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The too-good-to-be-true deal led somewhere I never expected

• The viral $119 Target MacBook deal isnt real following it leads to a third-party rewards site, not Target.

• The promised $750 gift card comes with major strings attached, including completing multiple partner offers, trials, and sign-ups.

• Verify viral deals directly with the retailer and beware of fake comments, unfamiliar URLs, and phrases like up to or required offers.

I was recently scrolling through TikTok when an offer stopped me in my tracks: a MacBook Neo for just $119.99 at Target.

And at first glance, it looked absolutely legit. Maybe you saw the same TikTok and it brought you to this page when you researched its legitimacy.

The video appeared to be filmed inside a Target store, with red shopping carts, the electronics department, and a large promotional sign displaying Target's bullseye. The sign showed the MacBook's original $699 price slashed to $119.99 with a "Student Discount Applied." The TikTok added urgency, telling viewers to take advantage of the offer before August 28.

It was convincing enough that I decided to investigate.

That's when things got weird.

When I started to try and find the promotion, it didn't take me to Target.com or to a page where I could buy a $119 MacBook. Instead, I ended up at PerkDream.com, a third-party website prominently displaying Target's bullseye and advertising a "$750 TARGET GIFT CARD FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!"

And once I started reading the details, the offer looked very different.

The $750 isn't just for answering questions

The PerkDream page says, "Target is rewarding customers with a $750 gift card for sharing their shopping experience."

That certainly makes it sound like a consumer survey with a very generous reward.

But farther down the page, PerkDream explains that visitors need to enter their name and email and complete three to five "partner deals" to unlock the full reward.

The site says each deal must be completed "from start to completion," and its FAQ says some deals may require a sign-up or trial.

There's another phrase worth noticing. The final step doesn't simply say you'll receive $750. It says you can "claim up to $750" in a Target gift card.

That's a significant distinction.

After going down the rabbit hole and trying to claim enough offers to qualify for the $750 reward, I finally gave up. It quickly turned into a long chain of tasks, app sign-ups, and questions that never led to anything. In reality, all it seemed to accomplish was generating commissions for the site each time I signed up for one of its partner offers.

Also, at no point was there any confirmation that this site had anything to do with Target.

What happened to the $119 MacBook?

This may be the biggest red flag of all.

The TikTok got my attention with what appeared to be an incredible Target MacBook discount. But once I followed the promotion, the $119 MacBook essentially disappeared.

Instead, I was presented with an entirely different offer involving personal information, partner deals, and the possibility of receiving a gift card. I had fallen for the classic bait and switch, an age-old tactic dressed up for the TikTok era.

That's why consumers shouldn't use a social media link itself to verify an incredible deal.

If a TikTok says Target has a MacBook for $119, go directly to Target's website or app and search for the deal yourself. Don't assume a Target logo or footage filmed inside a store means the promotion is actually from Target.

Pro tip: Ignore the comments. The comments section on the TikTok video included many fake glowing comments on how they easily found the $119 MacBook and how their local Target was running low, so you should hurry.

How to protect yourself

• Check the URL first. If you think you're responding to a Target promotion but you're sent somewhere other than Target.com, find out who operates the website before entering information. The same goes for any retailer not just Target.

• Watch for little words with big consequences. "Up to," "required offers," "partner deals," and "trial" can dramatically change what you have to do to qualify.

• Don't enter a credit card without reading the terms. A free trial may eventually become a paid subscription. Know the price, billing date, and cancellation requirements before signing up.

• Take screenshots. If you decide to participate in any rewards program, save the original advertisement, terms, eligibility requirements, and proof that you completed each required step.

• Already signed up for a trial? Put the cancellation deadline on your calendar and watch your bank or credit card statements for unexpected charges.

After premiums fell nationwide in 2025, drivers in more than half of U.S. states could see their rates climb by the end of this year

• Car insurance costs are ticking back up: The average full-coverage premium rose 1% in the first half of 2026, and rates are projected to increase in 32 states by years end.

• Rates vary widely by state: Connecticut is projected to see the biggest increase, while premiums have fallen in expensive markets including New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.

• Shopping around can help: Experts recommend comparing at least three quotes, reviewing coverage every six months, and looking for discounts or bundling opportunities.

For drivers who got a little relief from falling car insurance premiums in 2025, that trend may be coming to an end.

According to Insurifys mid-year report, the average cost of full-coverage auto insurance rose 1% during the first half of 2026, reaching $2,237 annually, and Insurify projects rates will increase in 32 states by the end of the year.

The increases aren't happening evenly across the country. Connecticut is on track for the biggest year-over-year jump, with premiums projected to rise nearly 15% by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, some of the country's most expensive markets including New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. have actually seen rates fall so far this year.

So what's behind the renewed upward pressure on car insurance costs, and what can drivers do about it? ConsumerAffairs spoke with Matt Brannon, senior economic analyst and licensed insurance agent at Insurify, who explained what the latest numbers mean for consumers.

How the report was conducted

Insurifys data scientists analyzed more than 250 million auto insurance quotes from the companys proprietary database, with quotes originating from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Alaska was excluded because of its lower quoting volume.

The analysis focuses on drivers ages 20 to 70 with clean driving records and average or better credit, unless otherwise noted. The report uses two-year rolling median premiums to help smooth out unusually large swings in the market.

Key findings

Heres a look at some of the key findings from the study:

• The average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance reached $2,237 in the first half of 2026, up 1% from the end of 2025.

• Twenty-seven states saw premiums increase during the first six months of the year, and Insurify projects that rates will rise in 32 states by the end of 2026. Nationally, the average annual premium is projected to reach $2,242 by December.

• Connecticut has seen the biggest increase so far, with premiums jumping 10% in the first half of the year and projected to finish 2026 about 15% higher than they were at the end of 2025.

• Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois ,and Nevada are also among the states expected to see some of the largest increases.

• Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York all saw premiums fall by at least 5% during the first half of 2026.

• D.C. remains the most expensive market overall, with an average annual full-coverage premium of $3,880 in June.

Whats driving the increases?

Insurifys report found that more than half of U.S. states are projected to finish 2026 with higher premiums than in 2025. Brannon broke it all down.

The bad news is more states will see increases, he said. The good news is that, in most cases, they arent big increases.

2025 was unusual in that the average cost of car insurance declined significantly. Insurers generally were willing to cut rates to compete for new customers and retain the ones they had. Now, the premium prices were seeing indicate that the period of falling rates has largely passed. And rates are normalizing.

Brannon explained that In addition to market dynamics influencing rates, insurers are spending more on certain types of claims payouts now. When claim costs go up, insurers often mitigate those expenses by raising premiums.

Expensive markets are seeing rate cuts

Some states with typically high car insurance rates New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. are seeing price cuts this year.

Insurers are constantly trying to find the right balance between charging enough to comfortably cover potential losses and not overcharging so much that they lose customers, Brannon said.

When we see rates falling in expensive states, or rates rising in cheaper states, it could signal that insurers are still trying to find that right balance. Many of these states had seen sharp increases in recent years, so the fact that theyre falling now is consistent with what we expect from insurers, making price adjustments here and there to find what they consider a sustainable medium.

Brannon also noted that New York, New Jersey, and D.C. all saw sharp declines in stolen cars in 2025. This means insurers dont have to spend as much money on expensive, total loss claims, which can affect insurance rates.

Do your homework

To help mitigate the rising costs of car insurance, Brannon recommends that consumers do as much research as possible before committing to a plan.

Comparing rates is one of the best ways to save money on your insurance, he said. I recommend you compare at least three quotes to make sure youve got the best deal for both home and auto insurance.

Revisit your coverage needs and compare rates every six months. Be sure to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles. Otherwise, you might get excited about a lower rate, only to find out it reflects lower liability limits or a higher deductible.

Another option: consider bundling your policies. Bundling saves insurers money on administrative costs, and insurers often reward those drivers with a significant premium discount, Brannon said. Additionally, make sure youre not missing out on any lesser-known discounts, like using autopay or paperless communications.

But overall household debt slipped by $13 billion

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Americans credit card balances climbed by $21 billion in the second quarter, reaching $1.26 trillion.

• New credit card delinquencies held steady but remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels.

• A rising share of seriously delinquent debt reflects older, charged-off accounts staying on credit reports longer not necessarily a new wave of missed payments.

Americans added billions of dollars to their credit card balances during the second quarter, even as total household debt edged lower.

Credit card balances increased by $21 billion, or 1.7%, from the first quarter and stood at $1.26 trillion at the end of June, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New Yorks latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit.

The increase was part of a broader $48 billion rise in non-housing debt. Auto loan balances grew by $28 billion to $1.71 trillion, while other consumer debt including retail cards and consumer finance loans rose by $6 billion.

Overall household debt slipped by $13 billion, or 0.1%, to $18.8 trillion. However, the decline was largely tied to a temporary gap in mortgage reporting caused by a transfer of loan servicing. Mortgage balances fell by a reported $74 billion, while home equity line of credit balances rose for the 17th consecutive quarter.

Credit card delinquencies remain elevated but stable

The report offered a mixed picture of Americans ability to keep up with their bills.

About 4.7% of all outstanding household debt was in some stage of delinquency at the end of June, down slightly from the first quarter. The rate at which credit card balances newly entered delinquency was largely unchanged.

That distinction matters because another measure the share of card balances already 90 days or more past due has continued to rise. It increased from 7.6% in the third quarter of 2022 to 12.8% in the first quarter of 2026.

New York Fed researchers said the higher figure does not necessarily mean consumers are currently falling behind at an accelerating rate.

In a separate analysis of credit card distress, researchers found that lenders are leaving charged-off accounts on borrowers credit reports longer than they did in the past.

From 2004 through 2012, only about 40% of charged-off debts were still being reported one year later. By 2024, that share had doubled to 80%.

Removing those older charged-off balances causes the different delinquency measures to tell a similar story: New credit card delinquencies are still high, but they have been broadly stable since 2024.

The old debts remain consequential. More than 23 million Americans have charged-off credit card balances appearing on their credit reports, according to the researchers.

What consumers can do

Consumers carrying card balances should check their credit reports for charged-off or incorrectly reported accounts. Reports are available free through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Borrowers should dispute inaccurate information with both the credit bureau and the company that furnished it. Paying a charged-off balance does not automatically remove it from a credit report, but it should generally be updated to show that it has been paid or settled.

For current balances, consumers can limit interest costs by paying more than the minimum, directing extra payments to the highest-rate card, and contacting the issuer before missing a payment. Card companies may offer hardship programs, reduced payments, or temporary interest-rate relief, although the available terms vary by lender.

AI could reshape jobs in banking, insurance, and investing, but companies are still figuring out what that means for workers and customers

• Financial services companies are moving quickly to adopt AI, but many say they arent moving fast enough.

• Nearly eight in 10 executives expect their workforces to shrink by at least 20% over the next five years.

• Companies are paying more for AI skills while still working out how to manage the technologys risks.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of the financial services industry, from banking and insurance to investment management. But while companies are investing heavily in the technology, theyre also facing a big question: What happens to the people who work alongside it?

According to PwC, financial services firms are planning for AI to change the size and makeup of their workforces. Nearly eight in 10 executives surveyed expect their workforce to shrink by at least 20% over the next five years. Entry-level positions could be particularly vulnerable, with 30% of executives identifying them as the area most likely to be disrupted by AI.

At the same time, companies arent simply replacing workers with technology. Many are planning to hire people with AI skills, retrain existing employees, and pay more for workers who know how to use AI effectively.

How the survey was conducted

PwC surveyed 1,004 executives at U.S. financial services companies between May 12 and May 22, 2026. All of the companies represented in the survey had at least $500 million in revenue, and respondents were director-level employees or above.

The participants were evenly divided among four areas of the financial services industry: asset and wealth management, banking and capital markets, insurance, and private equity.

The survey asked executives about their companies use of AI, workforce planning, hiring and training strategies, productivity, and how theyre managing the risks associated with increasingly advanced AI tools.

What this could mean for consumers

For consumers, these changes could eventually show up in the way financial companies operate and interact with customers.

PwC found that 49% of executives are using AI to improve productivity, while 48% are focused on reducing time spent on routine work. Leaders said they see the biggest potential productivity gains in areas including technology, risk management, and operations.

But the benefits arent guaranteed. Seventy-seven percent of executives said most of their AI investments arent currently delivering measurable returns.

There are also concerns around how AI is being used. Nearly nine in 10 executives said their companies have clear ownership and accountability for AI agent decisions, but theres still little agreement about who should ultimately be responsible when an AI system causes significant harm.

Meanwhile, 90% said employees using AI tools outside centrally governed systems creates regulatory risk.

For consumers, that means the financial industrys AI transition is still very much a work in progress. Companies are betting that the technology can make operations more efficient, but theyre also having to figure out how to use it responsibly and how much of the work should remain in human hands.