😲 The No. 1 show on Netflix right now is “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” It dives into the true story of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. They said a lifetime of abuse drove them to it; prosecutors argued it was all about inheriting the family fortune.
The cartel’s latest target? Your retirement
What do Mexican gangs, murder and retirees have in common? They’re all part of one massive vishing operation. That’s right, Mexican drug cartels are targeting older people with timeshares — and walking away with millions.
I’ve covered a lot of sinister scams in my years of tech reporting … this one’s right there with the worst of them.
I wish I were kidding
The Jalisco New Generation cartel’s timeshare scam is simple but sophisticated.
Cartel cronies bribe employees at Mexican resorts for guest information. Then, their accomplices working in call centers pose as sales reps with an “opportunity” for timeshare owners: Sell your property for big bucks.
Once they have you on the hook, they pressure you to pay fees upfront to handle everything from “advertising costs” to “government fines.” It’s all bogus and most victims don’t realize until they’ve wired hundreds of thousands of dollars over the border.
In the past decade, Jalisco New Generation has made almost $300 million off this operation. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. The FBI estimates at least 80% of vishing victims go unreported.
They target people with the most to lose
AKA, older retirees looking to leave more money to their loved ones.
One retired couple drained their life savings and went into debt after a real estate agent contacted them and offered to broker the sale of their Lake Tahoe timeshare to a Mexican businessman.
At first, the scammers requested small fees of a few thousand dollars to handle “cross-border transactions.” But the amounts escalated. Then, the cartel threatened the couple with extradition if they didn’t pay “Mexican authorities” for phony violations.
They even convinced them to invest in a commercial property, sell their home and borrow money from their daughters to make payments. The result: Almost $900,000 went to Mexican bank accounts.
Utah Mom accused of murder Google Searches reveal motives
I’m sure you’ve heard this story in the news. A Utah mom, Kouri Richins, was arrested last month. Police allege she killed her husband by poisoning him with fentanyl … before she wrote a children’s book about grief.
Live streaming the murder of Israeli and American hostages
Will big tech do anything about it? Here’s my take in this one-minute podcast.
The state of our country: Scumbags are selling merch glorifying the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Amazon had the decency to pull “Deny Defend Depose” shirts, but they’re still on eBay, apparently because they don’t break any rules. Really? Trolls review-bombed the McDonald’s where the guy was caught, too, calling workers rats and snitches. What is wrong with people?
$60,000 reward
For helping to catch the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer. A tip from a McDonald’s employee ultimately led to 26-year-old Luigi Mangione’s arrest. If he’s convicted of Brian Thompson’s murder, the Secretary of State decides if the tip is worth a payout. I’d say from what I’ve read, the answer’s a big yes.
Did eagle-eyed internet sleuths solve a murder?
Over the years, the internet has become a meeting place for would-be crime solvers. They gather on forums, Facebook and Reddit combing through clues and motives. And they’re often right in their hypothesis, helping law enforcement with convictions.
Meta didn't inform members of a Facebook group that a killer was stalking them
Your online accounts are always at risk from hackers, but sometimes you won’t even know that you’ve been compromised. Tap or click here to check if anyone has access to your Facebook, Google or Netflix accounts.
It’s not just privacy and personal information at risk when you’re on social media. Criminals of all types troll these platforms looking for victims, sometimes with deadly intentions.
Video doorbell solves murder, TikTok cancer scam, best apps for seniors
Plus, watch out for this dangerous app, three quick computer tricks, why vintage video games are making a comeback, the richest dog in the world and a weird new way to make money.
🕵️♂️ Internet sleuths aren’t helping police: They’re silent about tracking down the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Why? They’re angry about the U.S. health care system’s policies. It gets darker; some people have even taken to social media to celebrate his death. And anyone who tries to help? They’re being bullied into silence.
404: Page not found: Health insurance companies are busy scrubbing their website leadership pages following Thompson’s death in case copycat killers get any ideas. UnitedHealthcare’s “About Us” section, for instance, now redirects to the company’s homepage. But anyone can still see these pages on Google, Crunchbase, Yahoo Finance, the Wayback Machine … You get my point.
🕵️ The internet is on the case: The shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, has every corner of the true-crime web playing detective. Amateur sleuths are investigating CCTV footage of the gunman to determine his possible motives. Warning: There are so many conspiracy theories out there, ranging from the shooter being denied gender-affirming medical care to Thompson’s wife wanting him dead before their upcoming divorce. Only believe and share credible reports.
Need a break from football? Netflix’s new docuseries “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey” revisits the infamous 1996 murder mystery. It includes interviews with JonBenét’s father and unpacks the embarrassingly bad investigation, media circus and, of course, the ransom note. Watch the trailer here.
😲 The No. 1 show on Netflix right now: “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” dives into the true story of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. The newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney says, “I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel and the victims’ family members. Only then can I make a decision.” I don’t think much will happen at their resentencing hearing on Dec. 11.
A long road ahead: An Arkansas father faces first-degree murder charges after shooting a man he found with his missing 14-year-old daughter — a 60-something former Indiana police chief with a history of internet stalking and sexual assault against minors. Dad is now out on bail and raising money for his legal defense.
Hitman-for-hire: A Tennessee woman will spend over eight years in prison for hiring a hitman to kill the wife of a guy she met on a dating app. She paid him $9,750 in bitcoin, insisting the murder look like an accident. Super scary: She tracked the couple through fitness app Strava so she could tell the hitman when the woman was out for a walk. Yup, make those location settings private.
Two families ruined forever: A Michigan teenager is facing second-degree murder charges after losing control of a BMW and killing his 18-year-old friend. His mom knew about his reckless driving habits, watching him on the Life360 app, and she even texted him, “I have screenshots of you doing 123 mph. Slow the f… down!” The victim’s family wants the mother charged with involuntary manslaughter.
🎮 Next-level rage: A 20-year-old gamer flew from New Jersey to Florida to try to kill another player. He showed up with a hammer after they fought in a game called ArcheAge. He’s been charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary. Remember, someone who really wants to find you generally can because your private info is for sale online.
In Telfair County, Georgia, a fisherman stumbled upon critical evidence from the 2015 Craigslist murder of an elderly couple. He first pulled up a .22-caliber rifle, then discovered driver’s licenses and credit cards belonging to the victims. This find has revitalized the investigation, with more clues headed to the crime lab.
Don’t believe everything you see on Netflix: The latest doc, “What Jennifer Did,” uses AI-generated images to depict killer Jennifer Pan as a fun, bubbly girl. In reality, she paid hitmen $10,000 to murder her parents in 2010. With no AI disclosure during the film, it’s clear the documentary isn’t about historical accuracy — just bringing in more viewers.