Money scams are out of control: How to lock down your bank or payment app
Contactless payment has gained traction, thanks in part to social distancing. Rather than handle cash or even swipe a card, you need only hold your smartphone close to a payment terminal, scan a QR code or send money directly through a peer-to-peer (P2P) app.
Well-known payment apps include PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, CashApp, Android Pay, Google Pay, Zelle and Square. They make sending and receiving money a fast and easy process. These apps do carry some risk, however. If you use Venmo, your privacy could be at risk unless you downloaded a recent update. Tap or click here for details.
Mobile apps are convenient, but you should take precautions when using them. Complaints involving these apps have gone up as they’ve become more common. Below are six popular payment apps and tips on how to use them safely.
Venmo
The PayPal-owned Venmo is mostly used for sending money to friends and family. It’s a mobile-centric app with social media influences, complete with feeds, emojis and animated stickers.
You should use Venmo only for transactions with people you trust. Splitting the bill at a restaurant is one good use for Venmo. The company itself says if you pay the wrong person, it can’t guarantee you’ll get your money back.
“Venmo does not offer buyer or seller protection.” It says so on the company website. If the person you paid doesn’t refund you, consider your money as good as gone.
Privacy settings on Venmo include showing your payments to the public or friends only. Tap or click here to find out why you should hide your Venmo payments.
A third option only shows payments to the people you are sending money to. You can set the privacy setting on individual payments or use a default setting for all.
Here’s how to adjust privacy settings in Venmo:
- Open the app and tap the three-line menu icon at the top right
- Tap Settings, followed by Privacy
- Visibility default setting is Public
- Select Private to keep payments visible only to the sender and recipient
After that, in the same menu, tap on Past Transactions. Select the option to Change All to Private.
You won’t believe how BIG Amazon is
The pandemic has put a strain on everyone. We have had to adjust our lives to maintain social distancing while still working or going to school. People lost their jobs and are dealing with heavy financial burdens.
Many are finding alternate sources of income. One method to get some extra cash is to go through your house and find things to sell. There’s a wealth of apps and online marketplaces to utilize for this purpose such as eBay, Craigslist, Letgo, Amazon and more. There are also lesser-known auction sites, which you can read about here.
Google's new augmented reality tool transports you to the other side of the Earth
Have you ever wondered where you would end up if you dug a hole straight through Earth? Standing in your backyard, shoveling directly down until you reach the other side, where would you be? Tap or click here to see how Google Maps’ new feature takes navigation to the next level (literally).
Another Facebook data breach? New database to check for your number
Social media is useful for keeping in touch while we maintain social distancing. It can be a nice distraction from the hardships we are facing during the pandemic.
As with any service or subscription, social media accounts require personal information. This can vary depending on the network, but at the minimum, you are giving your name and email address. Unfortunately, social media platforms are prime targets for hackers. Tap or click here to read about a recent breach that affected 533 million Facebook users.
COVID vaccine: Use this site to see when you're eligible
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our worlds upside down over the past year. Most of us have gone from social gatherings to social distancing and from office work to remote work. Even some schools have gone virtual across the nation.
Tips and tricks for buying a used Peloton bike
The pandemic has not only forced people to rethink their working routines but also where to exercise. Social distancing protocols and mask-wearing ruled out going to the gym for many.
Through these trying times, Peloton’s exercise equipment became all the rage. And where demand is greater than the supply, it can be rather tough to get your hands on a Peloton Bike right now. Tap or click for fitness gadgets you can pick up right now.
Hand sanitizer alert: Toxic or dangerous ingredients found in 200+ products
Coronavirus has forced many of us to work together and try to reduce the spread of the disease. Social distancing and handwashing are at the front line of prevention, but sanitizing your hands regularly is just as important.
SimpliSafe's winter sweater sounds the alarm when people stand too close
Sick of people standing too close to you? Here’s a great new way to enforce the six-foot social distancing rule: Sound a siren through your sweater!
That’s the idea behind SimpliSafe’s new sweater. The company that keeps your family safe and sound made its own festive garment this year, decked out in tech to inspire social distance.
10 ways to make extra money online
The gig economy is unstoppable. Pandemics? Social distancing? Staying home? No matter what life throws their way, hustlers will always adapt.
These days you can sell anything online. Say you’ve got some great photos on your phone camera — you can sell them online. If you’re a talented musician, dancer or voice actor, you can sell those skills online.
New iPhone tech lets people who are blind or low-vision 'see' when others are coming
Apple’s newest iPhone models are expected to be a huge hit this year. Not only do they have the typical upgrades like a better camera and faster processor but the new iPhones also come with 5G capabilities.
Conspiracy theorists aside, we’ve all been waiting for 5G technology to become a reality for quite a while and it’s finally here. Tap or click here to find out what you should know before buying an iPhone 12.
Scammers taking advantage of vaccine hopes with fake COVID-19 studies
Everyone wants the COVID-19 pandemic to end and for our lives to get back to normal, but it’s going to take more than just a few lockdowns and social distancing. Right now, scientists across the world are racing to find effective vaccines and treatments — and many are just entering the testing phase.
If you see someone making this hand gesture on Zoom, they need your help
How much time have you spent indoors since the pandemic started? For many Americans, work, school and socializing took a digital turn once cities locked down. And thanks to tech like video chat apps and smartphones, things might stay that way for some time.
New study: Surprising early warning signs of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, our understanding of the disease continues to grow. In the earlier months of 2020, health officials stressed the importance of sanitizing surfaces and washing our hands — but now we know the disease also spreads through respiratory droplets.
Good news: A genius DIY to make this year's Halloween fun and safe
The longer COVID drags on the more it changes our plans for 2020. Many schools have gone remote, some birthday parties are now drive-by events and public places are still, in large part, off-limits.
As with any pandemic, there isn’t a firm date as to when the chaos will end. With Halloween fast approaching, we’re going to have to get a little crafty about how we party our costumes off and follow social distancing rules. Need help with Halloween decorating ideas? There are plenty of high-tech ways to add some spook accessories to your home this year.
Looking for love? Don't get taken in by a seductive scammer
It’s difficult to find companionship as it is, but add in the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos of 2020 in general and you have a recipe for loneliness.
It’s a shame, too. Even though dating apps and services are more plentiful than ever, not everyone is willing to date while social distancing is in effect. Tap or click here to see why you might have better luck this coming January.
4 ways to order groceries online and how to safely unpack them
In the time of social distancing, it’s well-advised to stay in. Still, there are essentials we can’t go without. If you’re older or have an underlying health condition, even going to the grocery store can feel risky during the coronavirus pandemic.
This AI job interview shows you what the future of hiring looks like
With so many jobs lost in the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the country are searching for new ways to earn an income. With policies like social distancing and touch-free transactions in place, former retail and service workers may find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they apply for new jobs that fit the economy.
Travel safer with new Google Maps pandemic alerts
It can be pretty difficult to figure out how to travel safely in the midst of a pandemic, which is precisely what we’re dealing with right now. Getting from one place to the next used to be a simple process, but thanks to the COVID-19 restrictions, it’s important to know things like how crowded a subway platform is or when public transportation is actually running since schedules have been limited.
10 ways the coronavirus has changed your daily life
Life has changed significantly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Our routines have changed, our ways of interacting have changed and our pastimes have gone from having drinks at bars and dinners at restaurants to watching videos on how to make bread with the ingredients you have in your pantry.
Hitting the road? Check this COVID-19 road restriction map
All 50 U.S. states have begun the process of reopening, but that doesn’t mean that things will be completely “back to normal” in short order. Social distancing and public health measures are still being enforced by businesses and local authorities, which means the world we’re about to reenter will look quite different from how things were in the past.