Latest
Apple Pay text scam almost cost her $15,000
You see a charge you don’t recognize. It looks like it came from a trusted brand. Your instinct kicks in. You want to fix it quickly and move on. That’s exactly what happened to Dorothy.
After a simple text, she found herself on the phone with someone who sounded official, confident and completely convincing. Here’s how she described it:
“I received a text from APPLE Pay, which I don’t even use… It said an Apple Store in CA wants to charge me $144… If I have questions, I should call. DUH! I called and was speaking with the scammer.”
Within minutes, the situation escalated.
“He knew everything about me… He said I should take out $15,000… He said he was working with the FBI and the FDIC.”
That’s when the pressure really started. Dorothy told me this story when she joined me on my Beyond Connected podcast, and what happened next shows just how far these scams can go.
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10 WAYS TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM EMAIL SCAMS
This scam follows a pattern that is becoming more common. It combines a fake alert with a live phone call designed to build trust fast.
Here’s what is happening behind the scenes:
You get a text about a suspicious charge. It looks urgent. It often includes a number to call.
The number connects you directly to a criminal. They pose as Apple, your bank or even law enforcement.
They may know your name, address or bank. That information often comes from past data breaches.
You are told your money is at risk. You need to act immediately.
In Dorothy’s case, the scammer told her to withdraw $15,000 and lie to her bank about why.
“He said he would stay on the phone with me while I drove to the bank… If anyone asked, I should say I was buying a car.”
That is a major red flag.
PHISHING SCAM EXPLOITS APPLE MAIL ‘TRUSTED SENDER’ LABEL
Dorothy drove to the bank with the scammer still on the phone. This is exactly what criminals want. They try to isolate you and keep control of the situation.
But something didn’t feel right.
“When I got to the bank, I recognized one of the employees and told her that I was uncomfortable… She said to hang up immediately.”
That decision changed everything.
The bank confirmed it was a scam. The calls kept coming from different numbers. Dorothy blocked them all. Fortunately, no money was lost.
Scammers are getting better at one thing. They make you feel like you are solving a problem, not being scammed.
Here’s why this one works so well:
They also add authority. Claiming ties to the FBI or FDIC makes people feel like they must comply. In reality, no legitimate agency will ever ask you to move money this way.
If you remember nothing else, remember these:
Each one is a warning sign. Together, they confirm it is a scam.
You do not need to outsmart scammers. You just need to slow the situation down.
If you get a suspicious text, do not call the number provided. Look up the official number yourself.
Scammers rely on urgency. Take a moment. Real companies will not rush you like this.
No bank, tech company or government agency will ask you to withdraw cash to “protect” it.
Strong antivirus software can help detect malicious links, block scam websites and warn you before you engage with risky content. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Scammers often use data from breaches to sound convincing. A data removal service can help reduce your exposure and limit what criminals can find about you online. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
A quick conversation with a friend, family member or bank employee can stop a scam cold.
Consider identity monitoring services that alert you if your information is being misused. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.
Even if you did not lose money, take a few steps right away:
These steps help protect you from future attempts.
This scam did not begin with a complex hack. Instead, it started with a simple text. That is what makes it so dangerous. At first, it looks routine. Then urgency takes over. As a result, anyone can feel pressured to act quickly and without thinking.
In many cases, the situation feels real. That is how people get pulled into a conversation that seems legitimate. In Dorothy’s case, she trusted her instincts at the right moment. Because of that decision, fortunately, she did not lose $15,000.
Scammers target more than technology. They focus on human behavior. They create pressure, build trust and keep you engaged long enough to make a mistake. However, you can break the cycle. A single pause can disrupt the scam. Asking one question can expose it. Even a quick conversation with someone you trust can stop it. If you’d like to hear more of Dorothy’s story, you can catch our full conversation on my Beyond Connected podcast at getbeyondconnected.com/
If you got a text like this right now, would you pause or would you call? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
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Dave McGinnis, former Cardinals head coach and beloved Titans assistant, dead at 74
Dave McGinnis, a former Arizona Cardinals head coach and Tennessee Titans assistant coach, died on Monday. He was 74.
The Titans announced the death of McGinnis, who died after being hospitalized for an illness in early March. The Titans’ news release said that he passed away at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family by his side.
“My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac, who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also released a statement on McGinnis.
“As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma,” Bidwell said. “Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything – and everyone – associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”
McGinnis found himself in an interim head coaching role during the 2000 season with the Cardinals, the team for which he served as defensive coordinator in 1996. He was retained in the head coaching post from 2001-03.
KIM WOOD, NFL’S FIRST FULL-TIME STRENGTH COACH AND WEIGHT-TRAINING PIONEER, DEAD AT 80
In 57 career games, McGinnis went 17-40 with the Cardinals, ultimately being fired after a 4-12 season in 2003.
After he was fired, McGinnis landed with the Titans as a linebackers coach under head coach Jeff Fisher. He would become a mainstay in Nashville, holding that role and eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011.
“Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans never wavered,” Strunk added. “He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He held a very special place in our family, and his presence in our lives and within this franchise will never be forgotten. We will miss him dearly, and we will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”
McGinnis’s coaching career began in 1973 when he was an assistant with TCU. He also held posts with Indiana State, Missouri and Kansas State until the 1986 season when he broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears.
McGinnis served as linebackers coach for Chicago from 1986-95 before getting a promotion with the Cardinals. He also held roles with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before leaving coach after the 2016 campaign.
McGinnis returned to Nashville to join Titans Radio in 2017, where he served as a color announcer for games.
“I love Dave McGinnis, and I don’t know that I’ve met anybody who was created for football, and a football life, more than Coach Mac,” said Burke Nihill, president and CEO of the Titans. “He just loved the game. Obviously, he played it for a long time and coached it for longer, and with everything he has done for us over the years as color commentator and a Titans personality. He lived such a special football life. He was such a special guy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Latest
US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says
The U.S. military carried out another lethal strike targeting suspected cartel operatives in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two individuals believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
“Applying total systemic friction on the cartels,” SOUTHCOM said in a post on X. “On April 13, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
The strike comes two days after SOUTHCOM conducted similar operations against two other suspected vessels operated by designated groups.
US, ECUADOR LAUNCH JOINT OPERATIONS TARGETING NARCO-TERROR GROUPS: SOUTHCOM
Officials said intelligence confirmed those vessels were traveling along known drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were actively engaged in narcotics operations.
Two men were killed in the first strike and three in the second, while one individual survived the initial attack.
SOUTHCOM said it immediately called on the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations for the lone survivor. No U.S. forces were injured in either operation.
The operations are part of a broader U.S. military effort to disrupt cartel-linked trafficking networks at sea, with officials increasingly describing such groups using terrorism-related designations.
The strikes were carried out under Joint Task Force Southern Spear, an ongoing mission focused on targeting transnational criminal organizations operating along key maritime drug routes in the region.
The Eastern Pacific remains a major corridor for narcotics trafficking, where cartels frequently rely on small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs north toward the U.S. and Central America.
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The use of the term “Designated Terrorist Organizations” reflects a more aggressive posture by the Trump administration, which has expanded the use of military force against suspected narcotics traffickers beyond traditional law enforcement approaches.
SOUTHCOM has not released additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.
The command is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
The U.S. has carried out dozens of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in recent months as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations and increase pressure on transnational criminal organizations.
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Latest
Los Angeles hotel industry ‘struggling’ under wage mandate signed by Mayor Karen Bass, new survey finds
Hotels in Los Angeles, California are struggling, a new report from industry researchers claimed in a new report.
“Hotels are struggling to keep up with rising operating costs coupled with falling demand,” the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) researchers said last week.
According to AHLA, the city’s minimum wage mandate and other policies led to increased “costs without flexibility to reflect market conditions and demand levels.”
A phased-in minimum wage hike in Los Angeles mandated up to $30 per hour for airport and hotel workers. The law was signed into law last year by Mayor Karen Bass, mandating that their hourly wage must be raised by $2.50 each year until they reach $30 in 2028.
DAVID SPADE WONDERS IF HOLLYWOOD CAN RECOVER ITS MOVIE INDUSTRY AS PEOPLE FLEE LOS ANGELES
The AHLA is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide. Its methodology stated it was a “member survey of Los Angeles hotel operators and owners” that featured “16 questions in multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, and ranking formats.”
The report claimed that the policies led to reduced hiring and cuts in labor hours. Other issues that arose included delayed or canceled hotel investment and development, reduced airline operations and restaurant closures.
“The report finds that hotels across Los Angeles are facing increasing financial and operational pressure as rising labor and operating costs outpace revenue growth, noting that development is slowing, investment is shifting to other markets, and some hotels have closed or delayed expansion plans,” the report stated.
The report found that none of the members believe Los Angeles is a favorable environment to make investments and 80% said that the city is not a good place for long-term hotel investment. Almost all the members surveyed said that rolling back the regulations would make the city’s market more attractive.
TAX AND RUN: HOW NY AND CALIFORNIA ARE BLEEDING PEOPLE AND PROSPERITY
AHLA said that hotels are the backbone of Los Angeles’ tourism economy, investing millions of dollars in the city every year.
“Los Angeles hotels generate $12.5 billion in annual economic activity, support nearly 64,000 jobs, and produce more than $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue that funds essential public services,” according to the report.
This isn’t the first time the AHLA has released a report showing adverse effects of the minimum wage mandate after Bass signed it into law. The AHLA previously commissioned another study that found hotels have eliminated or expect to eliminate 6% of positions, roughly 650 jobs, since the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance took effect in September.
The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Bass’ office did not respond to Fox News Digital‘s requests for comment.
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