Digital Safety

Best To-Do List Apps for 2026: Privacy and Security Compared A to-do list app holds your daily tasks, project deadlines, recurring reminders, and sometimes even personal notes or grocery lists. It might also sync across your phone, tablet, and computer. That means whoever has access to your to-do data can learn a lot about your routines, work, health appointments, and family commitments. With data breaches and aggressive tracking becoming routine, choosing an app that respects your privacy is worth a second look. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Still Thriving: What the Latest Consumer Alert Means for You If you’ve ever been asked to buy a gift card to pay a bill, cover a debt, or secure a prize, you’ve likely encountered one of the most persistent frauds in modern consumer life. Gift card scams continue to drain bank accounts across the country, and authorities are still urging the public to stay alert. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Everywhere – Here’s How to Outsmart Them Introduction If you’ve received a phone call, text, or email demanding payment with a gift card, you’re not alone. Recently, Attorney General Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C., issued an alert warning District residents about the rapid rise in gift card scams. These scams are among the most profitable for fraudsters because gift cards are nearly impossible to trace once the PIN is shared. The good news is that recognizing the pattern can keep your money safe. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Everywhere: What the DC Attorney General’s Warning Means for You In mid-December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. The alert is a timely reminder that this type of fraud remains widespread and can hit anyone who gets an unexpected call, text, or email demanding payment. ...

Gift Card Scams Are on the Rise: What You Need to Know to Avoid Being Tricked Intro Gift cards are a convenient present, but they’ve also become a favorite tool for scammers. On December 15, 2025, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning District residents about a surge in gift card scams. While the alert targets local consumers, the tactics and takeaways apply nationwide. If you receive an unexpected call, text, or email demanding payment via a gift card, it’s almost certainly a scam. ...

Gift Card Scams: New Alert Highlights Warning Signs Everyone Should Know Earlier this month, Attorney General Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C. issued an alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. While the alert was directed at D.C. consumers, the tactics described are used everywhere. Gift card fraud is one of the most common and costly scams in the United States today, and it shows no signs of slowing down. ...

Don’t Get Duped by Fake Parking Tickets – A New Scam Is Targeting Drivers If you get a text or email saying you owe a parking fine and need to pay immediately, do not click the link. A wave of phishing scams is impersonating state DMVs and parking authorities, and the North Carolina Department of Justice has issued an official consumer alert. Similar schemes have appeared in other states, often following the launch of digital payment systems for parking or toll violations. Here is what you need to know to spot the fraud and protect your money. ...

Don’t Get Towed by a Fake Ticket: Spotting the New Parking Violation Scam If you drive in North Carolina, be careful about any urgent message claiming you owe money for a parking violation. According to a March 2026 alert from the state’s Department of Justice (NCDOJ), scammers are sending out fake parking tickets to trick drivers into paying up and handing over personal information. ...

Don’t Get Parked by a Scam: How to Spot Fake Parking Tickets If you drive in North Carolina, be on alert. The state’s Department of Justice has issued a warning about a new wave of parking violation scams designed to trick drivers into paying fines that don’t exist. These cons are becoming more sophisticated, often using official-looking communications to create a false sense of urgency. Understanding how they work is your first line of defense. ...

Don’t Get Parked by a Scam: How to Spot Fake Violation Notices If you’ve ever returned to your car to find a parking ticket tucked under the wiper, your heart probably sinks. Now, scammers are exploiting that exact feeling of dread. According to a recent consumer alert from the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), drivers are being targeted by a new wave of parking violation scams designed to steal money and personal information. ...