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Its becoming widespread because it creates panic in its victims

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Scammers are sending fake Apple Pay fraud alerts to trick victims into calling criminals.

• Victims are pressured into moving money quickly often thousands of dollars under false pretenses.

• Experts say the scam relies on urgency, impersonation, and convincing personal details.

Many times, operate with a similar set of goals. Makethe victim panic and then offer a way to help. That tactic has been adopted by criminals operating the Apple Pay scam, which is spreading quickly across the U.S.

These schemes use fake alerts and high-pressure phone calls to steal money and personal information.

A series of reports highlights how convincing these schemes can be. In one case, a victim received a text warning of a suspicious Apple Pay charge and was urged to call a number for help. The call connected her directly to a scammer posing as an official investigator, who ultimately convinced her to withdraw $15,000. Fortunately, a bank teller recognized the scam and told her to hang up.

How the scam works

The scam typically begins with a message often a text claiming theres a problem with your Apple Pay account.

These messages may say:

• A purchase was attempted or declined.

• Your account is locked or under investigation.

• Immediate action is required.

The message usually includes a phone number or link. Thats the trap.

If you call or click, youre connected to scammers impersonating Apple Support, your bank, or even law enforcement.

From there, the situation escalates quickly:

• The scammer claims your money is at risk.

• They may already know personal details about you.

• Youre told to act immediately to protect your funds.

In many cases, victims are instructed to:

• Move money to a safe account.

• Withdraw cash.

• Send funds via Apple Pay, Apple Cash, or gift cards.

The goal is to get you to authorize a payment yourself because once you do, its often very difficult to recover.

Why it works

Unlike traditional hacking, these rely on social engineering manipulating people rather than breaking into systems.

Apple Pay itself is secure, but scammers exploit trust in the brand and the speed of digital payments.

They also use:

• Urgency: Act now or your account will be locked.

• Authority: Posing as Apple, banks, or federal agencies.

• Fear: Suggesting fraud, theft, or legal trouble.

Warning signs to watch for

Experts say there are clear red flags:

• Unexpected messages about Apple Pay activity.

• Requests to call a number in a text or email.

• Pressure to act immediately.

• Requests for codes, passwords, or personal information.

• Instructions to move money or lie to your bank.

One key rule: Apple does not send unsolicited texts asking you to call support or provide sensitive information.

How to protect yourself

If you receive a suspicious message:

• Do not click links or call the number provided.

• Check your Apple Pay activity directly on your device.

• Contact your bank or Apple using official channels.

And if you think youve been targeted:

• Stop any transactions immediately.

• Notify your bank or card issuer.

• Report the incident to authorities such as the FTC.

Apple Pay are spreading because theyre simple, convincing, and effective.

The most important defense is slowing down. If a message creates urgency or fear, thats often the first sign something isnt right.

How AI is making it easier to save at the pump

• Using AI, The Gas Index is solving a real pain point:Delivering accurate, real-time gas prices across the U.S. crucial when nearby stations can vary by up to $1 per gallon.

• The standout feature isnt just price tracking, its the is it worth the drive? calculator This helpsyou avoid the classic mistake of burning gas chasing a slightly cheaper fill-up.

• Stack your savings:Tools like The Gas Index can help you find the cheapest station. Then layer in cash back apps, fuel rewards, and a 3%5% gas credit card.

Gas prices are climbing again, and for most drivers, it feels like theres no good way to consistently find the cheapest option nearby.

Now, a new AI-powered tool is trying to change all of that.

The Gas Index is a real-time gas price tracker built by two AI engineers over a single weekend. It claims to offer a more complete and accurate look at gas prices across the U.S. and it even calculates whether its worth driving farther to save a few cents per gallon.

Heres whats happening, and more importantly, how you can actually use it to save money.

What exactly is The Gas Index?

The Gas Index is an online tool that tracks fuel prices at more than 170,000 gas stations nationwide and currently has 93,000 verified prices.

Unlike traditional gas apps, it combines multiple data sources to show:

• Nearby gas prices.
• Price trends over time.
• Personalized savings based on your car and driving habits.

It also includes a feature that estimates how much rising gas prices are costing you per fill-up.

Right now, the national average sits around $4.16 per gallon according to AAA, which is more than $1 higher than earlier levels tied to recent global events.

For a typical driver, that translates to about $15 more per tank, and significantly more in high-cost states like California.

What makes it different

Most gas apps rely on user submissions or partial datasets. This tool takes a different approach.

The creators actually built an AI voice agent that calls gas stations and ask attendants for their current prices. In a clever side-note, they use the voice of a grown-up Bobby from the TV showKing of the Hillto make their calls.

So far, theyve:

• Dialed more than 19,000 stations.
• Completed over 12,000 calls.
• Logged more than 75 hours of conversations.

One of the creators, Matt Cortland, told ConsumerAffairs, AI calling was always designed to be the kickstarter not the long-term strategy.

Long-term, they want crowdsourcing. And theyre trying to get it by allowing users to snap a photo of a gas pump or price sign and their AI tool does the rest. It will actually read the price and geolocate them to the exact station, at which point the stations price gets updated.

Their goal is to fill in all the gaps, especially at smaller stations that often dont show up in apps like Google Maps.

The feature that actually matters: 'Is it worth the drive?'

One of The Gas Indexs most useful tools is a built-in calculator that answers a simple question:

Is it actually worth driving farther for cheaper gas?

To make it happen for your particular situation, you enter the following on their website:

• Your vehicle
• MPG
• Tank size

And it tells you whether the savings outweigh the extra fuel used getting there. The tool also allows you to set up your Garage so you can track all your vehicles.

This is useful information to have as many drivers chase cheaper gas and accidentally cancel out the savings by driving too far.

What the data is showing right now

The numbers highlight just how much prices have shifted:

• National average: About $4.16 per gallon.
• Increase: Roughly $1+ per gallon compared to earlier levels.

Additionally, about 98% of stations are now above those previous prices. That means almost every driver is paying more, and small savings per gallon mattermore than they used to.

What you should actually do to save

1. Always check prices before filling up

Gas prices can vary dramatically within a few miles. A quick check can save you 1030 per gallon without changing your routine.

But the problem is that its often hard to check the price. Cortland told ConsumerAffairs that many stations have company-wide policies against sharing their gas prices over the phone at all, which means they're withholding pricing information from consumers.

This lack of transparency makes it much harder for a driver trying to figure out the best place to fill-up. It also makes a service like The Gas Index that much more needed right now.

2. Do the math before you chase cheap gas

Use tools like Is it worth the drive? that factor in distance. Driving 10 extra minutes to save 50 often isnt worth it.

But often it is worth the extra drive. Cortland told us that the biggest savings come from areas with high price variation in a small radius, which is surprisingly common. He added that there are areas in New Jersey showing a $1+ per gallon difference in stations less than 10 miles apart.

The math on that is significant. A 14-gallon tank in a Honda Civic equates to $14 savings by driving a few extra miles to a cheaper station.

3. Stack your savings

Combine lower gas prices with:

• Cash back apps like Upside.
• Gas rewards programs.
• Grocery store rewards programs that include gas savings (Safeway and Kroger).
• Credit cards offering 3%5% back on gas.

Thats where the real savings startto stack up.

Why this matters for consumers

The bigger story here isnt just one AI tool its more about what it represents.

For years, drivers have relied on incomplete or outdated gas price data. Now, AI is making it possible to:

• Collect real-time pricing faster.
• Cover more locations.
• Personalize savings calculations.

And perhaps as importantit gives smaller, independent gas stations more visibility, as they are often cheaper, but harder to find.

A new study breaks down what families are actually spending

• A recent estimate from LendingTree found that raising a child now costs nearly $300,000 over 18 years.

• Annual expenses related to child care have jumped significantly since 2023.

• Families are spending a larger share of their income on basic child-related costs.

If it feels like everything is getting more expensive lately, raising a child is no exception.

A new study from LendingTree takes a close look at just how much families are spending and the numbers are eye-opening. According to the report, the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 now totals $297,674 a sharp increase from previous estimates.

On a yearly basis, that breaks down to about $29,419 per child. And its not just the total thats rising the pace of increase is notable, too. Compared to 2023, annual costs have jumped by more than a third.

The study highlights how everyday essentials from housing and food to child care and health insurance continue to put pressure on family budgets. Its a reminder that the financial side of parenting is evolving quickly, especially as inflation and other economic factors come into play.

How the study calculated the costs

To estimate the cost of raising a child, LendingTree analyzed a wide range of typical household expenses tied to parenting. These include child care, rent, transportation, food, clothing, and health insurance premiums.

The researchers pulled data from multiple sources, including federal datasets and industry benchmarks, to build a comprehensive picture of what families are spending. They also factored in tax credits and exemptions, subtracting those from the overall cost to reflect a more realistic out-of-pocket total.

Importantly, the study looks at costs over time and across different states, showing how geography can influence expenses. By combining national averages with state-level variations, the analysis aims to capture both the big picture and the local differences families may experience.

What the findings show

The biggest takeaway is simple: raising a child is getting more expensive and quickly. The total 18-year cost has risen by more than 25% since the last report, while annual expenses are up 35.7%.

Costs also vary widely depending on where you live. In some states, families can expect to spend well over $300,000 over 18 years (like Hawaii, Alaska, and Maryland), while in others, the total comes in under $200,000 (New Hampshire, the District of Columbia, and South Carolina).

Hawaii, Maryland, and Massachusetts are the three most expensive states to raise a child, with annual costs in the first five years exceeding an average of $40,000 in Hawaii. On the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Dakota are the least expensive states to raise a child. Annual costs in Mississippi didnt reach $18,000 per year.

Another notable finding: families are dedicating a larger share of their income to raising children. On average, about 22.6% of household income goes toward basic child-related expenses, up from 19% in the previous study.

Taken together, the results paint a detailed picture of how the financial demands of parenting are shifting and how those changes may impact household budgets in the years ahead.

A massive U.S. analysis explores how marital status may be linked to cancer rates

• A large population study found differences in cancer rates based on marital status.

• Researchers analyzed millions of cases across multiple states and demographic groups.

• The findings highlight patterns but dont prove that marriage directly prevents cancer.

Can your relationship status affect your health?

According to a new study from researchers at the University of Miami, there may be a connection between marriage and cancer risk but its more nuanced than it sounds.

The research, published in Cancer Research Communications, explores whether people who have never married face different cancer risks compared to those who are or have been married. While past studies have shown that married people often have better cancer outcomes, this study focused specifically on whether marriage is linked to the likelihood of developing cancer in the first place.

These findings suggest that social factors such as marital status may serve as important markers of cancer risk at the population level, researcher Paulo Pinheiro, Ph.D., a professor of cancer epidemiology at the Miller School Department of Public Health Sciences, said in a news release.

The study

To investigate the link, researchers analyzed data from more than 100 million adults across 12 U.S. states, focusing on over four million cancer cases diagnosed between 2015 and 2022.

Participants were divided into two main groups:

• Those who were currently married or had been married (including divorced or widowed individuals)

• Those who had never married

The study looked at adults aged 30 and older and broke down cancer rates by sex and race, while also adjusting for age to make fair comparisons across groups.

Researchers then examined patterns across a wide range of cancer types, including those tied to lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use, and infections.

What the researchers found

The study found that people who had never married were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer compared to those who were or had been married though the degree of difference varied.

Never-married men had about a 70% higher cancer risk, while never-married women had about an 85% higher risk compared to their married counterparts.

Some of the largest differences showed up in cancers linked to preventable risk factors. For example, certain infection-related cancers appeared more frequently among people who had never married.

However, researchers are careful not to oversimplify the findings. The study does not prove that marriage itself protects against cancer. Instead, it suggests that married individuals may be more likely to benefit from factors like regular medical care, healthier habits, or stronger social and financial support.

...If youre not married, you should be paying extra attention to cancer risk factors, getting any screenings you may need, and staying up to date on health care, said Frank Penedo, Ph.D., associate director for population sciences, the Sylvester DCC Living Proof Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship and director of the Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute (SSCI).

For prevention efforts, our findings point to the importance of targeting cancer risk awareness and prevention strategies with attention to marital status.

What Costco shoppers are actually buying (and loving)

• Stick with proven winners: Everyday items like kitchen tools, home basics, and even Apple products (like the Mac Mini) consistently get top reviews and deliver the best value.

• Be cautious with big-ticket items: Patio and outdoor products get more mixed reviews quality can vary, so take extra time before buying.

• Shop smarter, not bigger: Prioritize high-rated categories, look for price advantages, and lean on Kirkland products to avoid wasting money.

Shoppers dont just go to Costco for the bulk deals. They go because certain products consistently deliver better value and now, weve got the data to back that up.

A new analysis from NetCredit of more than 1.4 million customer reviews across 4,700 products highlights exactly which items Costco shoppers love the most.

Heres what stood out, and how to use it to shop smarter.

What shoppers love most (and why it matters)

Some of the highest-rated products arent necessarily flashy, but theyre the items people use every day and keep coming back to.

• Electronics:Apple products dominate, especially the Mac Mini M4, with nearly 96% five-star reviews. Audio products and TVs also dowell with 80-90% of reviewers leaving five-star reviews.Shoppers consistently mention strong pricing and Costcos warranty as the reason they buy here instead of elsewhere.
• Home goods: Plush throws and faux plants are top performers, with many items hitting 94%+ five-star ratings. These are some of your low-risk, high-satisfaction buys, which is what Costco does best.
• Kitchen essentials: Baking sheet sets, storage items, gadgets, and cookware rank among the highest-rated items overall. This reinforces that simple and durable kitchen tools, sold at Costco, tend to deliver the most value over time.
• Beauty: Skincare leads the category, with products like Obagi serum earning high marks. Surprisingly, beauty tools and accessories are less popular with reviews citing durability issues.
• Clothing: Budget basics like hoodies under $20 are some of the most-loved items in the store, proving you dont have to spend a lot to get something reliable.

The pattern is clear: the best Costco buys are practical, repeat-use items and not those trendy or seasonal purchases.

Where Costco is more hit-or-miss

Not every category performs equally well.

• Patio and outdoor products had noticeably lower five-star ratings.
• This was especially true with sheds, spas, and fire pits.
• Complaints often focused on durability and long-term quality.
• That doesnt mean to avoid them entirely, but it does mean to take extra time to read reviews before making big-ticket purchases.

How to use this information to save money

Most shoppers tend to skim reviews briefly and move on. The smarter move is to use this data as a filter before you buy.

• Prioritize high-confidence categories: Kitchen items, basics, and everyday home goods tend to have the highest satisfaction and lowest regret.
• Be selective with big purchases: Furniture and outdoor items can still be good deals, but just be aware that quality can vary more.
• Look for price advantages: Certain items, especially electronics and skincare, are often cheaper at Costco compared to other retailers.
• Lean into Kirkland Signature: Costcos Kirkland private label is built around value and tends to overdeliver for the price.