The Social Security Administration (SSA) says it's taking "proactive steps to enhance the security of its services" but some critics say it's a Trumpian scheme to sabotage operations and force the privitization of Social Security.
Today's announcement by Social Security follows a leaked memo that predicted the agency would eliminate telephone applications and require everyone to apply online.
The change, critics charge, will result in seniors, disabled people, rural residentsand anyone without internet access having to apply in person at already overworked local SSA offices.
"By requiring seniors and disabled Americans to enroll online or in person at the same field offices they are trying to close, rather than over the phone, Trump and Musk are trying to create chaos and inefficiencies at SSA so they can privatize the system," said Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT) in a news release.
Larson, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, said the new plan would result in a 14% increase inoffice traffic, which current staffing could not handle.
For its part, the SSA insists the changes willfurther safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity.
While the necessity to visit an SSA office in person may be inconvenient, a news release from SSA said faster processing will make up for it.
It said the new system "will expedite processing all direct deposit change requests both in person and online to one business day. "Prior to this change, online direct deposit changes were held for 30 days," it said.
Utmost integrity
Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance, said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.
Dudek said that onMarch 31 less than two weeks SSA will enforce online digital identity verificationand in-person identity proofing. Those unable to verify their identity online should make an appointment for an office visit, he said.
People who do not already have a my Social Security account can create one atwww.ssa.gov/myaccount/, he said.
Democrats object
In a posting on its War Room site, the Democratic National Committee denounced the plan as a scheme tobreak Social Security and derail payments for millions of Americans, forcing longer wait times and causingsignificantpayment disruptions especially in rural areas.
"Trump and his shadow president are making it clear: Theyre setting the groundwork to 'eliminate'Americans hard-earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare all to fund tax breaks for their ultra-wealthy backers," the DNC charged.
Everyday substances, including caffeine, can trigger changes in bacteria like E. coli that make antibiotics less effective.
Caffeine activates a regulatory path involving a bacterial protein called Rob, leading to less porin channels, which antibiotics use to enter the cell.
The weakening effect depends on the antibiotic, the bacterial species, and specific genes; in Salmonella, for example, caffeine didnt reduce antibiotic effectiveness the same way.
We all know caffeine wakes us up, but what if that same caffeine could interfere with antibiotics we need?
A new study from researchers in Germany has found that caffeine (and other common chemicals) can affect how bacteria respond to certain antibiotics.
The kicker: its not because caffeine kills bacteria or is antibacterial itself, but because it alters the way bacteria regulate what they let in and push out. In some cases, that can make antibiotics less able to do their job.
Our data show that several substances can subtly but systematically influence gene regulation in bacteria, researcher Christoph Binsfeld, said in a news release.
The study
To figure out how everyday substances might change the way bacteria react to antibiotics, researchers ran a kind of stress test on E. coli, a common gut bacterium.
They exposed the bacteria to 94 different chemicals including antibiotics, prescription drugs, and food-related compounds like caffeine and watched how the bacteria responded.
Instead of just looking to see whether the bacteria grew or died, the team zoomed in on the gates and pumps in the bacterial cell wall. These are the entry and exit points that antibiotics use to get inside or get pushed back out. By using a glowing marker system, the scientists could track whether these gates opened wider, closed tighter, or stayed the same when exposed to each chemical.
They also tested slightly altered versions of E. coli that were missing certain control switches. This helped them pin down exactly which internal regulators were responsible for the bacterias reactions.
The results
Caffeine stood out as one of the surprising players. On its own, caffeine didnt harm the bacteria. But when it was present, it flipped on a genetic switch that told the bacteria to close some of its entry gates specifically a channel called OmpF, which many antibiotics rely on to slip inside.
With fewer gates open, antibiotics like amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin couldnt get in as easily. That meant it took higher doses of those antibiotics to slow the bacteria down. In fact, in some tests, E. coli became up to 40% harder to stop when caffeine was added.
The effect wasnt universal, though. It depended on the specific bacteria and the drug. For instance, when the same tests were run on Salmonella, caffeine didnt have the same impact. This shows that caffeine isnt automatically a problem with all antibiotics, but it highlights how even common, everyday substances can sometimes tip the balance in bacterias favor.
Such fundamental research into the effect of substances consumed on a daily basis underscores the vital role of science in understanding and resolving real-world problems, President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (Dshisha) Karla Pollmann said in the news release.
Scammers demand payments from business owners to remove 1-star reviews
Victims report losing hundreds of dollars and severe hits to online ratings
Watchdogs say Google isnt doing enough to protect small businesses
Contractors, movers and roofers among targets
Small business owners are being targeted by scam artists who flood Google Maps and other sites with phony false reviews and then extort the business owner, offering to remove the reviews for a price. In a New York Times report, Los Angeles contractor Natalia Piper told of gettinga WhatsApp message from a number in Pakistan this summer. It warned that someone had ordered 20 negative reviews of her business. Soon after, her companys once-perfect 5-star Google rating plunged to 3.6, costing her customers and income.
Piper, like other small business owners, was asked to pay to have the fake reviews removed. She handed over $250 in two separate payments before realizing the cycle would not stop. It took me eight years to get my reputation in the market, and one guy can damage it in one day, she said.
A system ripe for abuse
The scam works by flooding small, review-dependent businesses from moving companies to roofers and appliance repair services with phony one-star Google ratings. The attackers then demand money to delete the posts. Industry watchdog Fake Review Watch has tracked more than 150 businesses worldwide targeted in this way.
Businesses are being extorted and Google isnt doing enough about it, said founder Kay Dean in theTimes report, a former federal criminal investigator. She said scammers use AI tools to churn out convincing reviews at scale, making moderation even harder.
Google under scrutiny
Google, like Amazon and Yelp, removes millions of fake reviews each year but admits many slip through. In a statement, the company said it blocks fraudulent content before it appears in most cases and has suspended more than 900,000 accounts for violations. Officials promised a new tool to help businesses report when they are being targeted, but gave no timeline.
Victims say getting help from the tech giant is nearly impossible. Piper said she tried multiple channels even through Googles advertising department, where she spends thousands with little success.
Real losses for small firms
In Georgia, moving company owner Nick Betourney also saw his hard-won 5-star rating threatened. He received a WhatsApp note from a man using the name Rashid Ghallu, who later admitted to The New York Times that he sells negative Google reviews for $100 per batch of 20.
The scammers reviews werent generic complaints, Betourney said, but crazy elaborate stuff describing boxes smashed in front of customers. Google eventually removed some of the fakes, but new ones quickly appeared.
Limited protections despite new rules
The Federal Trade Commission in 2024 introduced rules targeting businesses that buy fake positive reviews, but they dont apply to platforms like Google or to scammers overseas. Under federal law, platforms enjoy broad protections for third-party content, leaving small businesses vulnerable.
For now, some owners are relying on their own fixes. Piper said removing her cellphone number from her online listings finally stopped the WhatsApp harassment. But she fears countless other small firms may not be as lucky.
Business owners: Tips for spotting and reporting fake reviews
Watch for sudden rating drops A cluster of 1-star reviews appearing at once is a red flag.
Look at reviewer profiles Fake reviewers often have no profile photo, few past reviews, or reviews scattered across unrelated industries and locations.
Check for copy-and-paste language Repeated phrases or nearly identical wording across multiple reviews may indicate fraud.
Report suspicious reviews to Google Use the Report review option directly in Google Maps; provide details explaining why its fake.
Keep records Save screenshots of reviews and any related messages (emails, texts, WhatsApp) to document harassment or extortion attempts.
Avoid paying scammers Payment rarely stops the attacks and can invite more.
The FTC has launched a formal study asking several AIchatbot companies about how they handle data, safety, and children when these bots act like companions.
Firms under scrutiny include big names like Meta, OpenAI, Instagram, X.AI, Snap, and Alphabet. They must explain how they test negative impacts on users and how they inform users or parents.
The focus is especially on potential risks to children and teens: how these bots are used, what protections are in place, and whether age restrictions, privacy rules, or disclosures are being followed.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking a closer look at AI chatbots that are built to mimic humans ones that might feel like friends or confidants.
These bots use generative AI to carry on conversations that seem warm, emotional, or caring. Because of this, theres concern that people (especially kids and teens) might start trusting them more than they should.
The FTC is using whats called 6(b) orders tools that let the agency gather detailed information, not as part of a particular legal case but as a broad study. Its asking seven major companies to provide data and explanations, including Alphabet (Googles parent), Meta, OpenAI, Snap, Instagram, Character Technologies, and X.AI.
Protecting kids online is a top priority for the Trump-Vance FTC, and so is fostering innovation in critical sectors of our economy, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, said in a news release.
As AI technologies evolve, it is important to consider the effects chatbots can have on children, while also ensuring that the United States maintains its role as a global leader in this new and exciting industry. The study were launching today will help us better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children.
What consumers should pay attention to
Heres what this means for you especially if you or someone in your family uses chatbots that feel like companions:
Safety for Kids & Teens. The FTC wants to know what companies are doing before and after releasing these bots to detect harms. That includes emotional or psychological harm, misinformation, manipulation, or simply users relying too much on a bot instead of human help.
Transparency & Disclosures. Are parents and users being told what these bots can (and cant) do? Do people know how their data is stored, whether chats are shared, and how the bot was trained? The FTC specifically wants info on how companies disclose things like audience, data collection, risks, and how bots are advertised.
Privacy & Data Handling. When you talk to a chatbot, that conversation might be data used for training, saved, or shared. The FTC is asking companies to detail how they handle your inputs (what you say), outputs (what the bot says back), and whether they share your info with others. For children under the law, there are extra rules (e.g. Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA) that protect their data.
Age Limits, Terms & Moderation. How do companies enforce rules about who can use the bots? If there are age limits, are they checked and enforced? What about moderation of content or behavior when things go wrong? The FTC wants to see how policies are enforced after the product is live.
Why it matters
Even if a product seems harmless or fun, when it simulates emotions or friendship, it can influence how people think, feel, and act. Children and teens are less experienced with boundaries, with recognizing risk, or distinguishing whats real vs. simulated relationships. Knowing that companies are being asked to show what safeguards are in place means theres hope for stronger protections.
I have been concerned by reports that AI chatbots can engage in alarming interactions with young users, as well as reports suggesting that companies offering generative AI companion chatbots might have been warned by their own employees that they were deploying the chatbots without doing enough to protect young users, FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak said in a statement.
As use of AI companion chatbots continues to increase, I look forward to receiving and reviewing responses to the Section 6(b) orders we are issuing today.
About 350 In My Jammers childrens button up flare pajama sets have been recalled due to failure to meet mandatory flammability standards, creating a risk of burn injuries. The recall involves sets sold in various patterns and sizes, including bows, swans, cherry, croissant and coffee, kiss, and floral prints. These sets were available on inmyjammers.com from April 2025 through June 2025.
No injuries have been reported, but consumers are urged to discontinue use immediately and follow the companys refund process.
The hazard
The pajama sets violate federal flammability standards for childrens sleepwear, creating a burn risk if the fabric catches fire.
What to do
Consumers should stop using the recalled pajama sets right away and contact In My Jammers for a refund.
About 1,900 Shierdu childrens wooden building block cactus toys sold on Amazon are recalled because small parts can pose a choking hazard to children under three. The product, model SY-016, includes 28 colorful wooden pieces and was sold from October 2022 through August 2025.
No injuries have been reported, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says parents should take immediate action.
The hazard
The toy contains small parts prohibited in products intended for children under three, presenting a risk of serious injury or death from choking.
What to do
Consumers should stop using the recalled toy immediately and contact Yiwu Shiyi Trading for a refund.
Company contact
Email Yiwu Shiyi Trading at yizhao2025@outlook.com for refund details.
Blueroot Health has recalled about 4,700 bottles of Bariatric Fusion iron multivitamins because the packaging is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if swallowed by young children. Affected bottles include high ADEK multivitamin capsules and One Per Day bariatric multivitamin capsules, both with iron, and have smooth caps lacking push down & turn instructions.
Consumers should inspect their bottles and request a child-resistant replacement if necessary.
The hazard
The recalled multivitamin bottles do not meet federal child-resistant packaging requirements for iron-containing supplements, creating a risk of serious injury or death if young children access the contents.
What to do
Stop using the recalled bottles and contact Blueroot Health for a replacement bottle with a child-resistant cap.
Company contact
Call Blueroot Health toll-free at 866-259-0602 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday), email support@bariatricfusion.com or visit bariatricfusion.com/product-safety.
Epoca International has recalled about 110,000 Paris Hilton Mini Beauty Fridges due to a defect that can cause the units to overheat and catch fire. The recall affects certain 4-liter and 10-liter models in various colors, manufactured before August 2024.
The company has received 27 reports of fridges overheating and catching fire. No injuries have been reported, but some property damage occurred.
The hazard
An electrical switch inside the mini fridges can short circuit and overheat, creating fire and burn hazards.
What to do
Consumers should unplug and stop using the recalled mini fridges and contact Epoca International for a refund.
Company contact
Call Epoca International toll-free at 888-262-3905 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday), email recall@epoca.com or visit www.epoca.com/minifridgerecall.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns consumers to immediately stop using Cranach Hardware plastic tip restraint kits. The plastic restraints, intended to anchor furniture to walls, can fail, putting young children at risk of severe injury or death if furniture tips over.
These kits have been sold on Amazon, typically in packages containing two plastic brackets, screws, anchors and a zip tie.
The hazard
The plastic tip restraints may not secure furniture properly, increasing the risk of tip-over accidents which can seriously injure children.
What to do
Consumers should stop using, remove and dispose of these plastic tip restraint kits. Furniture should be anchored with tip restraints that meet industry standard ASTM F3096-23.
Company contact
Report incidents or defects to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov or call the hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
Social media influencers falsely claim CFPB will pay out victims of Zelle and Cash App
Misinformation drives tens of thousands of dubious complaints to federal database
Consumer advocates warn vulnerable communities are being exploited
Misusing a federal complaint tool
A new wave of social media influencers is pushing misinformation and dubious financial advice by exploiting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus complaint portal.
Two prominent figures, Daraine Delevante and Gilbert Graim Jr., have told followers that filing complaints with the CFPB would result in payments from Zelle and Cash Appclaims that are not true, according to an investigation by ConsumerReports. Both men sell e-books, classes, and complaint templates while promoting this message to audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
The CFPB has accused the payment apps of enabling fraud, but its complaint system is not a path to compensation. At least two of the agencys enforcement actions against the companies have already been dropped.
Dubious claims and false hope
Delevante and Graim have built lucrative businesses selling complaint templates and consumer law advice, much of it misleading. One of Graims TikTok videos urging people to complain against Zelleeven if they had never lost moneywent viral with more than 5 million views.
Delevante, who calls himself The Credit Hero, charges $77 for a downloadable complaint template and has even used AI-generated avatars in videos to make his claims. In July, he told followers they could get medical debt erased by filing a complaint, according to the ConsumerReports article by investigative reporter Derek Kravitz.
Experts at the nonprofit National Consumer Law Center examined their material and called it egregious pseudo-legal advice. They urged consumers misled by the pair to file complaints with the CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general.
Complaint surge overwhelms database
The scale of the misinformation campaign is reflected in the CFPBs complaint data. In the first eight months of 2025, more than 61,000 complaints were filed against Zelle and Cash Appnearly 15 times the previous yearly average.
Many of the complaints use nearly identical language lifted from the influencers templates and videos. Yet CFPB data shows that only 15 customers have received refunds from the companies as a result of filing complaints. Nearly all others were denied.
Cash App said fewer than one in 10,000 transactions results in fraud, but acknowledged it has made significant improvements to detecting and acting on complaints. Zelle, meanwhile, says it requires partner banks to reimburse customers in confirmed fraud cases but has not disclosed how much money has actually been returned.
Exploiting the vulnerable
Consumer advocates say the misinformation disproportionately targets financially vulnerable communities, including Black Americans. We need accurate information and financial literacynot social media influencers selling snake oil, said Chicago-based researcher Pepper Miller.
Both Delevante and Graim have faced scrutiny over their businesses, which are now inactive in Wyoming and Texas, respectively, for failing to meet tax requirements. FTC records also show multiple complaints from consumers who said Delevantes products damaged their credit or left them out of pocket.
Weak enforcement fuels confusion
The controversy highlights how the CFPBs weakened enforcement role has created space for misinformation to spread. The agency has been defunded and scaled back much of its oversight of payment apps. A new rule that would have expanded its authority over digital platforms was rolled back by Congress earlier this year.
Advocates warn the vacuum leaves consumers more exposed. It may get worse before it gets better, said Ruth Susswein of the nonprofit Consumer Action. We have to be more skeptical online and push elected officials to deliver genuine protections.
What consumers should do
Slow down and be cautious. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to push you into hasty decisions.
Never share sensitive details. Legitimate bank employees will never ask for your PIN, passwords, or one-time codes.
Be skeptical of free money claims. If an influencer says you can get a payout without being a fraud victim, its a red flag.
Report quickly. Contact your bank or payment app immediately. Even if you dont get a refund, your report may help catch criminals and protect others.
Turn to the right authorities. File complaints with the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov), or your state attorney general.
Document everything. Keep emails, texts, receipts, and screenshots. Detailed evidence strengthens your case with regulators and law enforcement.
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