The Top Most Convenient Products To Buy Online

Texts demanding payment for tolls, tickets, etc., should be ignored. Go to the source to confirm.

October 17, 2025

• Investigators say scam toll and postal texts are part of a billion-dollar phishing operation run by criminal networks in China.

• Fraudsters use SIM farms, phishing sites and gig mules to load stolen card numbers into mobile wallets and buy gift cards, phones and other goods.

• Law enforcement warns the scheme is growing: one firm reported a single-day high of 330,000 toll-scam messages last month.

---

Criminal networks operating out of China have turned text-message phishing into a sophisticated, billion-dollar industry that preys on Americans momentary lapses of attention and then launders the proceeds through U.S.-based gig workers, investigators say.

The operation typically begins with a fake text: a past-due highway toll, a bogus U.S. Postal Service fee or an alleged unpaid traffic ticket from a city agency. Victims who click the link are taken to a phishing site that harvests names, credit-card numbers, and one-time passwords. Those credentials are then used to add stolen cards to mobile wallets in Asia a trick that, investigators say, eliminates the need for repeated authentication when the cards are used remotely.

Department of Homeland Security agents and cybersecurity researchers describe a multi-step supply chain behind the fraud. At the top are foreign servers and SIM farms rooms filled with networking devices and hundreds of SIM cards that allow a single operator to send the volume of texts normally generated by thousands of phones. The overseas gangs often manage those farms remotely, recruiting U.S.-based workers via apps such as WeChat to set up the hardware locally.

To monetize the stolen information, the gangs recruit hundreds of U.S.-based gig workers sometimes called mules who are paid tiny fees to buy gift cards or high-value goods and ship them overseas. Investigators say the workers typically earn roughly 12 cents for every $100 in gift cards they purchase for the fraudsters. On any given day, as many as 400 to 500 mules are active, according toestimates.

The fraud has real, measurable scale. Proofpoint, a mobile spam-filtering firm, recorded an all-time high of about 330,000 toll-scam messages in a single day last month and says the average monthly volume of those messages is roughly 3 times what it was in January 2024. Homeland Security officials say the criminal networks behind the toll and postage texts have siphoned off more than $1 billion over the past three years.

Experts warn the rise of mobile wallets has made the fraud particularly damaging. Having these cards put into digital wallets is so powerful because multi-factor authentication is never needed again, said a threat researcher. Once a card is trusted on a device, banks and merchants may not ask for additional verification when it is used.

Law enforcement officials say the response must be multi-pronged: take down phishing infrastructure, disrupt SIM-farm operations, and chase the payment chains into criminal marketplaces. They also urge tougher enforcement against the domestic networks that set up infrastructure and recruit local mules.

---

Prevention tips for readers

• Treat unexpected payment texts with suspicion dont click links.

• If you think a message might be legitimate, go directly to the services official website or app rather than following a text link.

• Never enter one-time passwords or full card details on a site reached from a suspicious message.

• Monitor your accounts and enable transaction alerts from your bank.

• Consider using a credit card rather than a debit card for online payments; review card protections with your issuer.

---

What to do if you think you were scammed

1. Contact your bank or card issuer immediately and report the fraud. Request a block and reissue of the card.

2. Change passwords for accounts that may have been compromised, and enable two-factor authentication where possible.

3. Check your mobile-wallet settings and remove any unfamiliar devices or cards.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov and report the scam to local law enforcement.

5. If you purchased gift cards or shipped goods, keep receipts and tracking numbers for investigators.

---

The surge in scam texts has turned a century-old phishing technique into a cross-border industrial operation. Officials say curbing it will require cooperation among tech platforms, banks, law enforcement and the public and vigilance from anyone who receives an unexpected request to pay a bill by text.

Its not just out-of-control sports betting

October 17, 2025

• Millennials are leading sports spending, shelling out an average of $2,050 a year compared to Gen Zs $1,550, according to Ally Banks new report, The Cost of Fandom.

• For many Gen Zers, supporting their favorite teams means cutting back elsewhere from eating out less to saving less.

• Women are embracing social fandom, while men lean toward experiential fandom, highlighting gendered approaches to how fans spend.

---

Much has been written about the high cost of online sports betting, but thats not the only way sports fans lose money.

A new report from Ally Bank, The Cost of Fandom, finds that millennials lead all generations in annual spending on fan-related activities, averaging $2,050 per year. Gen Z trails behind at $1,550, but their commitment runs deep even if it means cutting back in other areas of life.

For many younger fans, supporting their favorite team isnt just about entertainment; its about identity and belonging. Nearly one in three millennials (33%) and Gen Zers (31%) say their sports spending makes them feel connected, underscoring how fandom functions as both community and culture.

Fandom transcends mere dollars and cents: its about identity, community, and being part of something bigger, said Lindsay Sacknoff, head of consumer banking at Ally. We believe theres no shame in spending even splurging on the things that bring you joy. At the same time, fandom should not come at the cost of your financial health.

How fans are overspending

According to Allys findings, the average sports fan spends around $1,600 annually to support their teams, while the most devoted fanatics spend closer to $2,200. The biggest budget-busters? Tickets (60%) and food and drink (54%), followed closely by team apparel (47%) and travel (36%).

Despite their enthusiasm, few fans have a firm sports budget. Nearly half of millennials (43%) admit they dont track how much they spend on fandom, and even Gen Z often seen as financially cautious isnt immune, with 37% saying they operate without a budget. Forty-three percent of Gen Zers say they overspend several months each year.

Different playbooks

Allys research also highlights a gender divide in how fans show their devotion. Women tend to favor social fandom, gathering at friends homes (52% vs. 46% of men) or hosting watch parties (31% vs. 26%). For them, the joy of fandom lies in connection and community.

Men, meanwhile, are more likely to travel long distances (31% vs. 25%) or splurge on VIP experiences. Their fandom leans experiential rooted in being there live, no matter the cost.

Momentum is building for womens sports, with nearly seven in ten fans saying their spending has increased or stayed steady in the past year. Only 24% of respondents said they hadnt spent any money on womens sports.

While the spending gap remains fans spend $950 on mens sports versus $500 on womens men are surprisingly leading the charge, outspending women on womens sports ($600 vs. $400 annually).

Younger fans are driving this change: 31% of Gen Z fans say being a womens sports supporter is important, and 40% see it as a way to promote equality and empowerment.

More and more fans are choosing to spend, save and give with intention, especially in support of womens sports where every dollar helps fuel representation and growth, said Jack Howard, Allys head of money wellness.

Spending with intention

At a time when many people are feeling squeezed financially, it may be prudent to look at spending on sports. Ally economists encouragefans to find balance between passion and practicality. Its Money Roots program offers free financial wellness workshops to help people align their money mindset with their values ensuring that the most stressful part of gameday is the score, not the bank balance.

Charging your car like your iPhone is just a passing fad and not a technology Volvo is interested in equipping its vehicles with, the company’s CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, told Newsweek. At IAA Mobility, a ...
Original Image Link
Source:www.newsweek.com

Kara Tsuboi covers today's top stories. Adjust your phone settings to fight robocalls. Use your iPhone camera to identify plants and animals. Spooky skeletons scare the neighborhood this Halloween.

Photo By CNET

Now that you've had a few weeks to play with iOS 26, you've probably noticed the big, flashy upgrades like the new "Liquid Glass" design and all the AI-powered features. Apple made sure those were impossible to miss.

Photo By CNET