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.

1. Your relationship status

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.

Pro tip: If you’re a widow or widower, keep it off your dating and social media apps. You never know who’s watching.

2. Your vacation plans

Tiffany posted about her family’s upcoming Carnival cruise on Facebook by sharing shots of her tickets. She didn’t think about the fact her booking reference number was included. The same day, a scammer created a new Carnival account using Tiffany’s confirmation number. They canceled her booking and ruined her $15,000 trip.

Pro tip: Announcing your vacation plans before or during your trip screams “Rob me!” Take tons of pics on your vacation, but don’t share them until you’re home.

3. Videos of you talking

AI tools make it cheap and easy for anyone to create a deepfake video. Recently, on TikTok, a woman named Sam said a shady brand stole her face and used it to promote their product. They did it all with a video from her social media account and some deepfake software.

Pro tip: Limit the personal information you share online, especially high-quality photos and videos of you talking. For most folks, setting your social media accounts to “private” is the way to go.

4. Expensive electronics you’re selling

A South Carolina man listed a limited-edition PlayStation on a Facebook buy-sell-trade group. The “buyer” he met up with pulled out a gun and made off with the PlayStation, plus the man’s phone, wallet and watch. Scary.

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Weight loss drugs sold online can make you sick

“Drop 10 pounds before Thanksgiving!” That’s all over my social media feeds because I was a dope and clicked on a video of a gal showing off her svelte new figure.

Ads for Ozempic and other weight loss meds are everywhere. The weight loss drug biz is a $100 billion industry. I know a bunch of people who have taken Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus or one of the other options, and I bet you do, too.

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Drop the drop shippers: On Etsy, the whole purpose is to buy something handmade. If you’re not sure what you’re getting is legit, check if it’s genuine or mass-produced junk by doing a reverse image search. Click on the item’s image, then drag and drop it into Google Images. Major red flag: You see the exact same thing on other sites.

How to spot AI-generated fakes

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It’s not just about spotting Photoshop edits anymore. Now, we can’t even be sure if the person in a photo or video is real.

🚨 FBI alert: Fake videos are all over social media! One video claims the FBI busted three groups for “ballot fraud,” while another drags in Kamala Harris’ husband. There’s even a phony clip with people supposedly from Haiti claiming to vote illegally in Georgia counties. These are designed to mess with our trust in elections, so keep an eye out and don’t fall for it!

AI fakes are everywhere – How to spot them

Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you a dental plan. YouTuber MrBeast won’t give you an iPhone 15. CBS News host Gayle King isn’t recommending a weight-loss product.

I knew this stage of AI tomfoolery was coming, but it’s still surprising how fast it’s happening. Let’s take a closer look at how free and cheap tools fuel fraud — and the signs to watch for.

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ChatGPT apps: The good, the bad and the scammy

I’ve been warning you for months to avoid anything claiming to be an official ChatGPT app since it wasn’t here yet. Good news: The ChatGPT app is now live, and you can download it … if you have an iPhone. (Open AI says the Android app is coming soon.)

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Spot a fake review online? You can now report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This includes sham testimonials, AI-generated comments and marketers using bots to inflate their follower counts. The penalty? Up to $51,744 per violation!

You can’t spell “crypto” without “C-R-Y”: The FBI created a fake cryptocurrency to nail pump-and-dump fraudsters. That’s where they inflate a crypto’s price with phony trades, convince others to buy, then cash out before the crash. The FBI set up a slick website, and shady companies took the bait. Now, 18 people and companies face fraud and market manipulation charges. But there are thousands more out there.

🔎 Real deal or cheap knockoff? You find a great dress, pair of shoes, wallet or whatever online. Is it a nicely made piece or something you could buy in bulk on Alibaba? One easy way to check: Do a reverse image search. Upload a saved pic here on Google Images and see if you can spot the exact product elsewhere.

🙏 Please be cautious about falling for heartbreaking, AI-generated images like this one circulating on social media after Hurricane Helene. Use this site to detect AI-generated images: https://hivemoderation.com/ai-generated-content-detection

Apple’s next big idea: Robot butlers

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Picture an AI smarty-pants to wash the dishes, clean the house and video chat with you when you’re not home. Plus, fakes on Facebook, no more sharing Disney+ passwords, and Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. 

Trump fakes are coming – How to spot them

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Former President Donald Trump was found guilty in a hush-money trial. You can bet hackers and scammers are already figuring out how to take advantage. 

🌼 Bogus bloom: Chinese scammers are selling fake seeds on eBay for “cat’s eye dazzle.” News flash: Flowers that look like cats don’t exist. These AI-generated fakes are going for $45 and up. Older folks are the main targets. Similar phonies have been spotted on imseeds.com, gardenerstar.com, foundseed.com and dailyrosy.com.

3 ways to spot AI imagery

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Anyone can make art with AI tools — including scammers. In 60 seconds, I’ll help you sniff out fakes.

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