caller claims to be from your bank or asks for your account details, hang up. Call the bank yourself. Do not Google your bank’s number; find it on their official website or the back of your card.
• Beware of transfer scams: Never send money via wire transfer, crypto or gift cards in response to unsolicited calls or emails. Your bank or the government will never ask you to transfer funds to a “safe” account.
• Don’t follow links: If you’re told to visit a website, download an app or click a link, it’s a phishing site or malware installation.
• Use a virtual phone number: I bet your real one has been leaked in a couple of data breaches this year. Use a virtual number tied to your finances scammers don’t know.
• Set up alerts: In your banking app, you can turn on alerts for transactions over a certain amount or made in a foreign country, as well as notifications about suspicious activity like attempted logins from a new browser. I have all this set up. Some banks let you set transaction limits on withdrawals or purchases, too.

🫡 This is serious stuff. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but if I can save one person from losing their life savings, I’m doing my job. Share this important intel using the icons below with someone you know who needs this warning. You can make a difference.

😵‍💫 Have guests coming for the holidays? Mark this off your to-do list today. Some make good gifts, too, just sayin’.

• Unscented candles (30% off) for cozy light without covering up the smell of fresh cookies.
• Holiday hand soap (35% off a 3-pack) so every bathroom feels festive.
• Toss around extra throw blankets to help guests feel snug and right at home.
• Fancy (but inexpensive) salt ($8) for sprinkling on chocolate chip cookies, steak, roasted veggies — whatever.
• Leather-looking tissue box covers ($9!) to class up the place. Love these.
• Bottle stoppers (2 for $3) for the wine you don’t finish.
• Riddles and brainteasers to solve with the whole fam. If you’re all competitive, stick with Uno.
• The easiest snack to put out with drinks when you have no time.
• Deli-style to-go containers (18% off) to send everyone off with leftovers.

Before you check out: Make sure you’re getting the best price on all your holiday gifts. I use Honey for anything I buy online. It automatically tells you if you’re paying too much on Amazon, scans websites for promo codes and gives you cash back via gift cards. This sounds like an ad, but it’s not; I’m just trying to help you out.

🚨 “A state of emergency”: That’s what some lawmakers in New Jersey are calling for, saying the massive drones spotted in their state are coming from an Iranian “mothership” off the East Coast. Meanwhile, almost 30,000 people are swapping theories in a dedicated UFO Facebook group. What do you think? I’m asking radio host George Noory this question on my show this weekend. Find your local radio station here or subscribe to my free podcast now.

Another dangerous, dumb TikTok trend: The “Superman Challenge” has kids tossing each other into the air to look like a flying superhero, with many ending up in the hospital with broken bones and contusions. Talk to your kids about it.

📱 It’s like Siri went to college: The smart assistant now uses ChatGPT on the iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16. If you grant permission, the iOS 18.2 update allows OpenAI’s GPT‑4 to step in if Siri can’t help you. No ChatGPT account, free or paid, is needed. It’s kinda weird. I opened an email and it automatically generated a reply that was pretty damn good.

30 seconds is all it takes: If you’re struggling, stressed out or worried about money, this is your sign to do something about it today. Get a free debt analysis with a plan* to pay down your credit cards, personal loans, collections or medical bills.

Cracking the case: You can buy mystery bundles of unclaimed mail starting around $40. The boxes could contain anything from knock-off Chanel bags and fake IDs to total junk. Florida-based Fundelivered has sold over 90,000 bundles in the last three years. I wanted to buy one, but they’re sold out. What a great business idea, right?

Eclipse on demand: I thought this was interesting. The European Space Agency launched a high-tech mission to create artificial solar eclipses. Using two satellites flying in perfect formation, scientists can peek at the sun’s outer layer, normally studied only once every 18 months. Bummer … We can’t watch the show from Earth.

It’s going to be hard to tell what’s real anymore: TV maker TCL just debuted five fully AI-generated movies at the former Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood … which TCL owns the naming rights to. There’s a rom-com, a sci-fi flick, a documentary, a superhero movie and a film about a woman who turns into a slug (no idea), all streaming free on TCL TVs. I’m surprised the big media outlets aren’t talking about this. It’s a huge blow for any actor (or wannabe).

🍩 Krispy Kreme’s security hole: The doughnut giant’s fessing up about a Nov. 29 security breach that took down its online ordering system in parts of the U.S. Along with your credit card details, it’s a safe bet your deep, dark secrets (like how many times you bought a doughnut on the way to work) were leaked, too. Sing it with me: “Doughnut go breaking my heart. I couldn’t if I fried.” Yeah, that was bad.

Are you still relying on QuickBooks? There’s a smarter, more powerful solution waiting for you. Here’s why NetSuite by Oracle is the right choice for your business:

• All-in-one solution: Manage financials, HR, inventory and more from one platform.
• Boost efficiency: Eliminate tedious paperwork and get real-time insights to grow your business.
• Proven success: Trusted by over 40,000 companies.

Whether your business earns hundreds of thousands or hundreds of millions, who wouldn’t want less manual work, better decision-making and higher profits? Now’s the time to make the switch.

➗ The math helper you’ve always wanted: AI is smart enough to teach you if you know how to ask. In Google Search, ask, “How do I solve,” followed by your equation (e.g., “How do I solve 52% of 1,399?”). The answer will walk you through the steps, too. Handy.

Save some money, honey: When you’re running a business, costs add up fast. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim* to see if they can cut your cloud bill in half. Yes, please!

Take out the trash: On a Mac, hold down Cmd + Shift, then press Delete. Boom, your trash can’s empty. On Windows, you’re better off right-clicking and selecting Empty Recycle Bin.

What the …? Kia’s U.S. privacy policy says they can collect info about your “medical condition, physical or mental disability,” “religious or philosophical beliefs” and “the contents of certain mail, emails and text messages.” Check Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included site for a recap of your carmaker’s policies.

Nifty YouTube shortcuts: Press M to mute or unmute a video, K to pause or play a video, and F to enter or exit full-screen mode. While you’re there, follow my channel so you never miss a vid.

🤑 It’s cozy-up-with-a-book season: If you have Amazon Prime, grab two free e‑books from their monthly First Reads selections. It’s early access to popular new books. Sweet!

Nice for them, nice for your wallet: Quince sells high-end leather, silk, cashmere and lots more at super-affordable prices.* I picked up … checks notes … eight holiday gifts so far.

A metro-gnome …

Still thinking about whales? Read this one out loud. Two whales walk into a bar. The bartender asks what he can get them. The first whale says, “WOOOKKKK WOAAAHH HHOOOEEK.” The second says, “Frank, you’re already drunk!” 😂

⚡ Be the smartest one at work: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter your role, you should know more about using AI for your business.

Another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA is in the books! Can’t shake that nagging feeling you’re forgetting something? You probably need a gift for your MIL and best friend. Excellent ideas here for everyone on your list. Good luck, and see you back here tomorrow. — Kim