Well if it isn’t another glorious Wednesday, friend. A big event is happening right now.

😉 If you blink today, you might miss it. Scientists say July 9 could be the shortest day of your entire life. Why? You’ll find the super interesting answer at the end.

🎊 Like knowing things before everyone else? Mark this newsletter as “Not Spam,” so you don’t miss the next big scoop. — Kim

Look at the image. That’s not the real Omaha Steaks. It’s from a fake site designed to steal your money.

It’s happening all over the internet right now. You see a great deal on name-brand stuff, a new smartwatch, fancy cookware, maybe some designer jeans, and you click.

Everything looks real. The logos, the layout, even Apple and Google Pay are options. But it’s a scam, and now your credit card info is out there.

A massive scam targeting you

Silent Push analysts uncovered thousands of fake websites posing as trusted stores like Apple, Michael Kors, Harbor Freight, REI, Omaha Steaks and more. There’s a massive global scam operation that uses real payment methods on fake checkout pages. Like thousands-of-sites massive.

The twist? The criminals, likely based in China, take your payment and ghost you. No product. No refund. No customer service. Total fake-out.

They cloned sites

They’re copying everything. Logos, layouts, even the checkout process, so much so that you’d swear you were on the real REI website while buying $10 trail shoes.

But there were some sites with mismatched logos and products. A Harbor Freight clone showed Wrangler jeans.

Even worse: These scam sites are popping up faster than hosting companies can take them down. Many are still up right now.

Don’t fall for it

Bottom line: If the deal looks like it crawled straight out of your dreams, it’s probably from your nightmares. Slow down before you click “buy.”

Now you know this is happening. This scam campaign is a big one, and you need to stay sharp. Help save the world and use the icons below to share this know-how with your family and friends.

🛒 I’ve sifted through the fake reviews. Here are the real winners.

📅 These deals end Friday: Load up your cart before they disappear, and head over to my Amazon storefront for more Prime Day savings.

🚨 FBI warns of new phone scam: Criminals are posing as federal agents, telling people they’re about to be arrested unless they pay up. They’re spoofing phone numbers so the calls look like it’s a real government agency asking for money, gift cards or crypto. Hang up and report it.

Drones, stand down: Personal drones are jamming up rescue ops during deadly floods in Texas, just like they did during the LA fires and Hurricane Helene. It’s not heroic, it’s borderline criminal. Some folks hear “no-fly zone” and take it as a challenge. Morons.

🌀 Send cash, not cans: After severe floods hit Central Texas, relief orgs are begging people to stop donating old clothes and expired soup (paywall link). Money is faster and way more useful. ADRN is turning cash into gift cards for displaced families. Meanwhile, scammers are already circling like vultures, so triple-check before you Venmo “FloodRelief25.” Only donate through verified sites.

Phones keep vanishing: TSA bins are the Bermuda Triangle for your electronics. A travel pro’s now-viral advice? Never put your phone straight into the tray. Thieves can (and do) swipe them while you’re still retying your shoes. Instead, zip your tech into a bag pocket unless an agent tells you otherwise.

🧪 GPT-5 is coming: OpenAI says it’s done juggling 5 billion models. GPT-5 will unite its smartest (the “O” series) with its most extra (GPT-4o) into one huge robot brain. Expect it within a month, with sharper reasoning, more senses and fewer tabs making your laptop beg for mercy.

Gen Z wants out: Nearly 50% of Gen Z says they’d rather live in a world without the internet, according to a recent survey. Not less of it, none. The vibe? They’re not Luddites, they’re nostalgic for a weirder, less curated life where friendships weren’t content and the boredom felt more human.

🆓 Small-business owner? Download NetSuite’s free guide, “Navigating Global Trade: Three Insights for Leaders,” and find out how to stay ahead, even when the rules keep changing.*

Truth is, with just one Google search, someone could find out where you live. Whether it's a stalker or scammer, your personal info is out there and that’s just scary.

But there’s a way to stop it: Incogni. They go beyond removing your name from Google results. Incogni works in the background to erase your data from people-search sites, data brokers, and shady databases you didn’t even know existed.

One of my readers shared this about their experience:

"I have been using Incogni for about a year now. To me, it’s worth every penny I spend on it each month. I started using it because of an article you wrote, so thank you very much."

You can protect yourself too, and it’s easier than you think.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Press Space bar to scroll down, Shift + Space bar to go up. You can even use that trick to scroll through this email. Nice.

Don’t miss posts on Instagram: To get notified when a person posts, go to their Profile and tap the bell icon in the top right. Toggle on Posts, Stories, Reels or Goes Live. Want to stop the alerts later? Tap the bell again and repeat.

✍🏻 Need to concentrate? Windows 11 has a focus mode that hides notifications and those red dots on your task bar. Go to Settings > System > Focus, choose how long you want, then click Start focus session. A timer from the Clock app will pop up. Taking a break? Hit Pause.

Google Maps trick: You don’t need the exact name of a place to find it. Just type a general phrase like “walking trails,” “live music” or “shoe repair,” and Google will pull up local results. Perfect for those “I can’t remember the name, but I know what I need” moments.

👁️ Look ’em in the eye: On iPhone video calls, eye contact’s tricky since you’re looking at the screen, not the camera. Apple’s Eye Contact feature uses AI to adjust your gaze automatically. Turn it on in Settings > FaceTime > Eye Contact. Cue the staring contest.

💪 Get in shape: MuscleWiki is a free workout tool that shows you exercises for every muscle group. Select Male or Female, then click on a muscle in the body map. You’ll get a list of exercises to choose from, each with a demo video and step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do.

🔵 Jack Dorsey just launched Bitchat (yes, really), a Bluetooth-only messaging app with no servers or phone numbers.

It’s still in beta for now, but think if WhatsApp went off-grid with cryptographers and survivalists.

Messages are encrypted, ephemeral and only reach people within 30 to 100 feet, basically anyone you could also shout at, which saves you a conversation in real life, I guess.

🌎 You made it! Still wondering why today is the shortest day in history? No, it’s not because you slept in.

Earth’s spinning faster than usual, shaving off a whopping 1.5 milliseconds. It’s not enough to skip your 3 p.m. slump, but it’s enough to mess with satellites, GPS and maybe even time itself.

Speaking of … What does Earth get on Earth Day? A birthday quake! 🎂 (lol)

This is the #1 tech newsletter in the U.S. It’s your brain’s favorite accessory. Tomorrow, we’re talking about why your phone is basically a snitch with a memory like an elephant.

🫶 Congratulations, you’re the type of person who updates their router. I believe in you. 📶 — Kim

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