The check might be in the mail. Yep, Ring is settling a class-action lawsuit.
Kids play Roblox or Fortnite? Read this now!
Imagine if either of these online games were your business. In a single day, you had all these customers showing up at your site or store.
- Roblox has 66,100,000 daily active users.
- Fortnite has 237,000,000 daily active users.
That’s a ton of people sitting in front of screens, right? Cue the hackers and scammers. They noticed it, too.
If you have kids in the family, chances are they’re playing Roblox or Fortnite. What you (and them) don’t know is there’s a dark, scammy side that’s getting more extensive and sinister. This is important information for all parents and grandparents to know.
One family was hoodwinked after their 11-year-old daughter was tricked on Roblox. Her parents bought her two custom avatars for her birthday — valued at a whopping $280. A day later, another player tricked her and stole them. Poor kid.
Earlier this year, over 300 Roblox users were caught laundering money through the game. They used fake in-game purchases (for items that didn’t exist) to transfer real money. A class action lawsuit is currently underway for the victims. And you know how that goes … lawyers make the most bank.
Bad news: There’s a bigger, badder scam in town. Thousands of reputable websites — universities, professional organizations and even U.S. government agencies — have been hacked to push Fortnite and Roblox scams to kids.
The plot thickens
The premise is simple: Hackers scan a website for a vulnerability or weakness in the backend, then upload what are known as “poison PDFs.” These malicious documents appear in search results, promoting everything from free Roblox in-game currency (Robux) to free Fortnite skins.
You think you’re getting free Robux, but wait! There’s just one “last step.” A pop-up asks you to sign up for another service to unlock your free gift. Fill it out and the only gift you get is a computer virus — or identity theft.
These scams aren’t limited to websites. They can be found in YouTube videos and surveys, too. Roblox and Fortnite are just the latest victims. Similar scams have been reported offering free Amazon gift cards or cash prizes.
Guard the fort
Incognito mode doesn't do what you might think - Here's the truth
I know that I use Incognito mode from time to time. And while I’m not going to ask you what you’ve used it for, I assume you’ve used it, too. It serves a purpose, but here’s what it doesn’t do: Make you invisible. And that’s coming straight from Google.
Airbnb's guest chores, Fortnite's $245M settlement & smartphone spies
Plus, phone, drone and a daring rescue — I talk to the man who did it all. Remember your old TV? It’s part of a class-action lawsuit. Tesla app unlocks stranger’s car, 3 apps for a healthier you, and my answer to this question: What’s the safest way to store naked pictures of my wife?
Speaking of Intel: A possible class-action lawsuit against Intel claims the company knowingly sold bad processors. One New York man is demanding millions, saying the crashes and lost data cost him time, money and some sanity. Apparently, Intel knew about the glitches in its 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs for years but kept them under wraps.
Remember that bulky old TV you had in the '90s? You might be owed money
Most TVs in the ’90s and early ’00s used Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), which gave them a prominent bulge at the back. But it wasn’t just TVs, as many computer monitors used the same technology. This technology is back in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Kia might owe you money - Here's how to check
Vehicle manufacturer Kia is in damage control mode, and you could be in line for money if you drive a specific model. Hyundai and Kia recently rolled out an anti-theft software patch for about 8 million models.
However, the possible compensation has nothing to do with car thefts. Instead, Kia has agreed to a class-action lawsuit settlement related to anti-lock brake systems (ABS).
Juul payout: Folks who bought Juul vaping products are getting huge payouts from the $300 million class-action settlement — someone even received over $9,000. The company was sued after its customers claimed they were misled about how addictive Juul’s products were. If you put in a claim, check your Venmo.
23andMe class-action lawsuit: Hackers stole the personal info of 6.9 million customers in 2023, and 23andMe is now paying out a $30 million settlement. We’re talking up to $10,000 per person if you’ve faced identity fraud or other big issues related to the breach. The settlement still needs final approval, but when it happens, you can count on me to give you the link to apply.
💰 Hefty cashback: Walmart is coughing up $45 million to settle a class-action lawsuit for allegedly overcharging us on weighted goods and bagged citrus from October 2018 to January 2024. Got squeezed? You could get up to $500 if you file a claim by June 5, 2024 — no receipt is needed, but proof of your purchase might fatten your check.
If you bought one of these defective laptops, Apple might owe you money
Consumer products and vehicles get recalled often, but it’s rare to get anything of value in return. When a car has a defective component, manufacturers usually repair it for free. Tap or click here for details on 160K vehicles recently recalled.
This face search engine anyone can use is amazingly accurate
Facial recognition software, previously only used in science fiction, is now an everyday part of our lives. We use it to unlock our phones, verify our identities online and even get through the airport faster.
Though useful, this tech can be utilized without your permission, as seen in a recent $650 million class-action lawsuit against Facebook. The social network used facial recognition to suggest photo tags, which broke a privacy law. Tap or click here to see if you can expect a settlement check in the mail.
Facebook is mailing out $350 settlement checks - Can you expect one?
When a group of people suffers similar physical or financial injuries, and fault can be placed with one company, they can join together to file a claim. The class-action lawsuit may go to trial, but many are settled before it gets to that point. Awards are divided among members of the case.
Apple to pay nearly $15M in iCloud refunds - See if you’re eligible
Mobile phones have excellent features these days, but more significant storage requirements come with technology upgrades. If you only have 64GB of internal storage, it will fill to the brim with photos and videos in no time. Tap or click here for what to do if your iCloud or Google storage is full.
Ever used TikTok? File a claim for your part of a $92M class-action settlement
There is no doubt that the video-sharing app TikTok has exploded in popularity recently. During the height of the pandemic, the app ranked as the third fastest-growing brand — only trailing Zoom and Peacock. Tap or click here for smart digital life hacks you won’t find on TikTok.
Canon printers are bricking for a very strange reason: Running out of ink
Technology is truly amazing — when it works. But for whatever reason, sometimes things don’t go as expected. Scratching your head over missing settings or weird behavior can be incredibly frustrating until a solution is found. Tap or click here for details on two major problems with Apple’s iOS 15.
Used Zoom in the past few years? See if you qualify for a class-action settlement payout
Every time you go online, you are putting your data and privacy at risk. Websites, apps, browsers and social media all have the potential to collect your information and do whatever they want with it. It can be used to hit you with targeted ads or sold to third parties. Either way, it’s an invasion of privacy and you should be angry about it.
Investing app Robinhood hit with a lawsuit. Here's an easy way to join
Handling legal issues can be a stressful process. Even with a good lawyer on your side, being in the midst of a legal battle can take a toll on your well-being.
Dealing with legal issues can be extremely costly, too. Whether it’s a minor traffic ticket that you forgot to pay or a civil lawsuit that has gotten out of hand, the legal battle will come with high price tags for attorneys, fees, court costs and other related issues. Luckily, there are services that can help.
Hurry! Get your cut of the Google class-action lawsuit while you can
(Updated October 6, 2020 – If you plan on filing a claim to be a part of this settlement you must act fast. All claims must be filed by October 8, 2020. Read on for specific details of the class-action lawsuit.)
Class-action lawsuits are big news no matter how you slice it. Unlike ordinary suits, which typically feature a small number of claimants, class-action suits tend to include thousands of people when settlements are finally agreed upon.
Skip the lawyer - this company helps you get your money back if you were ripped-off
Tech companies dominate the economic landscape and there’s no turning back from this new norm. The physical and digital products made by these companies are woven deeply into the fabric of our lives, which means when things go wrong, users often have little to no recourse.