Consumer Protection

How to Spot Scam Ads Before They Steal Your Money or Data Scam ads have become a fixture on social media feeds, search engine results, and even reputable news sites. While much of the press coverage focuses on the damage to brand reputation and ad revenue, the people who actually lose money or sensitive data are the everyday users who click on these ads. This guide will help you recognize the most common tactics, verify whether an ad is legitimate, and take action if you’ve already fallen for one. ...

New Analysis Shows Government and Healthcare Email Security Lags: What It Means for You If you get an email from your health insurance provider or a government agency like the IRS or DMV, you probably assume it’s legitimate—at least enough to open it. That trust is exactly what scammers are counting on. A recent analysis by SC Media reveals that government and healthcare organizations have significantly weaker email security than other industries, making them a prime target for phishing attacks and data breaches. ...

Meta’s AI Training with Keystrokes: What It Means for Your Privacy Recent reports have revealed that Meta developed an internal tool to collect keystrokes, mouse clicks, and other user interactions for training its artificial intelligence models. After employees raised privacy and ethical concerns, the company scaled back the tool’s scope. For users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, this raises a straightforward question: what data is Meta collecting, and what can you do about it? Here’s a clear breakdown of what happened, why it matters, and what steps you can take to protect your privacy. ...

What Meta’s Keystroke AI Training Means for Your Privacy – and How to Protect Yourself In recent months, reports have surfaced that Meta—the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—experimented with collecting keystroke data from its users to train artificial intelligence models. The story, first covered by TechTarget and later by outlets such as Global Banking & Finance Review, sparked internal backlash and prompted Meta to scale back the tool. For everyday users, this raises a straightforward question: what does keystroke data reveal, and how much of your typing is being monitored? ...

Bought it, never got it: 5 ways online shopping scams are evolving (and how to spot them) It’s a scenario that’s becoming all too familiar: you find a great deal online, make the payment, and wait. Days pass. The delivery updates stop. The seller stops responding. You never receive the item. ...

Bought It, Never Got It: How Online Shopping Scams Are Evolving If you have ever placed an order online, received a convincing tracking link, and then waited weeks for a package that never arrived, you are not alone. Online shopping scams are becoming more frequent—and more difficult to spot. Scammers are moving beyond obvious phishing emails into tactics that mimic legitimate sellers, delivery services, and even trusted marketplaces. Understanding how these scams work is the first step to avoiding them. ...

New Senate Bill Aims to Protect Your Privacy When Using AI Agents – What You Need to Know If you’ve used ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or a customer service chatbot lately, you’ve interacted with an AI agent. These tools can write emails, answer questions, and even book appointments. But as they become more common, concerns about how they collect and use personal data have grown. A new draft bill from a U.S. senator proposes to address those concerns directly. ...

What a US Senate Bill on AI Agents Could Mean for Your Privacy If you use a virtual assistant, a customer service chatbot, or any AI tool that acts on your behalf—booking appointments, making purchases, or simply answering questions—a draft bill now circulating in the US Senate could eventually change how those services handle your personal data. The proposal, introduced by a US senator in July 2026, targets the privacy and safety risks specific to “AI agents,” and it’s the first federal effort to set ground rules for these increasingly common tools. ...

AI and Your Privacy: What Companies Should Be Doing to Earn Your Trust Every time you use a chatbot, a recommendation engine, or a photo-editing tool that suggests improvements, an AI is processing your data. For many consumers, that convenience comes with a nagging question: What happens to my information? As companies rush to integrate artificial intelligence into their products, the gap between enthusiasm and trust is widening. This article looks at what’s actually happening with your data, why it matters, and how you can judge whether a company deserves your confidence. ...

How to Avoid Social Media Scams and Digital Party Traps: Essential Safety Tips Scams on social media are not new, but the methods used in 2026 are more convincing than ever. With deepfakes, AI-generated messages, and carefully crafted social engineering, fraudsters are finding new ways to trick even cautious users. One particularly insidious trend is the “digital party trap”—fake invitations or event links that lead to phishing sites or malware. This article, based on the Fraud EDU series published by Yellowhammer News on June 30, 2026, offers concrete, actionable advice to help you spot these scams and protect yourself. ...