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How fraudsters are using AI, stolen identities, and emotional timing to reel people in

• Romance have evolved beyond fake profiles and obvious lies, with fraudsters now using AI-powered video impersonation, stolen social media identities, and long-term emotional manipulation to gain trust.

• Emotionally vulnerable moments like Valentines Day or the loss of a loved one are prime targets, as scammers exploit loneliness and grief before ever asking for money.

• Knowing the red flags and slowing things down can stop before they start, especially when it comes to rushed intimacy, avoiding in-person meetings, or any request for money or personal information.

Valentines Day is supposed to be about connection flowers, sweet messages, maybe a candlelit dinner. But for scammers, its also prime season.

Romance have long been associated with fake profiles and clumsy requests for money. Today, they look very different and far more convincing.

According to Charles Laugen, Senior Manager of Client Risk Prevention at RBC Wealth Management, the showing up now are more sophisticated than ever. Fraudsters are using AI-enabled impersonation during live video chats, hijacking real social media profiles, and even combing through obituaries to target recent widows and widowers.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Laugen to learn how these modern romance work, the subtle red flags people tend to miss, and why loneliness and emotionally charged moments like Valentines Day create the perfect conditions for fraud.

Know the red flags

The technology available today makes it harder than ever to spot a romance scam. How can consumers know if theyre being targeted?

Laugen shared his top three red flags to look out for:

• They move too fast emotionally: Someone youve just met online quickly expresses strong feelings or love before meeting in person. This is meant to create emotional closeness quickly and make it harder to question their intentions.

• They avoid meeting or video chatting: They always have a reason they cant meet in person or do a live video call often saying they are overseas for work, in the military, or dealing with an emergency. They may also push you to move conversations off dating apps to private messaging platforms.

• They ask for money or personal information: At some point, the scammer will request money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers often for supposed emergencies, travel plans, medical issues, or investment opportunities. They may also ask for personal or financial details.

Obituary

Another scam tactic that has been circulating specifically targets individuals during periods of grief by exploiting information tied to a recent death.

Laugen broke down what these efforts typically look like:

Scammers actively monitor public obituaries, funeral notices, and social media posts announcing recent deaths, he said. Using readily available online sources or illicit data markets, fraudsters can quickly obtain a deceased individuals personal information, such as home address, Social Security number, and in some cases financial account details.

They then use this information to drain existing accounts, open new financial accounts, take out loans, or file fraudulent tax returns in the deceased persons name.

In some cases, scammers directly contact surviving spouses or family members, initially expressing sympathy before transitioning into fraudulent requests for money, attempts to steal inheritance funds, or even initiating romance that prey on emotional vulnerability.

Other warning signs to look for: impersonation of funeral home staff demanding additional payments, fraudulent invoices or bills, or phony psychics or spiritual advisors who promise contact with the deceased in exchange for ongoing payments.

Protect yourself from scammers

Laugen explained that these kinds of cams thrive on isolation and emotional vulnerability. While building relationships gradually and maintaining strong, real-world connections remain among the most effective defenses, he offered other ways for consumers to protect themselves.

• Never send money, gift cards, or valuables to an online romantic interest you have not met in person.

• Be cautious of rapid emotional attachment, repeated excuses to avoid meeting or video calls, and any request for financial assistance.

• Keep early interactions within reputable dating platforms and avoid quickly moving conversations to unmonitored messaging apps.

• Use strong privacy settings on social media and limit the personal information you share publicly.

• Research new online contacts thoroughly by conducting reverse image searches and verifying details shared. Watch for inconsistencies in their stories.

• Report suspicious dating profiles or communications to the platform immediately.

• In obituary or funeral-related situations, independently verify any payment requests by contacting the funeral home directly.

A new study shows more pet owners are delaying care, taking on debt, and reshaping their lives to afford their furry family members

• More than half of pet owners are delaying or skipping vet care as inflation drives up the cost of routine exams, preventive treatments, and medications.

• Pet ownership is reshaping major life and money decisions, from taking on side hustles and debt to choosing jobs, pay cuts, or even where to live.

• Experts warn that skipping preventive care can cost more in the long run, as small health issues turn into expensive emergencies making planning ahead more important than ever.

For many Americans, pets arent just animals theyre family. But as inflation continues to squeeze household budgets, that bond is being tested in tough and sometimes heartbreaking ways.

A new study from MetLife Pet Insurance reveals that more than half of pet owners have delayed or skipped veterinary care because of rising costs, forcing difficult decisions between financial stability and a pets health.

From taking on side hustles to going into debt and even reconsidering jobs to stay home with their animals pet parents are quietly making major sacrifices. ConsumerAffairs spoke with Brian Jorgensen, CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance, to dig into what these trends say about the true cost of pet ownership today and what owners can do if caring for their pet starts to feel financially out of reach.

Skipping vet visits

In an October 2025 survey of 1,000 American pet owners, 54% reported skipping or delaying routine vet exams and preventive care often because of rising costs.

These visits are essential for early detection of issues like dental disease, obesity, parasites, or chronic conditions that may not be obvious at home, Jorgensen said. When preventive care slips, small concerns can quietly escalate into urgent or emergency situations that are far more stressful and expensive.

Preventive services such as vaccinations, wellness screenings, flea/tick and heartworm prevention, dental cleanings, and behavioral support help pets stay ahead of potential health issues. Prioritizing these routine checkins keeps pets healthier longterm and gives pet parents the peace of mind that comes from staying one step ahead.

Key findings from the study

• 28% of pet owners have taken on a side hustle to afford vet bills and other pet care costs

• 15% have made decisions about taking or declining a job offer because of how it would affect their pet

• 53% of in-office workers said theyd take a lower paycheck if it meant being home with their pet

• 10% of pet owners took on debt in the last year to pay for vet bills, with the average totaling $1,100

• 48% of pet owners said theyd move to a more affordable area to better care for their pets

Pets are influencing decisions about where people live, how they budget, and even how they plan their longterm futures, Jorgensen said.

For many households, pets are truly part of the family. This means their needs shape everything from housing choices to lifestyle preferences reinforcing just how central pets have become in peoples lives.

Rising vet costs continue to climb

Rising veterinary costs continue to challenge many families. These study findings highlight the strain pet owners are feeling from ongoing care for chronic conditions, medications, and sudden injuries or illnesses.

One of the most effective ways for pet parents to protect their budgets is to plan ahead for the unexpected, Jorgensen said. That includes considering pet insurance. With the added security of pet insurance, it becomes much easier to make care decisions based on what is best for a pet without worrying about their financial impact.

Amazon says efficiency is the goal, but AI is clearly reshaping the workforce

• Amazon is laying off 16,000 corporate employees worldwide as it restructures and shifts more internal work to generative AI and automation.

• Executives say this is a long-term workforce shift, not just cost-cutting, with AI changing how work gets done in office, support, and administrative roles.

• These cuts follow 14,000 corporate layoffs in the fall a sign AI-driven changes are accelerating across white-collar industries.

Amazon is cutting about 16,000 jobs worldwide, marking its second major wave of layoffs in just three months. Cuts come as the company reshapes its workforce and leans harder into generative artificial intelligence.

The move is one of the largest corporate workforce reductions in Amazons history.

Why Amazon is cutting jobs

According to a message from senior vice president Beth Galetti, Amazon says the cuts are part of a broader effort to reduce management layers, eliminate bureaucracy, and make teams more efficient after years of rapid hiring.

But theres a bigger shift happening in the background.

Amazon has been increasingly open about its plan to use generative AI and automation to handle more internal tasks. That includes everything from writing and analysis to customer support functions and operational planning.

CEO Andy Jassy has previously said AI will change how work gets done across the company and that some jobs simply wont be needed in the same numbers going forward.

In other words, this isnt just cost-cutting. Its structural change.

Part of a larger layoff wave

These latest layoffs follow a previous round in October, when Amazon cut about 14,000 corporate roles.

Combined, that brings the total to nearly 30,000 corporate jobs eliminated in a matter of months. That equates to close to 10% of Amazons corporate workforce.

Importantly, these cuts are focused on corporate and administrative roles, not warehouse or delivery workers. Amazon still employs well over a million people globally, and the company says it will continue hiring in certain growth areas.

U.S.-based employees affected by the layoffs are being given 90 days to find another role inside Amazon. Those who dont transition internally will receive severance pay, outplacement services, and continued health benefits for a period of time.

A nervous moment inside the company

Tensions around the layoffs were made worse this week when some Amazon Web Services employees received an internal email that appeared to reference the job cuts under the name Project Dawn.

The email included a calendar invitation that was mistakenly sent and was then quickly cancelled. But the damage, and the ensuing confusion amongst employees, had already been done.

While Amazon later clarified the mistake, the incident highlighted just how unsettled many tech workers feel right now.

What this means for job seekers

Amazons job cuts are worth paying attention to, especially if you work in office support, customer support, or manufacturing.

Here are a few smart moves to consider:

Highlight human skills on your resume.

AI is really good at handling repetitive tasks and basic analysis.

Its not very good at skills like decision-making, cross-team collaboration, negotiation, and strategic planning.

To this end, make sure your resume emphasizes the human impacts youve made, not just the tasks youve completed.

Learn how to use AI tools.

Companies increasingly want employees who can work with AI, not necessarily compete against it and try to beat it.

Familiarity with generative AI tools for research, writing or data summaries can make you more valuable, not less.

Target growth areas.

Even companies cutting jobs overall are hiring in specific departments. Roles tied to AI implementation, cybersecurity, data analysis, and cloud services are still seeing demand.

Start networking before you need it.

Dont wait for a layoff to reconnect with former coworkers or industry contacts. Many roles are filled through referrals, especially in tighter job markets.

Keep building skills.

By taking short courses and gaining certifications at your current job, you can add important skills to your resume that can make a big difference if you need to pivot quickly.

Indianapolis leads the pack

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Home buyers are likely to face less competition and lower stress in Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Charlotte this year, according to new housing market research.

• Zillow has named those three metros the most buyer-friendly large housing markets of 2026, leading a list of 10 U.S. cities where conditions favor shoppers.

• The top markets combine affordability, easing price growth, and lighter competition, giving buyers more leverage than in hotter markets such as Hartford.

Home shoppers tired of bidding wars may finally find some breathing room in 2026 especially in parts of the Midwest and the South.

Zillow has released its annual ranking of the most buyer-friendly housing markets among the nations 50 largest metros, with Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Charlotte taking the top three spots.

The markets were singled out for offering a rare mix of relative affordability, cooling home price growth in the near term, and the potential for appreciation down the road.

These conditions, Zillow said, create a more favorable entry point for buyers who have been sidelined by high prices and intense competition in recent years.

Lower competition gives buyers more time to decide and more room to negotiate, said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. Cooling prices today, paired with expected growth ahead, make for a good entry point for those who have been waiting for the right moment.

Rounding out Zillows top 10 buyer-friendly markets of 2026 are Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Detroit, Miami, Tampa, and Pittsburgh.

What makes these cities more affordable?

Zillows analysis focused on three major factors: current home value trends and expected appreciation, how much of a typical households income goes toward a mortgage payment, and the level of competition measured by the companys Market Heat Index. Together, those metrics highlight markets where buyers are more likely to find homes within budget and negotiate favorable terms.

Many of the strongest buyer markets are clustered in the Midwest and the Sun Belt. Midwest cities largely avoided the sharpest price spikes during the pandemic housing boom, helping preserve affordability. In the Sun Belt, a surge in new construction has boosted inventory and reduced pressure on buyers.

In half of the top 10 markets, Zillow found that a median household can afford a typical home while keeping mortgage costs under 30% of income, assuming a 20% down payment a benchmark often used to gauge housing affordability.

The buyer-friendly outlook stands in contrast to Zillows recent designation of Hartford, Connecticut, as the hottest housing market of 2026, where competition remains fierce.

The national outlook

Nationwide, Zillow expects modest home value growth this year following a mostly flat 2025. Mortgage rates are forecast to gradually decline toward 6% or potentially lower, a shift that could help revive home sales activity.

For buyers, Zillow recommends leaning on local real estate expertise and being willing to negotiate, as sellers in softer markets may be more open to covering closing costs or offering other concessions. Sellers, meanwhile, are encouraged to price homes realistically and focus on presentation to stand out in markets where buyers have more choices.

After years of frenzied competition, Zillows latest outlook suggests that 2026 may finally offer a calmer, more balanced landscape at least for buyers in the right cities.

Some class members could receive up to $1,500

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• SiriusXM agreed to a $28 million settlement in a nationwide class action lawsuit over unwanted telemarketing calls alleging violations of federal Do Not Call rules.

• Eligible people can receive a **pro rata payment of up to $1,500 if they file a claim by the deadline.

• Compensation is available to U.S. residents who received repeated sales calls between April 27, 2019 and October 31, 2025 and were not paying subscribers or asked to be placed on no-call lists.

SiriusXM Radio LLC has agreed to pay $28 million to resolve a major class action lawsuit accusing the satellite radio provider of making unsolicited telemarketing calls to consumers who had registered on federal or internal do-not-call lists.

The proposed settlement stems from alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and similar state and federal laws, which govern how and when companies may contact consumers by phone.

The lawsuit claimed that SiriusXM repeatedly called landlines, wireless phones, and mobile numbers to pitch its radio services even after consumers asked the company to stop contacting them. SiriusXM has denied liability but agreed to the settlement to avoid protracted litigation and additional legal costs.

Do you qualify for compensation?

Eligible individuals can receive a share of the settlement fund if they meet specific criteria tied to the telemarketing calls they received:

To qualify for a payout, a person must:

• Be a natural person residing in the United States.

• Have received more than one telephone solicitation call from SiriusXM (or on its behalf) on a landline, wireless, or mobile phone within any 12-month period between April 27, 2019 and October 31, 2025.

• Not have been a self-paying SiriusXM subscriber at the time of the first call or before the second call.

• Have either received calls more than 31 days after registering the number on the National Do Not Call Registry or received calls after asking SiriusXM to put the number on its internal do-not-call list.

If more than one person in the same household meets these criteria, each eligible individual may file a separate claim.

How much could you get?

Settlement payments will be distributed on a pro rata basis, meaning the actual amount each person receives depends on the number of valid claims submitted and the remaining funds after legal and administrative costs are deducted. Participants may receive up to about $1,500 each, with final amounts determined after the claims process closes.

Payments will be issued roughly 30 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement and resolves any appeals.

Class members must submit a claim form online or by mail by the deadline (currently set as March 21, 2026). The claim requires basic information such as the telephone number that received the calls.

The settlement administrator will provide additional details via the official settlement website, including how to file, payment options (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, check), and any updates on the final approval process.

This settlement offers relief to consumers frustrated by persistent telemarketing calls and underscores ongoing enforcement of telemarketing and consumer protection laws.