Scams are kind of like zombies. The formerly popular TV show The Walking Dead is set in a sort of zombie apocalypse and was filmed here in Atlanta. But like zombies, the scams never stop and there seems to be a never-ending litany of folks who are trying to get their hands on our money. It truly is a serious problem- the FTC received 5.7 million reports with a total of $5.9 billion lost to scams in 2021! And on top of that scammers have gotten really sophisticated and are specifically targeting younger folks by using platforms like social media or dating apps and targeting Venmo balances and crypto holdings. Listen as we discuss a number of different sneaky scams that are targeting a younger generation, how they work, and then what you can do to protect your money.
Additional links:
- Make it harder to lose money to scammers by freezing your credit.
- If you ever are the victim a fraud or a scam, let the Federal Trade Commission know by heading to ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- And we referenced a number of different stories during this episode: scam sales on TikTok, scammers using dating apps, & IRS scams.
- Listen back to episode 254 if you haven’t heard us talk about MLMs.
- Credit Card Tool – Looking for the right credit card for you? Then check out our new credit card tool that’ll help you to easily filter through all the cards based on your preferred airline, whether or not they have an annual fee, or simply by the cash back offer! Just toggle the sliders and you’ll know which card to consider.
During this episode we enjoyed an Electric Venom by Little Cottage! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!
Best friends out!
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There is a nice app that can help you to check a URL before opening it:
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.trianguloy.urlchecker/
Also, if you have a Virus Total API key (it is free), you can check for virus in the website before visiting it.
Hey friend,
In response to your pineapple comment and how it’s “tearing up the inside of your mouth”. Turns out, pineapple contains the enzyme Bromelain, which breaks down proteins. Thus, why your mouth feels like it’s getting little soars, it’s literally breaking our flesh down when we eat it! Cooking or grilling the pineapple first can help release the enzymes. Consuming with dairy, like yogurt or ice cream or even rinsing with water after can help reduce symptoms. The more ya know!
Peace out
Rachel- thanks for sharing! I’ve never heard of that before and am pumped that- not only am I the only one dealing with this, but that it’s something that technically affects everyone. Crazy! Now anytime I eat pineapple I’m going to think of it as a battle- who can devour who first (I’m pretty sure I’m always going to win).
I have the same problem if I eat more than a few pieces, so I’ll take Rachel’s advice into account for next time!