Hackers got into Booking.com's system and accessed some customers' names, contact information, and reservation details, though the company hasn't said exactly how many people were affected. If you've booked hotels or other accommodations through Booking.com, you should watch your email and phone for any suspicious messages, and consider changing your password on that site if you haven't done so recently.
Scammers are sending fake emails that look like they're from Apple, claiming your photo storage is full and threatening to delete everything unless you pay or click a link—but clicking takes you to sites designed to steal your banking and personal information. If you've ignored Apple's real storage warnings before, these fake messages can feel urgent and believable, which is exactly why criminals use them to target people. Worth knowing: genuine Apple messages about storage come through your Settings app or your official Apple account page, never through unsolicited emails asking you to click links or share payment details.
Google has started mixing gambling bets from Polymarket—a website where people wager money on future events—right alongside real news stories in its Google News section. This matters because you could accidentally click on a betting link while reading about Bitcoin prices or world events, potentially leading you toward financial risks disguised as news.
Worth knowing: If you use Google News, be cautious about links that look like news but are actually invitations to gamble, and consider reporting any suspicious results directly to Google so the company knows users are concerned.
Since 2018, sports betting apps have made it effortless to place bets on games anytime from your phone, turning what was once a Vegas-only activity into something available to everyone around the clock. Medical experts classify gambling addiction as seriously as alcohol addiction, and it carries real risks—including a troubling link to suicide—so it's worth understanding how these apps are designed to keep people betting.
You can protect yourself by setting strict spending limits before you download any betting app, and asking your doctor or a trusted family member if you notice yourself thinking about betting more often than feels comfortable.
A hacker tricked an energy company into sending £700,000 meant for a contractor to their own bank account instead. Worth knowing: this kind of fraud happens when criminals intercept emails or pose as trusted suppliers, so always double-check payment details directly with the person or company — never rely on email instructions alone if money is involved.
Google's YouTube is now letting people create AI-powered digital copies of themselves that can appear in videos, complete with their own face and voice. This makes it much easier to produce videos without having to film yourself repeatedly, though it also raises real concerns about deepfakes and scams targeting people your age who may not immediately spot a fake version of someone they know. Worth knowing: if someone contacts you claiming to be a friend or family member in a video message, it's wise to verify through a separate phone call or text before trusting what you see.
Motorola has quietly raised prices on its affordable phones by 30 to 50 percent across the board, with the new Moto G Stylus jumping $100 to $500 despite minimal upgrades from last year's model. Budget phone shoppers are feeling the squeeze everywhere as manufacturers add AI features and face higher production costs, making even "affordable" phones increasingly expensive. Worth knowing: if you're considering a new budget phone, comparing older 2025 models still available at their original prices might offer better value than these 2026 versions.
A group allegedly connected to a massive online fraud operation called the Prince Group was involved in promoting a luxury resort in Timor-Leste that promised investors fancy beachfront villas and cryptocurrency deals, but the resort was never actually built. Investigators are concerned that these scam networks are spreading globally and using glamorous fake projects to lure wealthy people into handing over their money.
You can protect yourself by being skeptical of unsolicited investment offers promising quick riches, especially those involving cryptocurrencies or exotic overseas developments—if something sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
A money transfer app called Duc accidentally left customer documents—like driver's licenses and passports—visible on the internet where anyone could find them without needing a password. Worth knowing: if you use apps to send money, check whether they have a privacy policy you can easily find, and consider using well-established services with longer track records of protecting personal information.
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Cash App is now letting you send money to friends and family on a payment plan rather than all at once, so you can spread out what you owe. For people on a tight budget, this can help with cash flow, though it's worth being careful not to rely on it too often and end up in a cycle of owing money. Worth knowing: before using this feature, check what fees or interest charges apply, as those details matter for understanding the real cost.
A fake social media account pretending to be a veterinarian announced that Jonathan, a 194-year-old tortoise, had died—and major news outlets reported it as fact before realizing it was a scam designed to get people to send cryptocurrency money. This matters because it shows how quickly false information spreads online, even from supposedly reliable sources, and how scammers are willing to exploit anything—even a beloved elderly animal—to trick people into sending money. You can protect yourself by checking official sources directly (like the zoo's own website) before believing shocking news, especially if someone is asking for money.
What started as one man's misguided prank in 1989—sending computer viruses on floppy disks to demand payment—has evolved into a massive criminal enterprise run like legitimate businesses, complete with professional operations and staff. Today's ransomware criminals lock up people's important files and demand huge sums of money to unlock them, causing real harm to hospitals, companies, and individuals around the world.
