Scams

5 things you should never share with an AI chatbot to protect your money AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have become everyday tools for answering questions, drafting emails, and even helping with financial planning. But as their use grows, so do the risks. Recent reports from the Washington Post, the BBC, and consumer protection groups highlight a simple truth: these services are not private vaults. Sharing the wrong information can lead to identity theft, drained accounts, or scams. ...

Is That Chrome Extension Safe? 5 Red Flags You Should Never Ignore You probably have a handful of browser extensions installed right now. A grammar checker for emails, a coupon finder when you shop, a tab manager to keep things tidy. They seem harmless—just little helpers that make your browser do more. But over the past year, security researchers have documented a disturbing pattern: extensions that start out useful are being repurposed as backdoors into users’ systems, sometimes months or years after installation. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Pay Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. According to recent alerts from VA News (.gov), fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads remain persistent threats. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that online shopping scams consistently rank among the top consumer complaints, with losses reaching hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The good news is that most scams share common warning signs. Learning to spot them can keep your purchases safe. ...

Is Your Chrome Extension a Security Risk? How to Spot a Backdoor If you rely on browser extensions to block ads, manage passwords, or track productivity, you are not alone. Millions of Chrome users install these small tools without a second thought. But security researchers have documented a growing trend: malicious extensions that start out as legitimate helpers and later turn into tools for stealing data, injecting ads, or even gaining a foothold inside corporate networks. The same convenience that makes extensions useful also makes them a target for attackers. ...

Are Your Chrome Extensions Spying on You? How to Spot Malicious Productivity Tools Browser extensions are convenient. They block ads, manage passwords, or help you take notes. But that convenience has a dark side: attackers have learned to turn seemingly harmless productivity tools into backdoors for stealing data, hijacking accounts, and breaching corporate networks. Understanding how this works—and what you can do about it—is essential for anyone who uses Chrome or any Chromium-based browser. ...

Don’t Tell Your AI Chatbot These 5 Things to Protect Your Money Introduction Chatbots based on large language models—like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot—have become a go‑to for quick answers, creative writing, and even casual conversation. But as their use has soared, so have concerns about what users are unwittingly handing over. A recent column in The Washington Post warns that revealing certain types of information to an AI assistant can put your finances at risk. This is not about the chatbots malevolently stealing data; it’s about how shared information can be stored, accessed by others, or used to impersonate you. Below is a practical look at what you should avoid telling any AI chatbot, and why. ...

5 things you should never tell an AI chatbot — they could drain your bank account Chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are useful for drafting emails, summarizing documents, or answering general questions. But as their use grows, so do the risks of sharing too much personal information. A recent column in The Washington Post warned consumers about five specific types of data that should never be typed into an AI chatbot. The advice matters because these conversations are stored, analyzed, and in some cases, can be accessed by third parties. ...

Stop Telling Your AI Chatbot These 5 Things – Your Bank Account Will Thank You AI chatbots have become everyday tools for quick answers, writing help, and even financial advice. But as their use grows, so does the risk of oversharing sensitive details that can be turned against you. A recent Washington Post column highlighted five categories of information you should never disclose to a chatbot—advice that’s worth taking seriously. ...

Top Consumer Protection Tips from the FTC’s 2026 National Consumer Protection Week Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dedicates the first full week of March to helping people avoid scams, protect their personal information, and know their rights as consumers. National Consumer Protection Week 2026 ran from March 1 to 7, and the FTC published a series of practical articles aimed at everyday consumers. If you missed the campaign or just want a quick recap, here are the most actionable takeaways from this year’s advice. ...

National Consumer Protection Week 2026: How to Protect Yourself From Scams Every year, the Federal Trade Commission organizes National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to help people spot, avoid, and report fraud. The 2026 edition ran from March 2 through March 6, but the guidance from the FTC is designed to last far beyond those five days. Whether you missed the event or want to revisit its key messages, the core advice remains relevant throughout the year—and useful for planning ahead for the next NCPW. ...