Are Senior Citizens Becoming the Drug of Choice for Mexican Cartels?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Microsoft Image Creator

In the past few years, I've written a number of posts about scams used to dupe the public out of their hard-earned money.  Some of the cons were simplicity itself, while others were quite sophisticated. While some of these swindles had been perpetrated by individuals, others employed a tag team approach. However, when an organization with thousands of criminal members takes over vast call centers to bilk senior citizens out of hundreds of millions of dollars per year, this takes the con to a whole new level.  In order to level the playing field, I'm going to describe one of the world's most sophisticated con jobs ever perpetrated on the American public by a Mexican cartel more usually associated with the production and distribution of illicit drugs.  

Can Cyber Criminals Break the Bank?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Microsoft Image Creator

If you're a Rat Pack fan like I am, you'll never forget the 1960 caper flick Oceans 11, where Frank, Dean, Sammie, Peter & Joey take down five Las Vegas casinos on New Year's Eve.  While a work of fiction, it proved to be more a case of life imitating art when several hacking collectives pooled their resources to take down a pair of Vegas casinos last year.  While the hack didn't break the bank at either the MGM or Caesars, it did cost the two companies more than $100 million collectively.  What's worse is that even though the FBI knows the groups responsible for the ransomware attacks, the odds are low that the feds will be able to prosecute many of those involved, since the perpetrators are scattered around the globe.  The repercussions of this brazen cyberattack and the lackluster law enforcement response has not only gotten many corporate CEO's to start quaking in their boots, it's also caused the insurance industry to take a long hard look at whether if can cover the bets of businesses who are likely to be targeted by hacking collectives that can operate with impunity.

Does Cruise Insurance Guarantee Smooth Sailing?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Microsoft Image Designer

While the cruise industry almost went down with the ship during the COVID pandemic, it has since rebounded big time. In fact, more than 35 million passengers are expected to sail this year, up 6% from last year.  The appeal of cruising is obvious.  Cruise ships not only offer travelers the opportunity to visit exciting destinations, they also provide everything from onboard entertainment to world-class dining and casino gaming.  Plus, you don't have to change hotels every time the ship stops at a port of call.  The only fly in the ointment is what can happen if something goes wrong during your cruise, or something untoward were to happen to you before you board the ship.  When you consider that you can expect to spend an average of $1,000-$6,000 for a cruise these days, many people looking to protect their investment consider acquiring cruise insurance.  If you're considering going on a cruise anytime in the near future, there are a few things you need to know.

Can High Tech Lay You Low?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Microsoft Image Creator

I've always said that technology is a two-edged sword.  In some ways it makes life a lot easier.  The problem is, that same technology can cause you a lot of trouble when it doesn't work, or when someone uses it to do things that aren't in your best interest.  To help you stay ahead of the high-tech curve, I've come up with a list of ten things you need to be aware of when it comes to technology.

10 Ways to Lower Your Cyber Insurance Cost

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxhere

Computer hacking has gotten so costly to businesses that most insurers have not only been forced to raise their rates, but some, like Lloyd's of London, have added exclusions for state-sponsored hacks.  This has put small business owners in a situation where they're having trouble affording cyber insurance, even when they know there's a high probability that their business could be targeted.  If you're caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to defending your business from cybercrime, let me clue you into ten ways that you can improve your firm's cyber security while reducing your cyber insurance costs at the same time. 

How to Keep Facebook from Turning Into Facecrook

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy PxHere

Facebook is by far the world's most popular social network with more than 3 billion active users.  Unfortunately, it's also reportedly one of the most prolific hunting grounds for scammers, with more than 62% of users encountering fraudulent offers of one kind of another on a weekly basis.  If you want to network with your friends on Facebook without being ripped off, hacked, or having your heart broken, you need to be aware of the tactics used by con artists to get you to do things that will get you burned.  With that in mind, here are the top-10 scams currently being seen on Facebook.

It Came From Outer Space

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

While most insurance claims are run of the mill, some of them are over the top.  In fact, some insurance claims and policies are literally out of this world.  Before you start thinking that I've been watching too many reruns on the Syfy Channel, allow me to point out that there are many reasons why some people have chosen to be concerned with things that come from outer space.  There have also been quite a few news reports on folks who have had their property damaged by debris that originated in outer space.  To keep all my loyal readers in the loop, I decided to point out some of the incidents that have occurred, as well as some policies that have been offered to help those who are concerned with otherworldly visitors who may not have their best interest at heart.

10 Ways to Hack a Smart-Home

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pexels

Technology is a two-edged sword. What we consider a convenience on one hand can just as easily be turned against us the next.  Take smart-home techology.  Some people use the Internet of Things to do everything from keeping an eye on their property while they're away, to locking and unlocking the front door when they get home.  Many also use IoT to tell them when it's time to do the laundry, turn on and off lights, or buy milk.  While these space age conveniences can make life simpler, the bad news is that it can also simplify high tech thieves lives when it comes to robbing homeowners blind.  Below are ten ways a smart-home can get hacked.

Will E-bike Insurance Ruin Your Ride?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

E-bikes are all the rage.  You see them whizzing down the street or past you on the sidewalk nearly every day.  For some, the allure of electric 2-wheel locomotion is a more environmentally friendly way to commute than a gas guzzling car.  For others, it's an entree to a side gig as a courier or delivery driver.  Any way you look at it, the cost of owning and operating an e-bike is far less than any conveyance that relies on an internal combustion engine.   As an added incentive, e-bike owners don't have to register or insure their rides, as do motorcycle or gas-powered scooter owners.  Well, all that is fixing to change in the Garden State if New Jersey legislators have their way.  A new bill, if enacted, will require all owners of e-bikes to both register and insure these vehicles with the state.  While proposed as a safety measure, this legislation has some e-bike owners up in arms, particularly those whose incomes are based on e-bikes or others who simply can't afford to own and operate a gas-powered motor vehicle.

Can AI Curb Insurance Fraud?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy of pix4free.org

While everyone complains about the high cost of insurance, what most people don't realize is that one of the things that causes rates to rise is insurance fraud.  Far from being a victimless crime, insurance fraud costs every policyholder.  That's because fraudsters bilk the insurance companies for hundreds of billions of dollars per year. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently reported staggering losses due to fraud last year that included $74.7 billion in life insurance fraud, $45 billion in property fraud, $36.3 billion in health insurance fraud, and $34 billion in workers comp fraud.  These losses in turn get passed along to each and every policyholder.  While the insurance industry spends a lot of time and money trying to combat fraud, the losses continue to mount each year.  Recent advances in artificial intelligence have brought some new tools to bear in the fight against insurance fraud that not only helps identify fraudulent claims, it can also curtail fraudulent activity.

Can Healthcare Hacks Put Your Medical Coverage on the Critical List?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

It's hard enough to get an appointment with a doctor these days.  But that's nothing compared to the gridlock that hackers create when they breach the security of healthcare providers.  Recent cyberattacks have done everything from derailing patient drug access, to shutting down doctor's offices, hospitals and emergency rooms.  Before you wind up being denied medical care the next time you go to the doctor's office, there are a few things you need to know about the state of the healthcare system in this country.  

Can a Reverse Mortgage Back You Into a Corner?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy pixfree.org

If you're a baby boomer you've no doubt heard about reverse mortgages.  These loans are routinely touted by celebrities such as Tom Selleck, Robert Wagner, and Henry Winkler.  The pitches being made by all of them explain how senior citizens with equity in their homes can cash in without having to pay monthly fees as they would if they got a home equity loan.  This can free up needed funds that can be used to help pay for living expenses, cover medical costs, or home improvements.  There's no need to repay a reverse mortgage until you move out or pass away, they say.  Better still, assets from a reverse mortgage won't interfere with your social security benefits or bump you into a higher tax bracket because funds received in this way aren't taxable.  For people living on a fixed income with limited means and possibly poor credit, the lure of easy money sounds almost too good to be true.  While for some, tapping into a reverse mortgage can be a blessing, you need to do your homework before you sign on the dotted line.  Below are ten things you need to consider before you consider a reverse mortgage.

How Ghost Jobs Can Come to Haunt You

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Alpha Stock Images

They say it's hard to find good help.  While this little ditty has stood the test of time, the opposite can also hold true, especially in the age of the Internet.  While it's currently reported that there are some 9.5 million jobs posted online, not all the postings are legitimate.  What I mean by that is some of the postings are what's referred to as "ghost jobs." No, I'm not talking about applying for a job as a ghost buster.  Ghost jobs are help wanted ads posted by companies who have no intention of filling the position.  Some of these positions have already been filled, while others aren't currently available or don't exist at all.  Apply for a ghost job and you won't hear boo from the employer, no matter how well qualified you happen to be.  Not only does this waste your time, in some cases it can come to haunt you.  Below are ten things you need to do to identify and avoid ghost jobs, as well as what can happen if you don't heed my warning.

Fake Insurance Follies

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pix4free.org

Whenever something sounds too good to be true it usually is.  That little ditty applies doubly when it comes to phony insurance offers.  Advertising being what it is today, you have to be wary of pie-in-the-sky deals that are designed to get you to click or call for more information.  Not only with these too good to be true deals disappear when you respond, if you aren't careful you could wind up divulging personal information to who knows who or you could wind up purchasing a policy that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.  To help you weed out the bogus offers that are all over the TV and Internet, I decided I'd clue you into some of the most flagrant insurance rip offs that are currently being used to dupe the public today.

How Skimming, Shimming and Jugging Can Rob You Blind

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxhere

I'm old enough to be able to remember a time when everyone had to go to the bank to make a deposit or withdraw money from their account.  Then came the 1980's, which introduced everyone to the Automated Teller Machine that made depositing a check or receiving cash a breeze.  Forty years later, ATMs can be found everywhere from shopping malls to parking lots.  All it takes is a debit card and a PIN to safely access your funds anywhere anytime of the day or night.  What could be more convenient?  The trouble is that this convenience can cost you big if you aren't careful.  The same technology that provides consumers with instant cash can turn an ATM into an opportunity to rob you blind.  If you don't want to find your hard earned money taken from you, you need to learn how thieves can turn any ATM into an instant payday.

Hidden Cameras Can Turn Your Vacation into I-Spy

 By Catherine Powell

Picture frame camera courtesy Amazon

The whole concept of a vacation is to be able to let your hair down to release the pent up frustrations produced by laboring all year long to feed your family.  While that may entail flying to a foreign destination, taking a cruise, staying in a hotel, a B&B, or renting a camper to drive across the country, I'm here to tell you that all of the above can be wired with hidden video cameras designed to spy on you.  That's right, tiny spycams are routinely found in everything from hotel rooms and rental cabins to cruise ships and airline bathrooms.  What's worse is that they're so small that they're nearly impossible to find.  Some are motion-activated and can see in the dark. Spycams can be secreted in clock radios and bedside lamps.  They can be built into smoke alarms. picture frames, and toothbrush holders.  They can be concealed in air conditioning vents and mirrors.  In short, they can be hidden almost anywhere.  Once installed, these hi-tech peeping toms can be set to both record and live stream their payload for fun or profit.  That's right, your most intimate moments can be uploaded to streaming sites for public consumption.  If you don't want to become the latest online sensation, you need to learn how to spot and eliminate these hidden menaces. Below are six ways to find out if you're being spied on and what to do if you spot a spycam while you're on vacation.

What Kind of Auto Theft Isn't Covered by Insurance?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

Only once have I had to deal with the theft of my car.  That was way back in 1997, when I awoke one morning to discover my Jeep wasn't parked in my driveway where I left it the night before.  Two calls later; One to the police and the other to my insurance agent and the problem was soon solved.  No, I didn't get my Jeep back, although the cops eventually caught the culprit and recovered the vehicle.  By that time the insurance company had cut me a check and I purchased another car.  But it was sure nice to find out that I wasn't on hook for the balance I owed the lender.  I even walked away with enough to put a $1,000 down payment down on my new ride.  That isn't always the case for victims of auto identity theft.  This is a high-tech crime that involves forged documentation intended to get you to plunk your hard-earned cash down on a stolen vehicle.  So prevalent is this form of fraud that even some dealers have been duped.  If this should happen to you, not only will you be out the purchase price, but the cops will confiscate the vehicle, leaving you with no cash and no ride.  To keep you from falling into this money pit, I've come up with ten tips designed to help you recognize this 21st Century ripoff before you get taken to the cleaners.  

Is Your Home Gone with the Wind?

 Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxhere

As I sit here writing this, the wind is howling outside my window.  The wind speed is predicted to gust as high as 70 MPH today.  Even though it's mid-winter here in Jacksonville, a passing storm front can make it seem like hurricane season any time of year.  When the windows are rattling and the shingles are threatening to blow off your roof, it doesn't matter whether it's winter, summer, spring, or fall.  The only thing that matters is that you're covered for the worst that Mother Nature can do to your property.  That's why I've decided to clue you in on what you need to know to successfully file a wind damage claim.

Could You be Replaced by a Robot?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxhere

I was scanning the news feeds yesterday when I saw something that caught my eye: The world's first robotic McDonald's restaurant.  One Ft Worth, Texas fast food eatery has done away with almost half its staff by eliminating the employees responsible for taking and delivering orders.  Instead of speaking to a person, all orders at the restaurant are placed by a touchscreen at the restaurant or via app.  While the food is still prepared by humans, all orders are delivered robotically.  This particular Mickey D's only offers takeout which also eliminates the employees who typically bus the tables.  (Check out the YouTube video below.)  While this particular fast food restaurant hasn't entirely done away with its staff, a quick web search discovered at least two that do in the US, which I'll detail below.  This got me to thinking about how many of us could wind up being replaced in the near future by robots.  The answer to that question could shock you.

Can Squatters Move In and Move You Out?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxhere

A couple months ago I wrote a blog that showed how phroggers can secretly take residence in the home in which you currently reside  To kick off the new year, I'll show you how squatters can move into your home and move you out.  That's right, the way the laws are in many states, including Florida, strangers can wait until you're away from home to commandeer it right out from under you.  And there's little you can do about it since the law is on the squatters side.  If this sounds like an episode of the Twilight Zone, just be grateful you aren't this week's costar.  Below I'll detail several owner ordeals that cost a lot of time and money to rectify.