Guy Kawasaki, host of the “Remarkable People” podcast, has a new book, “Think Remarkable,” that you’ve got to check out. Plus, there’s a new AI danger lurking at work, the death of ad-free streaming, and why you’re still getting scam calls. Feeling lonely? Everyone’s connected, yet isolation is at record levels.
Best ways to block scam calls - And an easier way to stop scammers
When it comes to telemarketing and scam calls, the best thing to do is not pick up the phone. But it’s not always easy to tell whether an incoming call is legitimate — especially if your phone doesn’t show that scam or spam warning.
You want to stop these calls before they happen. I’ll show you how to use the settings built-in to your phone for this, but first, let’s talk about the best way to prevent spam in the first place.
Your number is all over the web
No wonder your phone is always blowing up with calls. I’ve spent more time then you’d believe removing my info from data broker and people search sites online. You know the ones, where your name, contact info and even your family members are listed.
Telemarketers and scammers are buying up that info to spam you with calls. Sure, you can go through one site at a time to clear out your data, but it takes forever.
That’s where Incogni comes in. It’s a personal data removal service that scrubs your info from the web. It handles the hard work for you. Seriously, it’d take hundreds of hours to do it all on your own.
Before I could recommend it to you, I tried it out myself. The process took me a few minutes, and I was immediately opted out of 27 databases, with 47 more requests sent. So easy.
Right now, get 60% off an annual subscription using code KIM60.
Block calls from your smartphone
Your phone has built-in security tools to protect you from scammers, and you should get to know one of the most basic: the block function.
If you get a call from a number you know is connected to a scammer or telemarketer, block it. You can do this as many times as you need to.
Block calls from your iPhone
Find out who's calling you from an unknown or blocked number
Scam and spam calls are getting more common. And they’re hard not to answer because the number comes up as “unknown.” When there’s no caller ID number, you can’t be sure if it’s a spam caller or an important call you’ve been waiting for.
Windows gotchas: How to avoid the top 5 most common mistakes
When was the last time you checked your computer’s available storage? Too much clutter slows everything down. Here’s a quick tip to find out how much storage is on your PC.
Next time you install a new program, don’t fall for some developers’ tricks to sneak in software you don’t want or need. Do this one step before installing any programs on your computer.
Good news! This annoying type of scam call was just banned
“Hi! We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty.”
If you’ve ever received a call like that, you’re far from alone. The good news is you might not have to deal with them moving forward, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a new ruling that’s expected to free the public from this nuisance.
Get a call from an unknown number? Don't answer it
One in five Americans lost money to scam calls last year. Don’t be the next victim. Send all unknown calls to voicemail — here’s why.
Why we're lonely because of tech
Everyone’s connected, yet isolation is at record levels. Have an opinion on Elon Musk? Here’s why judgment pours out for him, both good and bad. Plus, a new AI danger at work, the death of ad-free streaming, and why you’re still getting scam calls.
Why you're still getting scam calls
Get a ring from an unknown number? Here’s how to keep them at bay.
As voice-cloning becomes easier, take this one step with your family members to stay safe
Phone scams have evolved far beyond simple impersonation tactics. Thieves now use advanced AI voice-cloning technology to call you and beg for help in your loved ones’ voices. They’ll trick you into thinking the most important people in your life are in grave danger, and only your money can save them.
How to block annoying scam calls so you don't lose money
The phone rings, and as soon as you say hello, the person on the other end starts babbling about saving money on car insurance. Don’t say anything! They could be recording your voice, which they’ll use to impersonate you. If you do speak up, avoid saying this one word.
The one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller
You might get dozens of spam calls weekly, but you might not know where the companies got your number. Thousands of data brokers peddle information, and it could be the source of your annoyance. That’s why we started our Opt-Out Tuesday series with instructions on removing data from sites like FreePhoneTracer. Tap or click here for details.
How to block 'Scam Likely' and other scam calls on your phone
Most can relate to the anxiety an unknown phone caller can evoke. When you see “Scam Likely” on caller ID, this feeling can instantly become frightening. Tap or click here for details on the top scam calls and what you can do to get them to stop.
Warning: Scammers are pretending to be your cable and internet company
Scammers employ seemingly endless means to trick people out of their money or personal data. And it’s not always through email — some even go so far as to physically mail you malware in the post. Tap or click here for tips on spotting counterfeit packages.
Still haven't filed? Avoid these last-minute tax scams
Tax Day is less than a week away. That’s right. You have until Monday, April 18.
Did you file federal tax income for 2018? If not, you may have a refund waiting to be claimed. The deadline for that is the same as the one to file your 2021 taxes. Tap or click here for more information on claiming what could be hundreds of dollars.
Get a voicemail about tax services? Don't fall for the 'Eavesdropping Scam'
Tax Day is nearing, and we hope you have everything in order by now or at least on your way there. Just because there’s a deadline doesn’t mean you should be scrambling to finish by then.
April 18 is not only the last day to file your taxes, but it’s also the deadline to claim your old tax refunds from 2018. The IRS says there are $1.5 billion in unclaimed funds, and hundreds of those dollars could be waiting for you. Tap or click here for our report and tips on claiming your refund.
This Google Voice scam is so bad the FBI put out a warning
Robocalls, scam calls, sales pitches are annoying and enough to make you stop answering your phone. The thing is, by the time you start getting inundated with these types of calls, it’s too late to do much about it.
T-Mobile’s Scam Shield blocked 21B scam calls in 2021 – Here’s how to enable it
These days, it feels like the scams never end. Of course, some of the most intrusive is the endless spam calls that bug you all day long.
Ever wonder why you get so many of those car-warranty robocalls? Here’s the reason.
5 ways to stop bots and spammers from calling you all day long
If you answer the phone when an unknown number calls, robots probably love you. Nowadays, when you answer the phone, it’s likely a robocall spammer. They have a ton of nasty tricks up their sleeve, from posing as a member of the IRS to lying about your car’s warranty.
Scam texts going up, Amazon's new guarantee, the first MP3
Scam calls are on their way down, while scammy texts are increasing. Here’s what to do about it. Plus, Amazon is finally taking responsibility for lousy third-party products, and Kim, Ben and Allie reminisce about the first MP3, Napster and even tapes.
One ring and then they hung up? It's a sneaky scam that could cost you
An old phone scam is making a serious comeback. It happens in the middle of the night and your smartphone rings just once. You wake up and your heart is pounding because calls in the dead of night usually mean bad news. You grab your phone and see a number from the African nation of Mauritania. Or you just see a number you can’t recognize.