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Text messages claim their iCloud storage is full

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Scammers are sending fake alerts to iPhone users claiming their iCloud storage is full to trick them into clicking malicious links.

• The messages often mimic official Apple notifications and urge immediate action to upgrade or secure storage.

• Cybersecurity experts warn that victims risk losing personal data, passwords, and financial information.

If you receive a message on your iPhone warning that your iCloud storage is full, proceed carefully. A new wave of phishing is targeting iPhone users with alarming messages.

The scam typically arrives via text message or email and appears to be an official Apple notification. It tells recipients their cloud storage has reached capacity and urges them to click a link to upgrade or prevent data loss. The sense of urgency is designed to push users into acting quickly before they have time to question the messages legitimacy.

But the links dont lead to Apple.

Instead, victims are redirected to convincing lookalike websites that prompt them to enter their Apple ID credentials, credit card details, or other sensitive information. In some cases, clicking the link can also trigger the download of malicious software.

According to cybersecurity experts, these messages are crafted to look real, often using Apple logos, branding, and language that closely mirrors legitimate alerts. The goal is to steal login credentials or financial data.

What legitimate alerts look like

Apple does notify users when their iCloud storage is nearing capacity, but those alerts typically appear within the devices settings or official system notifications, not through unsolicited text messages with external links.

Experts recommend that users avoid clicking any links in unexpected messages. Instead, they should check their storage status directly by going to Settings on their iPhone and reviewing their iCloud usage.

Other warning signs include generic greetings, suspicious URLs, spelling errors, and requests for sensitive information. Apple said it will never ask users to provide passwords or payment details through text messages or unofficial websites.

Anyone who receives a suspicious message is encouraged to delete it and report it to Apple. If a user believes they may have fallen victim to the scam, they should immediately change their Apple ID password and monitor financial accounts for unusual activity.

Public perception shifts as new data challenges long-held assumptions

• More Americans now believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than traditional cigarettes.

• Researchers analyzed a decade of national survey data to track changing perceptions.

• Major public health events appear to have influenced how people view vaping risks.

E-cigarettes were once widely marketed and often perceived as a safer alternative to traditional smoking. But that perception may be changing.

A new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center finds that an increasing number of U.S. adults now believe e-cigarettes are actually more harmful than conventional cigarettes.

The perception that e-cigarettes are more harmful than cigarettes has been linked to both a decreased willingness to use e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and an increased likelihood of switching from vaping to smoking. Understanding the ramifications of this perception change represents a critical consideration when developing cessation strategies, researcher David Gerber, M.D., said in a news release.

How the study was conducted

To understand how opinions have evolved, researchers analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a large, nationally representative survey sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

The study included responses from 20,771 U.S. adults collected over a 10-year period, from 2012 to 2022. Because the survey is conducted regularly with different participants each year, it allowed researchers to track trends over time across a broad cross-section of the population.

Researchers also used a statistical approach called interrupted time series analysis. This method helped them examine whether major public health events like anti-vaping campaigns or the outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries were associated with shifts in how people perceived the risks of e-cigarettes.

What the study found

The results show a clear and significant change in public opinion over the past decade. In 2012, only about 2.8% of adults believed e-cigarettes were more harmful than traditional cigarettes. By 2022, that number had jumped to 30.4%.

At the same time, the share of people who viewed e-cigarettes as less harmful dropped sharply from about 50.7% to 16.7%.

The study also found that these shifts were not random. Changes in perception were closely linked to major public health events, including national anti-vaping campaigns and the 2019 outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

Overall, the findings suggest that public opinion around vaping is evolving quickly and that messaging and real-world events can play a powerful role in shaping how people assess health risks.

Understanding how events like this shape peoples beliefs is key to guiding public health policy and future tobacco control strategies, researcher Alexander Wu, B.S. said in the news release.

Why more drivers are choosing used cars

• Buy used the smart way: Focus on value, not just price check history reports with Bumper or Carfax and avoid cars with unclear maintenance records.

• Ignore the monthly payment trap: Dont let long loans make cars feel affordable focus on total price and avoid paying for a car longer than itll last.

• Keep your car longer (biggest savings): A paid-off car is your best financial asset maintain it, set aside fake payments, and avoid jumping back into a loan too soon.

Walking onto a dealership lot and driving off in a brand-new car just isnt realistic for most people anymore. Prices are pushing $50,000, interest rates are still high, and wages havent exactly kept up. So, people are adapting.

According to a new survey from Bumper, 76% of respondents said they purchased their car used, and most of those vehicles are already paid off.

It might feel like a compromise, but its actually a smart financial move if you approach it the right way.

Heres how to make this shift work in your favor.

Buy used, but dont buy blindly

Used cars are cheaper for a reason, but that doesnt mean you should just grab the lowest price you see. The goal is value, not just savings upfront. Look for vehicles with reasonable mileage (ideally under 50,000) and more importantly, solid maintenance records.

Before you commit, run a vehicle history report using a tool like Bumper or CarFax. This can help uncover hidden issues like past accidents, title problems, or odometer rollbacks. These are the kinds of things that can turn a great deal into a money pit fast.

If a seller cant provide clear history or seems vague about maintenance, thats your cue to walk.

Dont fall for the monthly payment trick

This is where a lot of people lose money without realizing it. Dealers love to focus on the monthly payment because it makes expensive cars feel affordable. Stretch a loan to 72 or 84 months, and suddenly that car fits your budget.

But the reality is that youre paying more overall for a car thats losing value every year.

Instead, focus on the total out-the-door price. Thats the number that actually matters. A slightly higher monthly payment on a shorter loan is almost always the better move financially.

Pro tip: If the loan lasts longer than the car is likely to stay reliable, youre setting yourself up to pay for a car thats already on its last legs.

Keep your current car as long as possible

This is where the biggest savings happens. If your car is already paid off, youre in a great position. No monthly payment means you can redirect that money toward maintenance, savings, or just breathing room in your budget.

And modern cars are built to last. A well-maintained vehicle can easily go well past 150,000 miles. Instead of upgrading, invest in keeping your current car in good shape.

Things like brakes, tires, and routine service cost money, but theyre still far cheaper than starting a new loan.

Pro tip: Treat your paid-off car like it still has a payment. Set aside $100$200 a month of the payment money into a separate savings bucket for future repairs or your next car. When something breaks, youre covered. And when its finally time to upgrade, you can pay mostly (or fully) in cash and skip the loan altogether.

Be careful with 'almost new'deals

Certified pre-owned cars can sound like the best of both worlds, but the pricing doesnt always make sense. If a used car is priced close to a new one, youre not really saving much, and youre still taking on the downsides of buying used.

As a general rule, if the price is within about 10-15% of new, its worth reconsidering.

The agency took action against three companies this week

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FTC launched a nationwide Made in the USA enforcement sweep targeting deceptive origin claims.

• Three companies face law enforcement actions for allegedly misleading consumers about where products were made.

• The move signals intensified crackdown amid growing scrutiny of patriotic marketing claims.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new enforcement sweep targeting deceptive Made in the USA claims, bringing legal action against three companies it has accused of misleading consumers about the origin of their products.

In a press release, the agency said the cases involve businesses that allegedly marketed or labeled goods as American-made when they were not, violating federal truth-in-advertising laws.

The FTC did not frame the actions as isolated cases but as part of a broader initiative to protect consumers and ensure fair competition for domestic manufacturers. Officials said false origin claims can mislead shoppers who specifically seek to support U.S. workers and businesses.

Made in the USA claims are subject to strict standards. Under FTC rules, products advertised as American-made must be all or virtually all produced domestically, meaning that final assembly and nearly all components must originate in the United States.

Wider crackdown on misleading claims

The sweep comes amid heightened federal focus on country-of-origin labeling. A March 2026 executive order directed the FTC to prioritize enforcement against companies making unsubstantiated Made in America claims, signaling a tougher regulatory environment.

The FTC has increasingly used sweeps and coordinated actions to address deceptive practices across industries, similar to past initiatives targeting misleading claims related to artificial intelligence and other emerging marketing trends.

Regulators say false Made in the USA claims harm not only consumers but also businesses that legitimately manufacture products domestically.

Consumer demand for American-made goods remains strong, making such claims a powerful marketing tool but also one that can easily be abused. Enforcement efforts are intended to ensure that companies making these claims can substantiate them and that consumers can trust product labeling.